The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-04-19
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gland sewing machine company 70 I'll
their psehincs 81 an agency of theirs i
81 Petersburg. where . handsome shoI
had been rented. one clustering, cois
day toward the close Of October ! iouns
The shop door closed. and learned 10 m.
dlsmay that our agent bad disappeared
aad lha. our machines had been scized 10
rents and debts. Whist was 10 Be done
All the money I had 10 The world "a
about equivalent 70 sl2 What ~ dn'
me had left in the agents hands, and
felt suro that VAS lost
| I Thought Of everything in the twenty
Eve minutes which had elapsed between
| my heart breaking when ! found the shop
door closed and my rapid walk TO my
lodgings. Fortunately my room Lad beer
hired for the month and had been paid fol
10 advance. I had at least root over my
head for few weeks. An idea suddenly
struck me. had been making an even
ing dress on the machine for Russian 10
dy Who spoke English. She had soms
idea Of buying machine. In order 10 ex
pedite the work had taken the body ol
the JrsSs to my room. and, having ms
chine there, had sewed on II Of nights.
That machine would certainly keep; il
would 40 very little toward the payment
Of the debt the agent owed me-
hurried home. Perhaps there was .
letter with some money in 1t. There was
nothing. must find the lady-but howl
She had left no address She had hardly
spoken TO me. thought heard her say
she would come again. and l believed she
had fired on this very day. There was
but one chance 10 . thousand. must
stand in the street and wait until she sp.
peared.
hastened back and took up my posi-
ton near the shop. l scanned every wom-
an passing by II was bitterly cold and
raw, and the wind chilled me. ] was
faint with anxiety. Had ! only known
more OF the language l would have asked
policeman to take me to the American
consul, to the minister. I was in despair.
Suddenly carriage drove mp, footmsn
opened the door. and lady elegantly
dressed alighted. / tore across the street;
it was the Russian lady. With my heart
in my mouth / told her my pitiful story,
and begged her to help me. II she want
cd servant, would she only try me7 !
had sewing machine. and would make
her dresses for nothing if could only stay
with her till could write to my people ct
home; they would send me money. and !
could get back TO the United States.
She looked steadiastly at me, then op-
ened her port monnaie.
No. no. want no money. l cannot beg.
am not yet so poor ss TO ask aims. But
do you not remember moi The store h
closed. The man who kept it has run
away. showed you the way the machine
WAS worked.
Then she scanned me quickly; next
cross-questioned me sharply.
Where do you live? she inquired abrupt.
ly. told her Get into the carriage,
she said. l did so. When We were off
the main street, she stopped the carriage,
got ont with me and We walked to my
lodgings. opened the door. On the ts.
BILE was her basque. 1t did not seem to
interest her. She picked II up, however
glanced at il q moment, then threw it
down, and walked across the room and ex.
amined the machine.
How long would II take for me to be.
come proficient in working this9 she in
qulred ~ she sat down before the machine
and tried the pedals. Is it fatiguing9
Nc, madam. Oh, would you buy ita
How long did you say it would take for
me to become proficient?
Two weeks-perhaps less.
Would it disigure my hands? She took
of her gloves, and showed her well cared
for hands, her fingers glittering with rings.
Your beautiful hands would hardly be
soiled.
Well. then, give me lesson at once-st
once. l will pay you for your trouble.
l expressed my gratitude With tears in
my eyes. l have no material here--but
anything will do, said, as l opened my
trunk and took out an apron. will run
4 tuck across the bottom-it will do no
harm.
Nonsensel Take the waist and begin on
that
But il is quite finished, and my extra
stitching would spoil this delicate. cream
colored silk.
Give it to me, said the lady. taking the
scissors aud deliberately cutting the waist
up the back.
Now sew me this up. she said. took
il, and as carefully q Is could ran the
machine. and sewed up the ugly cash. but
Of course the waist was spoiled. Now !
will try, she said; and she at down and
under my instruction worked for IN hour.
She was wonderfully clever with her Hn.
gers, and seemed 10 seize the peculiarities
OF the machine at once.
AT this rate Of progress, Madam. you
would become quite skilful in ten days. l
said approvingly.
She made no reply. but worked away
for another hslf.hour, crossing and re-
crossing the body with stitches 1t y not
90 tiresome, after sil. she said. Tomor.
row will call. aud You will then take the
machine to pieces sud show mo how Il
must be pu, together again. You will
obligs me very particularly by not going
out today. Ihave TO thAnk yon for your
patience. Keep my visit silent hope
si~t nususa L. hotfnv