The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-09-01
SOPHRONIA.

I - -
1t was a small ssory.and.a.hali cot
tagc, painted white, with green blinds
The white paint had lost its prestinl
purity and the green OF the blinds was
faded and dusty. A hinge OF the gate
was broken and the gate swung and
creaked hideously; the little patch Of
grass in front sorely needed attention
The sewing machine agent noted these
things without knowing II, ashe jumped
from his buggy and walked toward the
front door. He was Of an unbeautiful
Yankee type-blue-eyed, randy-haired,
and shambied somewhat in his gait--yei
you might look long IN his lean face,
with It's twinkling eyes and frequent
smile, before you could detect an un'
trustworthy lineamGnt.
There was no bell. so he raped. No
answer. He raped again. This time a
foot-step might be heard within, and
presently the door was held slightly
aiar and then dung wide open, as i TO
welcome q lonR-expected guest, The
sewing machine agent was used TO all
kinds Of receptions, and did not lose q
second in beginning his well'leaned
lesson.
II am representing the firm OF Gusset
& Hemm, sewing machine manufac-
lures, madam, and would like 10 show
you one OF the machines, unless you
have one already. Have you n sewing
machineT
No answer.
ave sell them for cash or installments
and warrant them satisfactory. would
like TO show you Gussett * Hemm;
could bring the machine right in and
show you how it works. Did yOC gay
you had machine2"
No answer.
"Or, II you have a machine and it
isn't quite satisfactory, We would take It
in part payment for n new one" He
looked ut the figure before him, little
woman dressed in black. her once sun
ny hair streaked with gray and hidden
upder widows cap, her lace pale and
worn. She might have been ~ or 30
years old, the agents own age, hut time
had laid heavier hand on the woman
than the man. He noted that she
trembled and looked iixedly at him, and
thought, in his Yankee yernacular, "Ner-
vous critter, afraid OF tumps and ped
oilers, likely" He rambled on in his
usual fashion, eXtolling his wares, and
finally wound up with, an just fetch
in the machine and see how you like
| it."
At this the goman found her tongue.
"No. don't" she said bTeathles5ly,
"Did YOU say you had machine,
madam ?" asked the agent.
"Yes, She said; and then added, hest
talingly, "but tits out oiior,leT. Perhaps
you could fix il for me- and held the
door open wider, as mute invitation for
him to entes. He availed himself Of il
ut once, walking straight into the small
front room, bare, destitute Of ornament,
It's most costly furnishing being thescw
ing.machinc, at which he seated him
sell without lossIo a moment. 1t sang
and buEzed uuder the stress Of his rapid
foot and hand.
Needs oiling," he said-whirr-whirr
"a new belt would he a mighty good
thing on this ere; I'll take this up n
-whirr-whirr-. Now, ] VI tell
you, ma'am, you hsd better let me fetch
you up Gussett 4 lemm you'll like il
great deal better than this one, and
you can have plenty OF time to pay for 1t
in"
NO, no, said the widow, hastily, ~
conidnt pay ioT another one. | %Ss
two years doing slop work enough 10 pay
for this, and / had to support my child
besides"
"Shol you don't say so,n said the
agent, with sympathy. paid high
price, didn't ye? Well, l'lltell you can.
didly there don't seem to he nothin' the
matter with this, except that il amt the
newest fashion. Here's my card
Azariah Adams, with Gussett x lleInm
I'd like to leave il, and il you want
any sewing machine supplies, needles,
or windcrs, or anything OF that sort, III
take your order now aud bring i when
! | come around To deliver machines in
two weeks"
"Bring me some needles said the
widow, eagerly.
The agent took ont his note book.
''What name, madam ?'
Mrs. Twitchcll,' said the widow, and
seemed TO look scarchingly through her
glasses at the agent. He sCribblcd q
minute, thanked her, went out, and
scrambled into his buggy with a wori
to his horse, and drove away whistling
rheerily. Mrs. TwitchCll dropped into
her seat, buried her face in her hands,
and cried softly, hut increasingly, until
her little daughter came home from play.
The child saw no signs OF tears, how
ever. To her she was the same gentle,
carcyorn, silent mother she had always
known; nor could the little one dream
that old memories were rising and rush.
ing within her mothers heart like the
spring floods, almost overwhelming her
with their force.
When Azariah Adams came again the
summer had fairly begun, and Mr.
rWitchcll set d0Ors and windows wide
omen that the sweet pCriumcd night air
might I'LL the whole small cottage, lie.
sides, she placed bouquet 0i the com
mon wild flowers in glass tumbIcr on
the sewing machine, She herself re-
tanned her former aspect, except that
her black dress was laid aside. and q
gray dress and white apron lent her q
Quaker.like scmblancc.
Mr.. Adams gave greeting NJ to m old
and valued customer, with respect and
icryor, produced the needles, received .
few cents which were due, and took NJ
his hat Ia 90. But the widow, in hul
usual hCsltating way, detained him,
"Shall you be- this way again soon"
she asked.
"Ycs, shall, - said Azariah, promptly
1--WE sold more machines this time, an,
I've got 10 come and deliver them inside