The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-05-14
A LOST MOONST0NE.
ny ELEANOR W. r. DATES.

/
washed once, but now cobwebby as to
the ceiling and dingy MS to the walls, y
dozen sewing machines stood about
each In such light as its worker could
best attain. But no part of the room
was dark, for there were large. high
windows and an ample skylight, which
let In a noble food of sunshine. even to
dazzling on clear day, 80 that Miss
Hall, the forewoman of the shirt fac,
tory, petitioned Mr.. Chester for eur
tain.
"Oh, don't shut out that lovely sun
light" cried fresh young voice.
you'll be blind yourself some day.
and then your know how good il is"
replied the unrelenting forewoman.
"I'll send up Peter" said Mr., Chester.
Here's an order for six shirts. They
must be just right and made by hand.
The eyelet holes must be bigger than
common, to accommodate the custom.
er's stud He left il for measurement:
here tits; keep 1t to-day, and hand it To
me when you 60 home. Look out for
| it."
|
Chester's superior shirts disappeared,
and Miss Hall held up the gem and
looked at It. Two or three girls left
their seats and came, with sewing
dangling over their arms, to inspect the
stud. 1t was really beautiful moon
stone Of unusual size and luster, set in
the narrowest rim of gold.
| OIsvo haorr1 TINT fhav CnSf lv
things" said Miss Hall. "Go back to
your work, girls. and don't idle any
longer"
At the extreme end of the room sat
two young women. One was a new
hand. who had propitiated Miss Hall by
sample of exquisite needlework. Her
name was Florettn Simpson, The other,
Dolly Burr, was older, and had been in
Mr.. Chester's employ ever since he had
patented his handmade shirts. which,
from the unvarying excellence of their
manufacture, were fast making his
fortune. She was now initiating Floretta
into certain technicalities. They had to
change their seats; for Peter, general
utility man. now appeared and drapcd
white cloth across the sunny skylight.
to the darkeningof the corner where the
girls had placed themselves.
"Can you get along now, think?" said
Dolly.
"Yes; you're awfully good" said
Floretta. II know how to sew. but |
never could put a garment together. |
couldn't do a whole shirt TO save my
life"
well, you won't have to here. We
each have separate parts, and work on
them all the year round. That girl over
there does all the necks, unless there are
too many; the new hands try the seams
first. Last month we were rushed so it
took all one girls time just to put in
gussets, and she's quick worker, too.
You're in luck to be set to tucking;
think it's such pretty work."
IF these are all handmade garments.
what are those machines doing there p
asked Floretta.
well, you see there is cheaper
garment which Is substantially hand
made, all but the seams; and when
work is dull, Mr.. Chester gets out lot
CT them and sells to retailers; but they
are not the patented article, and don't
fetch the same price. You'll have to run
machine sometimes. I'd just as soon;
it makes change. used to run a ma
chine all tho time, but that's hard
work."
Floretta sewed in silence few min
utes.
l ho1 10 t.<
fully. II never worked away from
home before; and you don't know how
bashful felt when first came in, and
all you girls looked at me-"
Up the stairs-for this attic room was
reached by no elevator-futtered q
beautifully-dressed, fair-faced young
woman. She rushed at Miss Hall, kissed
her, nodded with bright smile to two
or three of the girls, and began to chat
ter volubly to the forewoman.
THAT'S Mrs. Chester" Whispered
Dolly. "She used to work here before
she married Mr.. Chester"
Floretta fixed her eyes on the pretty
creature. "Can she sew?" she asked;
and indeed one would have as soon
thought OF butterfly or white mouse
sewing.
"Oh. pretty we'll; not SO well as you
and l." answered Dolly, candidly.
II can't have SO much noise here,
said Miss Hall, raising her voice. "You
must all sew more and talk less. Miss
Simpson, If you've got that tuckine
done, I'll set you to work ON these eyelet
holes. I'll give you the stud to measure
by. Now make the eyelet just right for
the stem Of the stud, neither too large
nor too small. Here's the stud; TO,
: mercy's sake don't lose it'll"
"Oh, let me see it." cried Mrs. Chester
rustling forward. ''Oh, what beauty
It ought to be set in a lady's ring
Wouldn't it be lovely pendant for 6
necklace? It Is cross between pear
, and moonbeam."
She stayed talking some time longer
then departed, stopping on the top stall
! to say: "Oh, you poor girls! wish yot
could all go to walk this lovely day."
: Somehow It seemed darker after she
had gone. The girls fen into a silence
Miss Hall called Peter to uncover the
skylight. Floretta found herself shor'
of thread, and. applying to the fore
woman for more, was sharply rebuket
for not returning her empty spool, a.
the rules required. 1t was now ONT
O'Clock. Some Of the girls went out fol
lunch, while others produced small
baskets, and in one corner an oil stow
did yeoman duty in brewing divers cup,
OF tea.
Floretta felt lonely. She looked a
Dolly. but Dolly was setting out hel
dinner on the cover of pasteboard box
30 Floretta put on her hat and startet
for the stairs.
"If you're going out, Miss Simpson,
said Miss Hail, looking up from SOM
accounts she was auditing, you'd bet
ter hand me that stud."
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
.|ANED D. O.