River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-29


and hawl ON some hooks. of which
there was an abundant supply. she
had scarcely done so when footsteps
sounded on the stairs leading to the
- and she walked toward them tC
receive the newcomers. She could
not be otherwise than@ handsome and
/ stately, for so had nature endowed her
but she was also blessed with a winning
smile and q sweet voice, and the group
OF five young women that appeared,
budding together in embarrassment,
thawed from somewhat sulky and
silent demeanor. and responded with
some degree or courtesy to her greet
/ ing. They advanced into the hall and
+ seated themselves in bashful silence, and
another group presented itself, then q
i Girl alone. others in twos and threeS,
Mrs. Christian all the time remaining
near the door and receiving as a hostess
/ would her guests, till about forty Were
present. when the influx suddenly
ceased. and but two or three came
! later When She turned away from
/ the door. she found her visitors looking
eNpectant, and she scarcely knew what
! step next To take, for though she had
some experience in mission schools
and reformatories, here were
neither children nor criminals.
/ Love and enthusiasm taught
her tact, aud she went forward ''into
the midst of them, like a mighty
teacher of old. and said, in voice
clear and cordial, Il am very glad to
/ see each and every one of you, and
/ hope this is the first of a series of meet
L s,,.,., h,1 t,,t -, I,
come we'll acquainted and perhaps
/ teach us all something. / am going to
open a mending school, and if you will
4 each bring your week mending to this
+ hall, ! will show YOU how to do it in the
+ best manner and help You to 10 it. 1t
will not cost you anything except for
needles and thread.
Il know how to mend my clo'es well
enough. growled a sulky young wo-
man behind her.
Then you are just the person |
want" said Mrs. Christian, turning
round promptly. For if as many
come as | hope, you see | shall need
help in teaching; so, mayI depend on
you?"
The young woman muttcred an awk-
ward Maybe, and two or three gig
Did yer name We d darn our stockin' 5
fer us?" said slim and small person.
Yes, if You can not learn to do it
yourself, said the lady.
Shame on yer, Katy O'Neil!" said
several voices.
Not atall, said Mrs. Christian. Il
viii show you, Katy, next Saturday
night.
I'D be glad to get dress cut, re-
marked another.
That may come later but first we
will do all the mending.'
Saturday nights we goes to dances. :"
volunteered young girl with banged
hair and long brass earrings.
This ball will be as warm and pleas
ant as the dance hall. answered Mrs.
Christian. with a smile at the speaker.
Il guess | amt going to work all
day and sew ali night. I'd rather take
walk. or 90 to the theatre.
at will soon be too cold to take eve
ming walks said the undisuouraged
teacher, land YOU will find it agreeable
to be in a warm room with pleasant
company. If there is anybody here
who needs stitch taken tonight it
would make a good beginning, she add
ed Il brought needles and thread with
me.
A girl standing near had been swing
ing her bonnet by its ribbons while list
ening and gazm1 and one had broken
loose. This she held up shyly, urged
thereto by her companions with visible
pushes and audible whispers, You.
Lizzje!m and "Go ahead, why don t
vou?' and a dozen crowded round
while Mrs. Christian seated her in 4
good light. selected thread and needle
and uttered aphorisms familiar to those
whose youth blossomed in the day
when hand sewing was a necessity.
Thread the end that comes off the
spool first. Thread has a right and
wrong way like everything else. A
short thread and long needle To
put the needle in slowly and draw it
through quickly makes easy, durable.
and beautiful sewing"
A smothered laugh was heard, and an
other girl showed torn lining IN her
sacque, and was promptly seized by
Mrs. Christian The contaglon spread;
a pinned ruffie was scwed uD, a hole in
somebody pocket n 3nded, a ragged
cuff neatly repaired, and conversation
spread among the workers, while laugh
ter now and then indicated good humOr
Some. however looked lonely and sat
aloof and it was to reach these that
Mrs. Christian said, after while: Il
think little music would be pleasant
before we separate. | VIII sing to you
first and then perhaps you will sing
with me. The wind blew and the
frost stung out-of-doors. but she struck
a few chords on the organ and sang a
song full of the hum of bees, the rustic
of leaves and the song OF birds. Then
the plaintive notes of that song of songs.
Sweet Home t4embled in the air,
and after this teacher and pupils part
ed. Mrs. Christian took pains to speak
to each separately. inviting them to
come again and bring work next time,
and went home herself with light in
her eyes and glow in her heart.
She perceived there would be room
for more than one teacher, and invited
several young ladies to join her One
was Miss Freeman, the daughter of
that potentate, the president OF the col
iege, for this was a university town as
well as a mill town. and mighty We're
president aud professors, and much re-
vcred by all save the youth in their
charge Mrs. Lloyd, sister to Miss
Freeman. and her friend Miss Slow
come, also volunteered with much zeal
and q genuine desire to be useful.
As the hour for the next session of
the mending school approached, Mrs
Christian hoped "hcr girls, rs she
called them to herself, would choose to
come to her rather than walk the
streets-the streets~of a city full OF
peril and pitfalls, wilder than forest,
more dangerous than a quicksand.
/ She need not have feared; so warm 4
room, so hoSpitable hostess, tempted
them, and they came before the hour,
troopIng up the stairs, and Mrs. Chris
tan saw with delight that the number
of the first evening was nearly doubled
+ She had previously instructed her aids,
who hustled about, seating the guests.
and ascertaining what Kind of work
each had brought. Some bashfully
drew from their pockets q single hand
kerchef needing hemming, or solitary
stocking with gaping holes. Others
produced large bundles OF hopeless
/ looking garments that might have fur
nished work for dozen This even
ing a system was established, and
classes were formed with an eye to a
degree of skill attained by each pupil,
from those who could barely thread a
needie-and these were not few among