The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-10-10
The WOOer.

eHi udu Deen looking Tor. She didn't
give me any encouragement; but, you
know, faint heart ne'er won fair
lady, and l concluded when the spring
came on to go down to the Briggs
country place and call on her. sent
up my card, and she obliged me to
wait some time before she made her
appearance, but when she did she was
quite cordial. took courage at this,
because, you see, l hadn't had an in
Vltatlon. Besides, Miss Briggs father
Is lawyer, and we'll to do lawyer
standing high In his profession, while
am foreman in children's waist fac
tory. Besides, Miss Briggs is highly
educated and intellectual, while don't
make any pretense at that sort of
thing. l know my business, and that's
all want to know. l can take hold of
sewing machine and do more work
on 1t in a given time than any trio of
operators in my department.
! wen, we hadn't been chatting but a
rev minutes when Miss Briggs looked
absorbed In something passing in her
mind. Presently she said: "Mr. Bea-
Gle, I'm In peck Of trouble. Next
week were to have the house full Of
guests, and when we came down this
summer we found the rats had got
into our linen closet and made havoc
OF our sheets and pillowcases. We
nave the material for new ones. but
the woman we expected to make them
up has disappointed us. | was trying
to do some of che work when Won
called, but there's something the mat
Ter with our sewing machine. won
der If you could fix it for me-"
Il should SMILE" l said, pleased TO
nave an opportunity to be of service:
that's just in my line. There isn't n
part OF sewing machine that don't
know all about. l can put your ma
chine In order and then make her
hum"
She took me upstairs to a sewing
ioom' Ihere was a machine at one
end OF 1t, and the rest Of the room was
taken up with white goods. 1t looked
10 me as If there were a thousand
yards. l sat down at the machine and
started 1t up. 1t went very slick.
why, the machines all right" I
said.
rs it? Well, you might try it on one
Of these pillowcases."
she handed me the top one on a big |
pile, and in few minutes | had fin |
ished It, She moved the pile up where
l could reach it and said:
must run downstairs for a little
while Mothers not well, and l have
TO go into her room occasionally to see
that she doesn't want for anything"
she gave me an encouraging smile
and went out. looked around at the
piles Of cotton and linen all ready to
be sewed and remembered the princess
10 whom the bad fairy gave impossible
TASKS. had often boosted of my prac-
teal knowledge of my business and
the amount of work can do In given
time, but | had never calculated on
anything like this. l thought would
De good natured about 1t and let Miss
Briggs see by the time she came back
now many pillowcases could turn out.
She didn't come back. | worked
about an hour when, getting tired. I
concluded to make an excuse to sion.
l broke the needle Going downstairs.
l met Miss Briggs coming up. told
her why | had to stop, but she said
there was no need to give up for a lit
tie things like that. since there were
plenty OF needles In the house. She
got me another. | put 1t in and went
to work again reluctantly.
Miss Briggs stayed with me a little
while, chatting pleasantly. and was
getting satisfied with my work when
her mother called her, and she skipped
out again. expected she'd be back
soon. but she didn't come. An hour
passed, and ! began to think up an
other excuse for stopping work. This
time concluded to break something
that couldn't be fixed. took a stout
brass rod out OF window curtain and.
inserting 1t in, the curved arm that
holds the needle, broke 1t off. Then
sat still awhile. I knew when Miss
Briggs heard the machine stop she'd
come up, and she did. When she saw
The damage that had been done she
looked grave for awhile. Then she
smiled. looked ruefully at the broken
lrm.
Sorry" I said. There's no way of
repairing that damage. I'm afraid I
ant help you any more this afternoon.
There must have been a weak place in
he arm. don't like this kind of ma
'hine anyway. We never use 1t at the
actory.'
Don't disturb yourself in the least"
he replied amiably. But I'm afraid
II have to ask you to excuse me. for
mother is worse and needs my atten-
ion every minute"
We walked out Of the room together
nd downstairs. At the door she said:
"Goodby, Mr.. Briggs. I'm ever SO
nuch obliged for your kind effort to
elp us out, and I've no doubt you'd
ave done lot more II the machine
admit given out"
Il could have cleaned out all the 8
york In the room before O O'clock"
aid in disappointed tone