Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-09-11
TWO LESSONS.

Farine says that I need ten yards of trim
Dlng at four dollars yard. l am ashamed
10 ask, but was obliged to do So"
Very we'll, my DEAR" replied tho mer-
chant. There is the money, but, dear me-
forty dollars for trimming! Women are
getting worse than ever!"
So, breakfast over, and Mr.. Rome off for
that mysterious region known as 1.-The city,"
Emma started on her shopping expedition.
On the way thoughts of her new dress
tan through her mind She intended to
wear it on an occasion which to her seemed
very important. Someone was to be
present whose opinion she valuad-some-
one she herself admired very much. Did
lie admire her?
Thus absorbed, she suddenly found her
self some distance beyond her destination.
There was nothing for it but to walk back,
md the way lay through streets filled with
miserable houses. The fashionable girl
hurried along until. all at once, she found
, sort Of barricade across The street. The
middle object of this baricade was sew
ing machine, to which on one side chung u
homan, on the other man. An attendant
Towd of residents contemplated this scene
With evident interest, and Emma Roma be-
came, perforce. one of their number.
Forty dollars I've paid you on that
machine, and now you'll not give me time.
[ only ask time. I'm an honest woman. I'll
pay you. Man, do you know it's all there
S between us and starvation? Let me have
i. It's but so owe you"
"1ou've owed that two months" replied
The man. Come, let go, missus. l don't
want to hurt You. I've got to obey orders"
But the woman did not relin0uish her
hold. Still clutching the machine, she
turned her agoniZed eyes upon the by
standers.
Forty dollars" she repeated. "and the.
machine but $50, and he's taking it. +
never failed until Jim broke his leg, and
his work stopped and his wage with It. and
I'd doctors bill, and all"
mo, that she didn't" cried voice from
The crowd.
And he'd better be off with his cart, y
cried a man who had stalked out of the
entry of the house near which the crowd
had gathered, rolling up his sleeves.
Look here, good people" explained tie
man who held the machine. Il don't want
10 do this. l obey orders, or lose my place,
She'd better go to the master, and talk to
him-not to me.
"rve been," said the woman. "He's
made of stone. l told him he'd starve us.
He will. Take it." And she let &C her
hold, and covered her eyes with her hands,
But in the place of those rough, red
fingers, others, dainty and small, and we'll
gloved, came down upon the cover of thd
machine. Emma Rome had pressed for
ward, and now spoke.
"Stop," she said. "Will you let this
woman keep her machine if pay you ten
dollars?"
"Them's the masters orders, miss re-
piled the man, land I'd be glad to do it,
too"
Then, while the crowd gathered close,
and the woman who had told her piteous
tale sobbed with Joy, Emma drew the sum
named from her purse, received in return q
receipt, which she gave to the poor woman
and experienced for the first time the de.
light which the performance of an utterly
unselfish act brings with it.
Moreover, when the machine had been
Borne upstairs, Emma, who had exchanged
few words with its owner. followed her II
her miserable room, noted its poverty, heard
I'll the bitter tale.
"But don't mind anything now, MISS"
sobbed the narrator. "Now the machine is
fny own, L don't mind how 1 work. And
lle only great tug is the landlord-four dol
-tlrs a month for rent"
AS much month as o yard of that
trimming" thought Emma, with n little
pang.
And before she turned from the door she
had cmptied her purse, and had paid three
months rent in advance.
Your husband will be we'll and at work
BY that time" she said; and there were no
'egrets for the lost fringe rs she took her
way homeward. Nay, she was not even
.tung to the soul when Madame Farine re-
marked, with glance that said volumes.
The black lace from your old grenadlne
dress? Certainly, since it is to your taste. :"
The dress, however, was not unbecoming,
despite the refurtishcd lace, and Emma
wore it to the party. And, somehow, Arthur
Maine found himself more than ever before
attracted by it, and as she drove home that
night, Emma felt that the instinct which
sad said to her, "he loves" had been no
false prophet.
She had learned two lessons in little
while One, that the poor might be clothed
md fed from the trimmings of the rich; the
,ther, that extravaganza in dress never yet
Won any mans heart.