Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-03-14
A RUSSIAN SEWING WOMAN,

4 RUSSIAN SEWING WOMAN,
What was I to do? Never was a
woman placed IN such pitiable condi-
ton. 1 had been brought to Russia by g
New England sewing machine company
to run their machines at an agency Of
theirs in Street in St. Petersburg
where handsome shop had been rented.
One blustery cold day toward the close
of October | 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 done? All the money I bad
in the world was about equivalent to S12.
What was due me I had left in our
agents hands, and feltsure it was lost.
l thought of everything in the rs min
utes 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 at least roof over my
head for few weeks. An idea sudden
~ struck me. had been making an
evening dress on tine machine tor Rus
sian lady WHO spoke English. She had
come idea of buying a machine. In Or
der to expedite the work had taken to
my room the body Of her dress, aud, hay
ing machine there, had sewed on it OF
nights. The machine would certaiuly
keep; it would so very little toward the
payment OF the deDt the agent owed me.
I hurried home. Perhaps there WAS ii
letter with some money in It. There
was nothing. must find the lady-but
how? She had left no address. She
had hardy spoken to me. thought |
heard her Say she would come again, and
believed she had fixed on this very
day. There was but one chance in a
thousand. l must stand in the street
and wait until she appeared.
fastened back and took up my posi-
ton near the shop. I scanned every
woman passing by. It was bitterly cold
and raw, and the wind chilled me. |
was faint with anxiety. Had I only
known more of the language I would
have asked policeman to take me to
the American consul, TO the minister. l
was in despair. Suddenly carriage
drove up, a footman opened the door,
and lady elegantly dressed alighted. 1
tore across the street; it was the Rus
sian lady. With my heart in my mouth,
I told her my pititul story and begged
her to hell me. If she wanted servant,
would she only try me? had sew
ing machine, and would make her
dresses for nothing if could only stay
with her until could write to my peo.
pie at home; they would send me money,
and I could get back 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.
IL am without friend in the world
here-a poor American woman, thou
sands of miles from her home"
She looked at me, then opened her
portemonn5ie.
"No, no." said, 81 want no money.
I cannot beg. am not yet so poor as
to ask aims. But do you rot remember
nc? The store is closed. The man
who kept it has run away. l showed
you the way the machine was worked"
Then she scanned me quickly; next
cross-questione d me sharply.
How could a young girl trust her.
self alone in this strange country ?" she
asked.
81 was not alone. Two other young
women came from the United States
with me. Two weeks ago they were
sent home, and the miserable man IN
charge induced me to stay, promising to
give me money enough at the end OF
next month for my trip home to the
United States. Might hot the police
look up the matter? I have been out
rageously swipdled."
1.-THE police? and my GRESHAM I to
lose % the lady asked impatiently.
"Not all of it. The skirt is in the
chop, the body, the waist, is in my room,
almost finished" It seemed to me dread
full that in my agony she should talk
about her dress.
"Where do you live ?" she enquired
abruptly. I told her. "Get into the
carriage" she said. l did so. When
we we're off the main street she stopped
the carriage, got out with me, and we
walked to my lodgings. l opened tue
DIOR. On the table was her basque. 1t
old not seem to interest her. She
picked it up, however, glanced at it a
moment, then threw it down. She e1-
amlned the sewing machine.
"How long would it lake me to become
proficient in working this ?" she in
quued as she sat down before the. ma
chine and tried the pedals. Is it IA
tiguing
"No. madam. Oh, would you buy
it It is mine by rights. The money
for it might help me to leave St. Peters
burg" -
"How long did you say it would take
me to become proficient p
"Two we+ks-perhaps iess." p
"Wouid itdisfgure my hands?" She
took off her gloves, showed her we'll
cared. for hands, her fingers gltterine
with ringe.
"Your beautiful hands would hardly
be spoiled" Z
swell, then, give me lesson at once
at once. will pay you for your
trouble"
depressed my gratitude with almost
tears in my eyes. II have no material
here-but anything will do" said, as
I opened my trunk and took out an
apron. 81 will run tuck across the
bottom-it will do no HARM"
"Nonsense. Take the waist and begin
on that"
"But it is quite finished, and any ex.
ira stitching would spoil this delicate
cream c0lored elk.
"Give it to me-" said the lady, taking
up her scissors and deliberately cutting
the waist up thu back.
Now sew me up this, she cried. I
tookit and as carefully as I could ran
the machine, sewing up an ugly cash,
but, of course, the waist was spoiled.
"Now I will try, !" and she sat down and
under my instruction worked for an
hour, She was wonderfully clever with
her fingers, and seemed to seize the Pc.
culiarities Of the machine al. once. =
cat this rate Of progress, madam,
you would become quite a good work
woman in 10 days, / said, approYingly.
She made no reply, but worked away.
for another haH hour, crossing and re-