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ANffAIiS OF NEEDLEWOMEN. 221
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
• Chapter Iii. Poyebty Is, At All Times,...
her this was only pride , and that I was come to take her "back all again subject ; that to whil like e infirmities she had certainl and by y care forgotten in avoiding self-control 1 such , outbreaks we were
, of temper in future she would best show her sorrow and _rejDentance . That I felt sure every one in the workroom wished to forget the
past , and was ready to welcome her again among them . She consented at last— " If I wished it she would gobecause it hurt her so
to vex me . Ah ! if I only knew what changes , she had seen in life , I should indeed pity her , and not wonder how angry she had felt at
the hard things said to her . " During our conversation I had taken a survey of Mrs . D 's
room—it was certainly not more than ten feet square ; a sofa-bed , which was very scantily furnished with bedding , occupied one entire
side , a patchwork quilt covering the whole ; facing it stood a chest of drawersover which was a neat little book-shelfcontaining
a few old-fashioned , volumes . The two chairs we occup , ied , and a small round table stood near the fire-place . The only remaining
bit of furniture surprised me , so out of character did it appear with the other articles in the room . It was a cottage piano , the upper
part of which reached the ceiling , and it was carefully covered with green baize . The very possession of such an unaccustomed luxury
In a poor person ' s dwelling proved it must be connected with the history of some bygone timeand my curiosity was at once aroused .
, I turned from the piano to its owner—she saw my look of surprise , and before I had time to put any question , said , with a sigh , " Ah ,
Ma ' am ! that piano is my only friend here ; I don't think I could live without it ; music was always my delight when a child , but I little
knew what solace it would be to me in old age . " " How came you bit ? " I asked . " It belongs to my son-in-lawMa'am , " she
-answered y ; "he has lent it to me . " " Indeed ! " I said ; , " and when do you find leisure to play ? " " Oh , between times , and at night when
I ' m tired of work , then I sit down and refresh myself with some old tune . " " When did learn ? " I continued . " When I was
young , " she replied ; " you no expense was then spared on my education . 1 had good mastersand was considered to play wellI believe . "
, , 4 i Will you play something to me now ? " I said . " Do let me hear . " She shook her head at firstbut when I pressed her more
you , , crossed the room , and opening * the instrument , sat down , while I watched her movements with attentive interest . I wish some one
-could have photographed the scene : her dress was shabbier than I had seen her wear previouslyshowing that she must have
any appeared in the workroom in her best , attire , but she was nevertheless neat in the extreme ; a scanty black gown , surrounded by a
little old-fashioned round cape , with a nicely quilled white cap , gave her an air of antiquity , such as one sees in old pictures , and as she
her sat at appearance the piano . , with For her a few back moment towards s " amid me , I the coul keys d not her but , admire fingers
played , " and then slowly and sweetly she struck tip some old airs _.
Anffaiis Of Needlewomen. 221
_ANffAIiS OF NEEDLEWOMEN . 221
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), June 1, 1862, page 221, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01061862/page/5/
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