Connecticut western news., 1885-06-17

with gaping holes. Others produced large bundles of hopeless-looking gar ments that might have furnished work for dozen. This evening system was established, and classes were formed with an eye to the degree of skill at- tained by each pupil, from those who could barely thread a needle and these were not few among the mill girls, we'll as they knew to guide loom-to those who could sew creditably, but lacked the courage to do it in their own cheerless rooms. Miss Freeman proved herself treasure. She neither condescended to the human creatures about her nor held above their level, but recognized com- mon sisterhood, and was everywhere in a minute, and helping everybody. Mrs. Lloyd was much like her, blithe and busy, with 8 contagious laugh. Miss Slowcome, with the best of motives, suc- ceeded in arousing the animosity of some of the class. They resented her diamond earrings and her pince-nez; her way of saying, "Why, don't you know how to do that ?" and "Oh, that is not right at all, phrases which they caught up and repeated to each other before her face and in her manner; and when she heard herself spoken of as "Stiffy Slowcome," tears of modification sprang to her eyes, she sought Mrs. Christian, begging to be excused from further attendance, and the mending school knew her no more.
 The stocking menders were seated by themselves, and Mrs. Christian applied to her aids to conduct the alarming, but in vain. Their skillful fingers knew all stitches save that, and both ladies took their first lesson in the lost art of darn- ing stockings from Mrs. Christian in the mending school.
 The third evening showed no de- crease of interest; the fourth and fifth were still better attended, as the first corners spread the history of the move ment; and it may as we'll be said here that although there were fluctuations in the degree of interest attending the meetings during the winter, there were never less pupils than on the first even- ing, and frequently the number was doubled.
 Among the mill girls was one who had learned dress-making, and Mrs. Chris tian, who had hand like Kate Scud- der's, that ''never saw the thing it could not do," inaugurated a dress-making class. From the mending school sprang cooking school, taught gratuitously by skilled instructors, and more than one mill girl exchanged the whir and rattle of machinery in the great factory for the song of tea-kettIe in 8 quiet kitchen.
 When the dark days of f'the strike' came, newcomers found their way to the hall, and although Mrs. Christian had at first steadfastIy set her face against giving anything but friendly labor in the school, she holding that frequent and unwise gifts promote pauperism and beggary, she now found herself gradu- ally yielding her position for time, helping to distribute needed articles among the destitute, and becoming the almoner of others bounty. People in the city found out the quiet work which was going on, and focked in to advise, criticise and suggest-some few to go to work and help.
 But "the strike" passed away, so did the winter. and Mrs. Christian returned with the spring to her own home in an- other city. The novel work which she had instituted did not die; it lived and hourisAed, and many home had its comfort enhanced and income increased by the skill acquired at Mrs. Christians s mending school.