not, my child; but bad as our situation is, there are hundreds
worse off than we. Take Annie Carr, for instance--how would you like
to exchange places with her?"
"Poor Annie! I was thinking of her awhile go, mother. How hard it
must be for one so young to be so afflicted as she is!"
"And yet, Laura, she never complains; although for five years she has
never left her bed, and has often suffered, I know, for want of proper
nourishment."
"I don't think she will suffer much longer, mother. I stopped in to see
her the other day, and I was astonished at the change which had taken
place in a short time. Her conversation, too, seems so heavenly, her
faith in the Lord so strong, that I could not avoid coming to the
conclusion that a few days more, at the most, would terminate her
wearisome life."
"It will be a happy release for her, indeed, my daughter. Still, it will be
a sore trial for her mother."
It was near six when Mrs. Perry and her daughter finished the work
upon which they were engaged.
"Now Laura, dear," said the mother, "get back as soon as you can, for I
don't like you to be out after night, and more than that, if Mrs. Carr
comes, she won't want to wait."
About twenty minutes after the young girl had gone, Mrs. Carr called.
"Pray, be seated, my dear friend," said Mrs. Perry, "my daughter has
just gone to Mrs. Allison's with some work, and as soon as she returns I
can pay you."
"I think I had better call over again, Mrs. Perry," answered the poor
woman; "Mary begged me not to stay long."
"Is Annie any worse, then?"
"Oh, yes, a great deal; the doctor thinks she will hardly last till
morning."
"Well, Mrs. Carr, death can be only gain to her."
"Very true; still, the idea of losing her seems dreadful to me."
"How does Mary get on at Mrs. Owring's?"
"Not very well; she has been at work for her just one month to-day; and
although she gave her to understand that her wages would be at least a
dollar and a quarter a week, yet to-night, when she settled with her, she
wouldn't give her but three dollars, and at the same time told her that if
she didn't choose to work for that she could go."
"What do you suppose was the reason for her acting so?"
"I don't know, indeed, unless it is because she does not get there quite
as early as the rest of her hands; for you see I am obliged to keep her a
little while in the morning to help me to move Annie while I make her
bed. Even that little sum, small it was, would have been some help to
us, but it had all to go for rent. My landlord would take no denial. But I
must go; you think I can depend on receiving your money to-night?"
"I do. Mrs. Allison is always prompt in paying for her work as soon as
it is done. I will not trouble you to come again for it, Mrs. Carr. Laura
shall bring it over to you."
Let us now turn to the young girl we left at Mr. Allison's, whom our
readers, no doubt, recognise as Laura Perry.
"Good evening, Laura," said Mrs. Allison, as she entered the room;
"not brought my work home already! I did not look for it till next week.
You and your mother, I am afraid, confine yourselves too closely to
your needles for your own good. But you have not had your tea? sit up,
and take some."
"No, thank you, Mrs. Allison; mother will be uneasy if I stay long."
"Well, Laura, I am sorry, but I cannot settle with you to-night. Tell
your mother Mr. Allison was disappointed in collecting to-day, or she
certainly should have had it. Did she say how much it was?"
"Two dollars, ma'am."
"Very well: I will try and let her have it next week."
The expression of Laura's countenance told too plainly the
disappointment she felt. "I am afraid Mrs. Perry is in want of that
money," remarked the husband after she had gone.
"Not the least doubt of it," replied his wife. "She would not have sent
home work at this hour if she had not been. Poor things! who can tell
the amount of suffering and wretchedness that is caused by the rich
neglecting to pay promptly."
"You come without money, Laura," said her mother, as she entered the
house.
"How do you know that, mother?" she replied, forcing a smile.
"I read it in your countenance. Is it not so?"
"It is: Mr. Allison was disappointed in
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