Lizzy Glenn; Or, The Trials of a Seamstress

or the coming winter. This consumed all her money, and left her once more dependent upon the meagre reward of her hard labor to supply food and clothing for herself and her two remaining children. Fro

d, awakened a fresh emotion of grief in her bosom. As this gradually subsided, she applied herself with patient assiduity to her task, which was not f

for all. After breakfast, Mrs. Gaston took the two

arse salutation as she came in. The poor, heart-oppressed seamstress could not trust hersel

they'd been here three days ago, as by rights they ought to have been. I can't give you work, if you are not, more

er after this," said

u, or we'll cry 'quits.' All my

he has botched the button-holes awfully; and the jackets are not more than half pressed. Just look how she has held on the back seam of this one, and drawn

o have for them

ece, I believe," r

ull price to have my work botched up after that style!" And

glided noiselessly by Mrs. Gaston, and stood further down the store, with both her body and face turn

, but took the half dollar thrown her by Michael for the two jackets with an air of meek resignation. She

ers to give out?" she asked,

ook for an instant toward the speaker. But she slowly resumed her former position with a sigh, after satisfy

more ready, ma

u to give out

ton shirts, at seven cents. You ca

rs. Gaston in a desponding tone. "

familiarity, as Mrs. Gaston turned from the counter a

upon the counter and unrolled it. It contained three fin

inspected the two rows of stitching on the bosoms and ot

nking back as she spoke, with a feeling of

or Lizzy Glenn?" called Michael,

w. How has s

st r

more, and pay her for

cents from the drawer and threw the money upon the counter. "Goo

ignified reply, intended to repulse the

or much in these 'ere parts. Do you know that, Miss Lizzy Glenn, or whatever your name may be? We're all on the

ckly, and walked back to the d

hand me three more of your fine shirts,"

ion to him, and it caused him to call out to h

o the store, alone? Give Lizzy three shirts, and be done with

up and handed her the shirts. She then walked quickly toward the door, but di

ch side your bread's buttered," he

ked hurriedly away. Young Perkins, before alluded to, entered

lady, Michael?" he asked, lo

r. Perkins?" the salesman retorted, seemi

ntrary?" the young man asked, st

w much about her, any w

se such language as

whole manner changing as a new idea arose in his though

w at first confounded Perkins, a

trifle with me in that style, much less a fellow like you; so govern yourself, hereafter, accordingly. As to this young lad

restfallen salesman, and walked back to

t young woman I just now saw lea

pectful answer. "She is a stranger,

is her

lenn, I

does sh

north end. Micha

treet and number fo

w took good care to give wrong. Perkins made a memorandum of the name and reside

made her feel more discouraged than she had ever yet felt. It seemed to her as if even Heaven had ceased to regard her-or that she was one doomed to be the sport of cruel and malignant powers. She had bee

day or two, Mrs. Gaston, and have now called to have s

s,

of work d

n shirts, which I ha

uch do you g

cents

many of them can y

my children; and even then I must work half the night. If I had nothing

And is that the price

all I

you can only make f

e best of work, I can never get be

u managed to keep yourself and t

e replied, with some bitterness. "

What rent do you pay

ollars a

! and not able to earn upon an a

the summer, and sometimes earned two do

sed some time

even with your two remaining children. You cannot keep a home for t

o hear any th

g, it is true; but necessity, you know, knows no law. He will be just as well off, and better, too, under the care of a good master than he can be w

ho, for want of a pair of shoes, was compelled to stay home from school. "But I cannot bear the thought of parting wit

ain to think of being able to keep him with you. It i

I know of no one who would take him. And, above all, I dread

would like to get him a good place. I thought of you at once. He said a friend of his there, who carried on the hatting business, wanted a boy. I inquired his character and standi

embling voice, "Henry is but ten. To put a chi

somewhere, and I am sure he will be as comfortable in th

ubt. But a child like him is ne

mother's power to get him fo

te. But I feel that I have only one

nce in a couple of weeks. His thin, scanty clothes she mended and washed clean-darned his old and much-worn stockings, and sewed on the torn front of his seal-skin cap. With his little bundle of clothes tied up, Henry sat awaiting on the morning of the day appointed for the arrival of his master, his young heart sorrowful at the thought of leaving his mother and sister. But he seemed to feel that he was the subject of a stern necessity, and therefore strove to act a m

rs, every tread of which seemed to the mother to be upon her heart. Little

ce, I see. Well, ma'am, i

audibly, rising and handing the stranger a c

e worth a dozen large ones. Come here,

the man, telling him

, I have no doubt. I suppose, ma'am," he continued, addressing Mrs. Gaston, "that the better way will be for him to stay

pose," the mother replied. T

e, Mr. Sharp, befor

long before you think you

l be able to get out there this winter

ew Year's, and let him s

ear's day, sir. He has never

weeks off. And I don't believ

hall, Mr

ou

my child go, and not see him

get through life without some sacrifice of feeling. My mo

this, he arose, ad

e man. I see yo

n took hold of Henry's small, thin hand, bent over him, an

you, and keep

king aloud

. Sharp will be kind to you, and let

n," said the man half indifferen

e in his hand. As he was about descending the steps, he turned a last look upon his

his scene was passing. Turning to her mother with a

r gone,

ng it passionately to her bosom. It was a long time before she could resume her work, and then so deep