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IKFANT SEAMSTRESSES. 29
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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Transcript
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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.
Into One Of Those Narrow, Gloomy Streets...
tlie most , and tlie neighbour wouldn't measure . " The poor old woman liad scarcely pacified them , when the little girl " going of
five , " a perfectly cleanly , lovable , kissable little creature , burst forth with a most grievous lamentation , because somebody behind
had said that her " father was _transported , and he wasn't tyansported , because he had gone in a bootiful sip . " Hereupon the old
woman threatened to bang" the offender , and she confirmed the story of the " bootiful sip . " But the wicked girl continued to nod
persistently as the little thing looked over her shoulder . Then followed another burst of grief , for " she had said so again . "
And now the old woman proceeded to execute her threat , to " bang" the tormentor . The operation was quite an orthodox ,
grandmotherly affair , after which there was a temporary silence . The little -morsel , we were grieved to see , had hemmed nearly a yard
of calico in the neatest manner , but all along there were crimson specks of blood , showing how sadly the little finger must have
been pierced . In recompense for her industry , she was permitted for a few moments to contemplate the perfections of a new little
pocket-handkerchief , on which was an inscription and illustration of '• ' Hoop de dooden doo , " and then her little eyelids drooped .
Oblivion was gently stealing the image of the grotesque figure on the handkerchief and the image of the torturing shirt , and withdrawing
all the dreary surroundings of misery . The expresssion of petulance and pain relaxed ; she was asleep .
. Intelligence of this fact was instantly reported , but the old woman graciously permitted her a few minutes , declaring that she
was worth two of the informer , and would get her _taslz done first . For the making of tlie shirt of which this baby did the hemming ,
a whole day ' s hard work of _coiirse , and which had also expended , on it another day ' s cruel labor on band and gusset and seam , the
old woman received twopence-halfpenny , or , in the phraseology of the trade , the little girls were on slops at half-a ~ crown a dozen .
The mothers were out in the city , most of them at least , at various kinds of employment , and were glad to have their children taken
care of and taught to sew besides . The old woman made them each a mug of warm coffee during the day , and took care they didn't
eat all their victuals at once . They hadn ' t half enough to eat . We inquired how the good woman would find room for several additional
little hands . She explained that some of the older girls were going to work with their mothers ; that the " hemmers" would be
promoted to " band , " etc . Thj little sleeper to be one of those so promoted . She wanted two or three " little uns for the hemming , but
they were always so alow at first , they did nothing but ; adjust their thimbles and lose their lieeiles ; they were more trouble than use
at first ; " however they soon got to be useful , though it appeared that some unprincipled mothers withdrew them as soon as they
began to be useful and could thread their own needles . Indeed one
hardly knew whether tlio poor old woman or tlio little seamstresses
Ikfant Seamstresses. 29
_IKFANT SEAMSTRESSES . 29
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Sept. 1, 1859, page 29, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01091859/page/29/
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