Lizzy Glenn; Or, The Trials of a Seamstress

on which a woman has leaned suddenly fails, and she finds self-support an imperative necessity; yet she has no skill, no strength, no developed resources. In all probability she

stood between her and the rough winds of a stormy world. All at once, like a bird reared, from a fledgling, in its cage, and then

ply the needle. Ah! as a seamstress, how poor the promise for her future. The labor-market is crowded with serving women; and, as a consequence, the price of needle-work-more particularly that called plain needle-work-is depressed t

ive employments for women?" passes anxiously from lip to lip. To answer this question is not our present purpose. Others are earnestly seeking to work out the problem, and we must leave the solution with the

e entered a well-arranged clothing store in Boston, and passed with hes

sir?" she asked, i

ing sideways toward the owner of the shop, who stood at a desk some distance back, that her application was to be made there. Turning quickly from the rude and too familiar gaze of the attendant, the you

still lower and more timid voice than that

e," was the

I get

sure that you'll ever

ome reply to this, but the words c

by new-comers. But I don't know; you seem to have a si

ant, in an earnest, half-implorin

nd do yo

ng you have to

undabouts, shirts, drawers, and almost a

u give for

s up to twenty-five, according

s!" returned the young woman, in a sur

nts! Pray how much did you expect to get, Miss?" retort

-five cents is very littl

at it early and late, and do not even earn as much. Your ideas will have to

loons?" asked the young woman, withou

cents; and for finer ones, fifteen and t

any shir

Will you have em

if you

y will y

e three to

s to make." Then turning to her, he said: "They are cotton shirts, with linen collars, bosoms, and wristbands. There must be t

he young creature turned from her employer and went

, I should think?" remarked this individual,

low tone, half shrinking away, with

do any better. An industrious sewer c

but, before they were handed to her, the man bent over

t your nam

d face of the girl, as she stepped

no consequ

work to people who don't tell their names. We would be a

l for a little while, and then s

zy G

Lizzy, be kind enough to

y. I will bring the work home

appen to forget our stree

. I know the place very wel

place of residence of every man, woman, and child who w

This was first entered, with her name, in a book, and then the three shirts were hand

ay far back in their sockets. Her forehead was high and very white. The tones of her voice, which was low, were soft and musical, and her words were spoken, few though they were, with a taste and appropriateness that showed her to be one who had moved in a circle of refinement and intelligence. As to her garments, they were old, and far too thin for the season. A light, faded shawl, of costly material, was dr

ael," broke in Berlaps, the owner of

craft has been taut

ael? None of your com

he's 'seen better days,'

hat. What name

e correct. People likely her are someti

does sh

he town somewhere. I ha

'll bring them

n in the world as she has, rarely

l struck aback

ose so.

resumed Berlaps. "I only w

d. Her work w

had been fully served, a middle-aged woman came in with a large bundle, an

ooking up, while not a feature rela

ants," said the woman, untying the

seven pai

six are finished; and, as I want s

ht to have had the whole seven pair done. We want them

f my children has been sick; and I have had to be up with her so often every night, and have ha

imself, as he began inspecting the woman's work.

ers which had been brought in, he pushed the whole from him with

work unless it's done better, Mrs.

t made quite so well as they might be. But consider how much I have had

ut that don't answer me. I want my work done well, and mean to have it so

hereafter, Mr. Berlaps," rep

aid before; bu

ross each other, awaiting his pleasure in regard to the payment of the meagre sum she had earned by a full week of hard labor, prolonged often to a late hou

waiting for,

oney for the pants I have br

is done. Bring in the other pai

ut Mr.

ut it, madam. You have my say,"

icker pace, as if doubt and uncertainty had given way to some encouraging thought. Threading her way along the narrow winding streets in the lower part of the city, she soon emerged into the open space used as a ha

Grubb?" she asked, in a supplicating voice

uth, I think you've got a heap of impudence to come in here, bold-faced, and ask for more trust, aft

part of it this very day,"

s' ain't my dollar. I'm an honest woman, and want

fifteen cents a pair. But I had seven pairs, and Mr. Berlaps wont pay me until I bring the whole number. It will take me till twelve o'clock to-night to finish them, and so I can't get any money before to-morrow. Just let me have two pounds of sa

strained herself after the first sob that heaved her overladen bo

pathies. These were quick to prompt her to duty. Turning away without a reply, she weighed out two pounds of fish, measured a peck of

mething on the old account," said the recipien

ittle feeling left, to keep them from dying outright with hunger. It's too bad! There's that Berlaps, who grinds the poor seamstresses who work for him to death and makes them one-half of their time beggars at our stores for something for their children to eat. He is building two houses in Roxbury at this very mom

, and clenched her hand, in

children were playing on the floor when she entered: the one about four, and the other a boy who looked as if he might be nearly ten years of age. On the bed lay Ella, the sick child to whom the mother had alluded, both to the tailor and the shopkeeper. She turned wishful

ed the youngest, a little girl, clappin

oldest boy, looking up into his mother's face wit

she had obtained at the sacrifice of so much feeling. It did not take long to boil the fish and potatoes, which were eaten with a keen relish by two of the children, Emma and Harry. The gruel prepared for

said Mrs. Gaston. "It wi

ngry now, mother

taste go

very

wan face toward the wall, and the

ce you have eaten any thing; and you'll grow worse if you don

ort to eat more of the gruel. At the third spoonful, her

w another mouthful," she said,

were devouring with the eagerness of hungry animals. Only a small portion did she now take for herself,

he toiled, unremittingly, until the falling twilight admonished her to stop. The children's supper was then prepared. She would have applied to Mrs. Grubb fo

te finished. But the nerveless hand and the weary head of the poor seamstress obeyed the requirements of her will no l