Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-06-01
OUR DRESSMA MAKER.

| MlbS feCkltl uSeu 10 come 10 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 large, heavy cushion, and
wondered why Miss Peckitt always
brought it with her when she came for
the day.
1T has a brick inside to keep it
steady when pin my work to it," she
said, "and l carry it with me because
it 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.
I suppose Miss Peckitt was not in
clined to be hard on youthful indis-
cretion. She threaded her needle and
began:
1T was when l was a young girl"
She could not have been more than
80 at this time. but to me she SEEM
ed immeasurably old. as / said:
"It's long time ago, then" as SYM
pathetically as l could.
YES" she said "a long time. He
was the son of a 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 it 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, IL 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 off her thread sharply and l
said 1t was a shame.
80 1t was-a black shame My
Willie would a paid them every penny
Il they'd only a waited. But no; they
sold the old place, and 1t fetched more
than they looked for, and there was
near $1,000 over, and that they gave
to Willie, as was only fair. And after
the sale was over l saw nothing of
him for two days, and then he came
to me looking like dog that the boys
are after with stones.
Pm on 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 III
; write and you'll come to me-
"'If 1t was to the worlds end says
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 I al
most laughed as l took it. was glad
5 after that hadn't laughed, for Willie
; he says:
Blossom. my dear. do you know
what makes it so beavy?"
so l said no, didn't"
Its brick OF the old south wall
at home says he, where the yellow
rose is, and where the apricots fruit
|
silk gown my mother was married in
: Its faded, but you can see the rose
I sprigs on 1t yet. You'll keep 1t for my
! sake?'
| "Well?" I asked, for Miss Peckitt
= had stopped abruptly.
We'll, that's ALL" she said, shortly;
"he never come back, but l know he
was true-and he would ha' come back
= IL he'd been living, and the Lords will
3 be DONE" she added.
| did you keep the piece Of the old
: dress?" I asked. when 1t wore out
: and you ripped it Off? 1 should like to
see It,"
II never ripped It or" she said; 81
covered 1t with bit OF damask, mean
ing to show 1t to him fresh and bright
l when he come home; but dare say
it's worn out now. underneath, with all
l the needles and pins I've stuck in it
0 worn out"
= Time did not stand still In our vii
lage. A bicycle factory reared its
gaunt ugliness by the church, and the
moss-grown we'll was replaced by q
4 galvanized iron pump The old fam.
0 lilies moved away, and new people
. came; smarter people, in their glm-
crack way, who got their dresses made
in the county town, and despised
Miss Peckitt's old-fashioned patterns
s was finishing my education in
0 France and Germany. When l came
home I hardly knew it. Almost my