Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-05-05
OUR DRESSMAKER.

Miss Peckitt used to come to our
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 Peck
lit 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
the day.
1T has brick inside to keep 1t
steady when pin my work to It," she
said, land carry 1t with me because
1t was the last thing my young man
made for me-"
20, did you ever have a young
man? Do tell me about HIM"
At 10 years old one Is not discreet.
l suppose Miss Peckitt was not in
clined to be hard on youthful indis-
cretion She threaded her needle and
began:
at was when was young girl"
She could not have been more than
80 at this time. but to me she SEEM
ed immeasurably old, as | said:
tits a long time ago. then" as SYM
pathetically as | could.
Yes" she said, "a long time. He
was the son of farmer. and we was
counting ever since we was quite lit
tie things and went to Sunday school.
But it was not to be-"
What happened?"
"Why, his father died my dear, and
when 1t came to looking into things
1t 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 sold up-house and buildings
and the beasts, and the land with the
standing crops. They may say It's law,
but 1t amt justice"
She bit of her thread sharply and /
said 1t was shame.
80 1t was-a black shame. My
Willie would a. paid them every penny
II they'd only a. waited. But no; they
sold the old place, and 1t fetched more
than they looked for. and there was
near 81 600 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 looking like a dog that the boys
are after with stones.
"T'm OFF, says he; with this bit OF
money I'll make a fortune over In
America, 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
"T'hen he gave me this plncushion;
1t seemed a funny present, being quite
plain, as you see, and II had big
stitches, but sewn strong. and | al
most laughed as | took It, | was glad
after that hadn't laughed, for Willie
he says:
Blossom. my doar. do you know
what makes It SO heavy?"
80 | said, no, didn't"
II u bliNh WI Ai' OIu bOulh wall
at home, says he, where the yellow
rose Is, and where the apricots fruit
so free. and It's covered with q bit OF
silk gown my mother was married in
its faded. but you can see the rose
sprigs on 1t yet. You'll keep It for my
sake?
"Well?" I asked. for Miss Peckitt
had stopped abruptly.
"Well, that's ALL" she said, shortly;
"he never come back, but know he
was true-and he would ha' come back
II he'd been living, and the Lords will
be DONE" she added.
did you keep the piece OF the old
dress?" asked. when It wore out
and you ripped It on? should like to
see IT,"
Il never ripped II on" she said: IL
covered II with a bit OF damask, mean
Ing to show 1t to him fresh and bright
when he come home; but dare say
It's worn out now, underneath, with all
the needles and pins I've stuck In it
worn out"
Time did not stand still In our vii
ldBe. bicycle IhctOTy TeaTeu ltb
gaunt ugllness by the church, and the
moss-grown well was replaced by
galvanized iron pump. The old fam
lilies moved away. and new people
came; smarter people, In their GIN
crack way, who got their dresses made
in the county town. and despised
Miss Peckitt's old-fashioned patterns.
was finishing my education in
France and Germany. When I came
home hardly know It. Almost my
first visit was paid to the little white
house with the green ratings.
1T will do the poor thing good to
see you" said my mother. II fear she
Is horribly poor. She gets hardly any
work now. And she won't accept any
thing she does not earn"
She did not know me at first. and
was busting chair that was already
OF sDotlessness to shame our chairs
at home, when suddenly she recognized
me the shock shattered for moment
the reserve years-she threw her thin
arms around my neck and kissed me-
faltered an apology for the liberty"