The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-12-29
Miss PeCkitt, Our DresSmaker

M ISIS PDCK1TT used to come to our
lV house to sew. She sewed my
frocks and she sewed my pinafores. and
sat among her tapes and pins and yard
measures telling me old stories that no
one else cared about. for Miss Peckitt
had no relatives, and had always, as she
said, kept herself to herself
And of all her stories the one liked
best was the one about the pincushion.
1t was a large, heavy cushion. and
wondered why Miss Peckitt always
brought 1t with her when she came for
the day.
at has brick inside to keepit steady
when I pin my work to it, she said;
"and carry it with me because it was
the last thing my young man made for
me-"
20. did you ever have young man?
Do tell me about him!" t7
At ten years old one is not discreet.
Isuppose Miss Peckitt was not inclined
t. be hard on youthful indiscretion.
She threaded her needle and began:
ut was when was young girl"
She could not have been more than 80
at this time, but to me she seemed i'm
measurably old, az I said:
"It's long time ago, then." as SYM
pathetically as could.
"Yes," she said, "a long time. He was
the son Of farmer, and we was court
Ing ever since we was quite little things
and went to Sunday school. But It was
not to be-"
"What happened?"
"Why. his father died, my dear, and
when II came to looking into things It
was found he'd borrowed money ON
the land, and the interest hadn't been
paid. So, then, my Willie said he'd pay
the interest and all. II they'd only wait.
But they wouldn't-and the old place
was cold up-houses and buildings and
the beasts, and the land with the stand
ing crops. They may say it's law, but
It amt justice"
She bit of her thread sharply, and I
said it was shame.
$50 it was-a black shame. My Willie
would a paid them every penny If
they'd only a. waited. But no; they
sold the old place, and it fetched more
than they looked for, and there was
near 81 900 over. and that they gave to
Willie, as was only fair. And after the
sale was over saw nothing of him for
two days, and then he came to me look
ing like dog that the boys are after
with stones.
"I'm off, says he; with this bit of
money I'll make fortune over in Amer
lea, which is free country, and I'll
come home for you. my girl, or I'll write
and you'll come to me-"
"'If it was to the worlds end says l.
"Then he gave me this pincushion; 1t
seemed funny present, being quite
plain, as you see, and it had big stitches
but sewn strong, and l almost laughed
as took it. was glad after that /
hadn't laughed, for Willie he says:
blossom, my dear, do you know
what makes 1t SO heavy?'
$50 said, mo, didn't
"'It's a brick out of the old south
wall at home,' says he, where the yell
low rose is, and where the apricots fruit
so free, and it's covered with bit of silk
gown my mother was married in-it's
faded, but you can see the rose sprigs
on it yet. You'll keep it for my saker
'Weil?" asked. for Miss Peclitt had
stopped abruptly.
"Well. that's ALL" she said. shortly;
he never come back. but know he was
true-and he would u come back If he's
been living, and the Lords will be
DONE" she added.
Ibid you keep the piece Of the old
dressr" asked, "when 1t wore out and
You ripped II OF? ] should Ike to see
IT,
- nsssr ripped II orr - said. n
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