The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-04-05
A RUSSIAN SEWING WOMAN.

woman pfaceu IN SUCH u plIldule COuul-
ton. 1 had been brought to Russia by q
New England Sewing Machine Company
to run their machines at an agency of
theirs in - street, in st. Petersburg,
where a handsome shop had been rented.
One blustery cold day toward the close
of October l found the shop door closed,
and learned to my dismay that our agent
had disappeared and the machines had
all been seized for rent and debts. What
was to be donep All the money 1 had
in the world was about equivalent to
dollars. What was due me | had
left in u agent hands, and l felt sure
it was lost. l thought of everything in
the twenty-five minutes which elapsed
between my heart-breaking when | found
the shop door closed and my rapid walk
to my lodgings. Fortunately my room
had been hired for the month, and had
been paid for in advance. had a least
a roof over my head for a few weeks.
Anidea suddenly struck me. Ihad been
making an evening dress on the machine
for a Russian lady who spoke English.
She had some idea of buying a machine.
In order to expedite the work I had
taken to my room the body of her dress,
and, having a machine there, had sewed
on it of nights. That machine l would
certainly keep; it would go very little
toward the payment of the debt the
agent owed me. hurried home. Per-
haps there was a letter with some money
in it. There was nothing. must find
the lady-but how? She had left no
address. She had hardly spoken to me.
1 Thought heard her say that she would
come again, and l believe she had fixed
on this very day. There was but one
chance N a thousand. must stand in
the street and wait until she appeared.
1 fastened back and took up my posi-
ton near the shop. 1 scanned every
woman passing by. 1t was bitterly cold
and raw, and the wind chilled me.
was faint with anxiety. Had I only
known more of the language l would
have asked a policeman to take me to
the American Consul, to the Minister.
! was in despair. Suddenly a carriage
drove up, a footman opened the door,
and a lady elegantly dressed slighted
l tore across the street; it was the Russian
lady. With my heart in my mouth ]
told her my pitiful story and begged hel
to help me. If she wanted a servant;
would she try me? l had a sewing
machine, and 1 would make her dresses
for nothing if 1 could stay with.her until
1 could write to my people at home;
they would send me money and l could
getback to the United States. My words
must have had but little sense in them,
l was so broken-hearted, for at first she
hardly seemed to understand me.
81 was without friend in the world
here-a poor American woman, thou
sands of miles from her home"
She looked steadily at me. then opened
her porte-monnaie.
mo, no." 1 said. 81 want no money
1 can not beg. 1 was not yet SO poor a!
to ask aims. But do you not remembe
meP The store is closed. The man VIII
kept it has run away. 1 showed you tn,
way the machine was worked"
Then she scanned me quickly; mex
o questioned me sharply.
.How could a young girl trust her
self alone in this strange country" sh
asked.
Il am not alone. Two other youn,
women came from the United States wit
me. Two weeks ago they were sen
home, and the miserable nan in charg
induced me to stay, promising to Civ
me money enough at the end of mex
month for my trip home to the Unite
States. Night not the police look u
the matter. I have been outrageous
swindled."
1.-The police? and my dress-am 1 t
lose itP" the lady asked, impatiently.
mot all off it. The skirts in the shop
the body, the waist, is in my room, a
most finished" 1 tseemed to me dread
full that in my agony she should tai
about her dress.
Where do you liver" she inquired
abruptly. 1 told her. "Get into tn
carriage" she said. 1 did so. Whe
we were off the main track she stoppe
the carriage, got out with me, and W
walked to my lodgings. l opened th
door. On the table was her basque.
did not seem to interest her. She pickle
it up, however, glanced at it a momen
then threw it down. She examined tn
sewing-machine.
.'How long would it take me to becom
proficient in working this?h she inquired
as she sat down before the machine an
tried the pedals. .tIs it fatiguingP"
.'No, madam. o, would you buy il
1t is mine by rights. The money for
might help me to leave st. Petersburg.
Elbow long did you say it would tai
me to become proficient"
1.-TWO weeks-perhaps less"
s'Would it disfgure my handsP ST
took off her gloves, showed her vel
cared-for hands, her fingers glitterin
with rings.
Your beautiful hands would hard.
be spoiled"
"Well. then, give me a lesson at on,
"a once. I will pay you for you
trouble"
expressed my gratitude with almo
tears in my eyes: 81 have no materi
here-but anything will do" 1 said,
/ opened my trunk and took out 6
apron. II will run a tuck across Il
bottom-it will do no harm"
Nonsense. Take the waist and beg
on that"
"But it is quite finished, and any ext
stitching would spoil this delicate crear
colored silk"
Give it to me-" said the lady, takir
up her scissors and deliberately cuttir
the waist up the back"
Now sew me up this" she cried.
took it and as carefully as Icould ran Il
machine, sewing up an ugly cash, bu
of course, the waist was spoiled. "No
l will try" and she sat down, and und
my instructions worked for an hour. 81
was wonderfully clever with her finger
and seemed to seize the peculiarities
the machine at once"
AT this rate of progress, madar
you would become quite a good wor
woman in ten days." l said, approvingl
She made no reply, but worked ava
for another half hour. crossing and +
crossing the body with stitches, at
not so tiresome after ALL" she said, '.b
1 have had enough for to-day. To-mo
row l viii call and you will then tai