Lizzy Glenn; Or, The Trials of a Seamstress

t morning, when Mrs. Gaston appeare

as she came up to the counter, behin

hem a moment, and then, tossing them aside, asked M

rice?" was

price-thi

ed, Michael, that is too little. You

cents is enough. There are plenty of wo

ll day and a half to make

d sewer can easily make one in a day; an

the seamstress. "How do you think you could manage to support

rs out yet?" asked Michael, instead of

I hav

pinch your other children for him, when he might be earning his l

but I don't. He is

d like to get him a good master, I know a man over

is

run of errands. It would be the very dandy for your little follow. He'll

winter. He is too young to go so far away. I c

him to be as kind-hearted as a woman. His wife's amiability and good temper are prov

satisfied to let Henry go anywhere out of Boston, even if I sh

n a half offended tone. "I shall not charge any thing for my

ore pantaloons? I can do

owsers ready for two or three days.

ed Mrs. Gaston to this, in a desponding

ut, and tied up in separate bundles with a strip of the fabric from

these are to be

int-depend upon that, Michael. But

ury to see about some hous

e for them pan

ttle any bills

y a dollar and five cents," said Mrs. Gasto

t. It's just

Mr. Berla

his afternoo

rning away from the counter, she left the store and hurried homeward. Henry met her at the door as she entered, and, seeing that she brought nothing with her but the smal

at orange, as you

ding over her sick child and kissing her cheek, that was flushed and hot w

st as I was going to eat it, I waked up. And, since you have been gone, I've been asleep, and dreamed again th

sufferer, and drawing her to her bosom; "you have been good and patient, and mother

s I seem to. I think about it so much-that's the reason I w

beaver cloth, and had to be sewed with strong thread. For a moment or two, after she spread it out upon the table, she looked at the many pieces to be wrought up into a well-finished whole, and thought of the hours of hard labor it w

eir supper and breakfast, a small portion of the fish and potatoes. Both of these had been boiled, and hashed up together, and, of what remained, all that was required was to make it into balls and fry it. This was not a matter to occasion much delay. In fifteen minutes from the time she laid aside her needle and thimble, the

er nearly the whole afternoon, worrying her mind, and keeping her back a good deal, so that, when the brief afternoon had worn

ld venture to ask to be trusted for even a single loaf of bread. At length she reached the well-lighted store, in which were several customers, upon whom both Berlaps and his clerk were attending with business assiduity. The sight of the tailor relieved the feelings of poor Mrs. Gaston very much. Passing on to the back part of the store, she stood patiently awaiting his leisure. But his customers were hard to please. And, moreover, one was scarcely suited, before another came in. Thus it continued for nearly half

word with you

red, gruffly, and the half-frightened creature shrun

g back to where Mrs. Gaston stood, commenced folding up and replacing his goods upon the shelves. Fear

sked the tailor, without lifting his eyes

trowsers this morning, but you w

el

ay me, and so I've

. Then taking a dollar and five cents from the drawer, he pushed them toward her on the counte

, and the night had closed in some time before. The thought of this made her quicken her pace to a run. As she passed on, the sight

onage, and threw the coin she named upon the counter. "And now give me a loaf of bread, quickly; some mol

She had paid for them, and was about stepping from

n! I want two cent candles. I sh

narrow counter, wrapped in a very small bit of paper, and

irs. As she entered, Ella's bright eyes glistened upon her from the bed; but little Emma had fallen asleep with her head in the lap of Henry, who was seated u

y so long?" Ella asked, look

he orange you have wished for so long. You can eat it all by your

moment, and began to fret a

home some nice bread and molasses," said the mother, in tones meant to soothe and

" she said. "It's so

make the fire up nice and warm in a little whil

and I'm hungry!" was the continued and

y engaged in peeling her orange, a

as soon as her orange had been properly divided. "Come, cover up in bed here

ent, and she turned toward her si

d a piece for mother, too," continued

yourself. I don't wan

ece," responded Henry; "sh

another," said Mrs. Gaston, encouragingly. "But

ated the child; and she took up a portion of the

f the water she poured about half of the milk she had brought home, and, filling a couple of tin cups with this, set it with bread and molasses upon a little table, and called Henry and Emma to supper. The children, at this announcement, scrambled from the bed, and, pushing chairs up to the table, commenced eating the

r," said she, as she laid h

ing to-day: Try and take a little

a slight expression of loathi

omething you could ea

ted good, and that is enough for to-nig

ng series of years, her system had been accustomed to the generous excitement of tea at the evening meal. A cup of good tea had become almost indispensable to her. It braced her system, cleared her head, and refreshed her after the unremitting toils of the day. But, for some time past, she had felt called upon

y, her eldest born-the first pledge of pure affection, and the promise of a happy wedded life. Sadly, indeed, had time changed since then. A young mother, smiling over her first born-how full of joy was the sunlight of each succeeding day! Now, widowed and alone

om; and now she had to look the matter full in the face, and, in spite of all her feelings of reluctance, confess to herself that the effort to keep her children around her must prove unavailing. But how could she part with her

ng, and composed herself to her task. Hour after hour she toiled on, weary and aching in every limb. But she remitted not her labors until long after midnight, and then not until her last candle had burned away to the socket in which it rested. Then she put aside her work with a sigh, as she reflected upon the slow progress she had made, and, disrobing herself, la