The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-12-18
RETRIBUTION.

ly storming, and the large fancy goods
store of Hopkins & Co. was almost de-
serted by customers, when an old lady,
wrapped in furs, entered. A moment
later young girl, poorly clad, but with
a sweet, sad face, and carrying large
bundle, followed her, and passing to the
rear of the store left her parcel, return
ing to the front counter to wait patiently
to speak to the saleswoman who was at
tending to the old lady.
The customer, after selecting some
knitting goods, said
81 should like to see the person who
knits these hoods and give her an
order"
81 am sorry, Mrs. Emerson, but it is
against the rules of the store. All orders
must be left with us; but l can assure
you the most minute directions will be
carefully delivered"
"That will not do" was the decided
answer. II want to see the woman"
every sorry" the girl replied, but
do not dare to break the rules"
Mrs. Emerson paid for her goods, not
noticing that the girl who had been close
beside her had left the store. She was
stepping into her carriage when the same
girl spoke to her.
II beg your pardon" she said, a faint
blush coloring her pale cheeks, "but
overheard what you said in the store. L
have not promised to keep any of the
rules made for the saleswomen. and l
need the order you mentioned so much
ventured to follow you"
"Oh You knitted the hood o.
Eyes. l knit a great many articles for
Hopkins & Co.
Just step into the carriage for few
moments. Drive slowly, James," said
Mrs. Emerson, adding when she had
drawn the fur robes over her new COM
panion: "The reason l could not leave
my order is easily explained. 1 am, as
you see, an old lady nearly seventy, and
cannot use my eyes much for sewing or
reading, but 1 am very fond of knitting.
Most of my work goes to fairs or charity,
so while it is an amusement to me it is
not wasted. 1 have bought goods several
times from Hopkins d Co. because there
were new stitches in them, but / find
travelling them out does not help to learn
them. SO what wanted to ask you was
whether you would teach them to me.
will pay you for your time, say dollar
ing until learn all the new ones you can
show me.''
''And know so many" the girl re-
piled, her color deepening with pleasure,
and most of them l invented myself, so
they are really new. Some L learned
from my old nurse, Scotchwoman, who
knew great many"
"Then you can spare the time to teach
me?'
'Oh, yes; and," she said frankly, "the
money will be great help to me. can
not make dollar in day, much less an
hour, knitting for stores"
81 am quite anxious to Begin Mrs.
Emerson said, with pleasant little
laugh. Can you give me lesson
now?'
with pleasure" was the reply.
The coachman having received his or
ders, the carriage was driven to hand
some residence, where few moments
later, Mrs. Emerson and her teacher were
seated in cosy sitting room, busy over
needles and wool
But while Mrs. Emerson was apparent
ly absorbed in the lesson, she was really
drawing from her young companion the
simple story of her life. A widow living
alone and in weak health, Mrs. Emerson
had kept alive and active all the warmest
sympathies of her heart. Most of the
relatives, all very near ones, excepting
one nephew, was dead; but, while feeling
the loneliness this implies, she had made
friends with the poor, the sick, the help
less, till it only needed an expression of
sorrow or want, to arouse her interest.
The first sight of Alice Wards sweet,
pale face had awakened this interest, and
before the first hour of the knitting les
son was over Mrs. Emerson had resolved
not to lose sight of her young teacher.
Her story was very simple one. The
only child of country clergyman, she
had been carefully educated, especially
in music, to fit her for teaching. Her
her mother had died while she was a
mere child, and she had been her fathers
hOusekeeper, companion and pupil until
his sudden death threw her friendless
and penAiless upon the world. Finding
it impossible to obtain scholars in the
little country town, she had sold the fur
niture of her cottage and come to the
city, to struggle, as so many struggle, for
bread.
For two weeks Mrs. Emerson devoted
two hours day to studying new knit
ting stitches, and then she made pro-
pOsal that seemed to Alice like fore
taste of heaven. In learning knitting
one nearly seventy years DID, the other
not yet twenty-had learned to love each
other, one with the tender pity of pros
porous old age for helpless youth, the
other with a passionate gratitude for
words and looks of kindness far out
weighing the more substantial benefits
conferred. So when Mrs. Emerson pro-
posed to Alice to come to live with her
a. l. Al