Year: 1875

L do not think there IS any need OF my
explaining how It happened that 1, who
when born had expectations of quite a
fair fortune, should have found myself,
when womanhood came, obliged to earn
my daily bread. But so it was; and in
one of the large sewing machine empori-
ums (no matter which one) of a leading
American city, 1 held a position as
teacher for several years.


My duties were very monotonous; but
i used to extract considerable amount
of interest and amusement, while engaged
in giving instruction, from learning the
histories-and they were very varied-of
my scholars. If the proverbial cup of
tea unlocks the female tongue, found
that lesson on the machine, and initia-
tion into the mysteries of setting a needle,
winding bobbin, and regulating a ten
sion, were even more conducive TO COM
munication. l do not wish to appear
egotistical, but | must confess to quite a
power which | seemed to possess of gain
ing the confidence of my pupils, through
my habit of taking an interest in them;
also that l was very fond of an "ower
true tale;" perhaps some malicious critic
would call my propensity by no higher
name than female curiosity.


Even now, though time has brought
its changes to me, and no longer haunt
the old familiar places, | often find N.Y.
self recalling one and another among the
many romances and stories in which /
figured as an interested and sympathetic
listener, and occasionally an unsupported
actor.


The present recollection always comes
k, o4 tla I
therefore, when the season rolls around
again, with its merriment and cheer, its
mistletoe and holly, its written and un-
written tragedies and comedies of life,
feel like recounting it to others.


The position of instructress brought
me almost entirely in contact with my
own sex. Sometimes L had male pupil
one of mildly mechanical turn, who
would wish to become familiar with the
machine, so as to be able to assist some
wife or sister; but the instruction-room,
as rule, was usually quite free from
frequent visits CT the sterner sex.


During the fall of special year be-
came conscious, however, that certain
Mr.. Harry Lee, a gentleman whom /
knew to be an intimate acquaintance of
one of my employers, and whose face
was quite well known to all in the estab-
lishment, began to occasionally drop into
my department and look on during in
struction hours. He was very pleasant
and gentlemanly in his manners, and
gave as an excuse for the interest he took,
that he was born Yankee, and there
fore very fond of inventions.


Although there were other teachers, /
discovered that he fingered most fre-
quently in my vicinity, and seemed more
interested in my conversation than that
of my companions. / was young at the
time, and no doubt had the usual desire
of my sex to please. / felt fiattered,
perhaps, at his respectful attention, and
took particular pains to make my OBJ
servations on "what l knew about sew
ing machines as intelligent as my linn
tied powers permitted. He soon became
frequent visitor, and sometimes when
business was dull would linger and con-
verse on other subjects besides the tech
nicalities of the trade. found that he
was we'll educated, had travelled consid
erably in bis own country; and knew, as
thew say, "men and things" His init
mate friendship with one of the firm
prevented any remarks as to the fre.
duency OF his visits; and he made the
additional apology for possible intrusion,
that he was very much at his leisure
and sometimes thought of connecting
himself with the business. l must adj
nit that I was quite interested in him,
and felt pleased when sometimes he
would bring me some favorite book about
which he had conversed and exchanged
views, or ask my opinion on some maga-
zine article that was engrossing public
attention. / had never given thought
to his relations in life-whether he was
married or single; he had simply been
TO me pleasant episode among my daily
labors; and the flash of his blue eyes
and frank smile when he was saluting
me. ut first considered as merely among
the other usual incidents of my daily
life.


II was during somewhat extended
conversation, one day, some weeks after
our first acquaintance, that the thought
flashed across my mind that he had seen
trouble and was unhappy in connection
with his affections. His opinions of the
female sex, l discovered upon probing