Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-17
TWO LESSONS.

Farine says that I need ten yards of trim
ming at four dollars yard. I am ashamed
to ask, but 1 was obliged to do So"
Very we'll, my dear" replied the 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 "the city,"
Emma started on her shopping expedition.
ran 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 valued-some-
one she herself admired very much. Did
he admire her?
Thus absorbed, she suddenly found her
self some distance beyond her destination.
There was nothing for it but to walk back,
and 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 barricade was sew
ing machine, to which on one side chung o
woman, on the other man. An attendant
crowd Of residents contemplated this scene
with evident interest, and Emma Roms 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
is between us and starvation? Let me have
it. It's but SO owe YOU"
you've owed that two months" replied
the man. "Come, let go, missus. I don't
want to hurt you. I've got to obey orders. /"
But the woman did not relinquish her
hold. Still clutching the machine, she
turned her agonized eyes upon the by
ISLANDERS.
"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"
"No, that she didn't" cried o voice from
the crowd.
"And he'd better be off with his cart, !"
cried 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 the
man who held the machine. Il don't want
to do this. obey orders, or lose my place.
| She'd better go to the master, and talk to
him-not to me.
give been," said the woman. "He's
| made of stone. I told him he'd starve us.
He will. Take it." And she let go he1
hold, and covered her eyes with her hands.
But in the place of those rough, red
fingers, others, dainty and small, and well
gloved, came down upon the cover of the
machine. Emma Rome had pressed for
ward, and now spoke.
astop," she said. "Win you let this
| woman keep her machine if pay you ten
dollars?"
"Them's the masters orders, miss" re-
piled the man, 'and 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 a
| receipt, which she gave to the poor woman,
and experienced for the first time the de-
light which the performance of an utterly
unseltsh act brings with 1t.
Moreover, when the machine had been
borne p-stairs, Emma, who had exchanged
| few words with its owner, followed her to
her miserable room, noted its poverty, heard
all the bitter tale.
uBut don't mind anything now, miss,
sobbed the narrator. "Now the machine is
my own, / don't mind how work. And
the only great tug is the landlord-four dol
lars month for rent"
"As much month as q yard Of that
trimming" thought Emma, with a little
pang.
And before she turned from the door she
had emptied 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
regrets for the lost fringe as she took her
way homeward. Nay, she was not even
stung to the soul when Madame Far1ne re-
marked, with a glance that said volumes.
"The black lace from your old grenadlns. ::
dress? Certainly, since it is to your TASTE =
The dress, however, was not unbecomlng,
despite the refurbished lace, and Emma
wore it to the party: And, somehow, Artnu arthur
attracted h,na e by it. and as she drove home Thai
night, Emma felt that the instinct which
had said to her, "he loves, had been nc
false prophet. ,;.4,,
while. One. that the poor might be clothed
and fed from the trimmings Of the rich; the
other, that extravagspcs in dress never yet
!! won any mans heart.