My Christmas Revenge

I do not think tliere is any ueed of my explaining how it happened that I, who when bffltn had expectations of quite a fair fortune, should have iound myself, when wonianhood carne, obliged to earn my daily bread, Í5ut so it was; and in one of the large sewing machine ernporiunis (no matter which one) of a leading American city, I held a position as a teacher íor several years. My duties were very monotonous; but I nsed to extract a considerable ainount of interest and amusement, while engaged in giving instruotion, from learning the histories - and they wefe very varied - of niy Bcholars. If the proverbial cup of tea unlocks the female tongue, I found that a lesson on the machine, and initiation into the mysteries of setting a needie, ■winding a bobbin, and regulating a tensión, were even more conducive to cornmunication. I do not wish to appear egotistical, but I must confess to quite a power which I seemed to possess of gaining the confldence of my pupils, through my habit of taking an interest in them; also that I was very fond of an "ower true tale;" perhaps some malicious critic ! would cali my propensity bj no higher i name tlian female curiosity. Even now, though time has brought its changes to me, and I no longer haunt the oíd familiar place?, I often find myself recalling one and another among the many romances and stories 'in which I i figureil s an interested and sympathetic listener, and occasionally an uususpected 1 njtor. The present recolle.etion always comes back to rae at the Christmas time; and, therefore, when the season rolls around again, with its memment and cheer, its mistletoe and holly, its written and unwritten tragedies and comedies of life, I í'eel Iike recounting it to othera. Tbe position oí instnic.tr'-.' k bvought me aímost entirely in contact with my own ex. Sometimos I had a male pupil j - one of a miklly mechanica] turn, wlio i would wish to I sume 'famiHar witli the machine, so a's to bo able to uwsist some wife or sister; but the instraction-room, as a rule, was usually quite free from fre(ui-nt vitáis cí tiaB stenier ees. Diiring the ful! of a specáal year I bocame ■, liowcver, th:it, a oejtain Mr. Harry Lee, a gentleman wliom I lo be ají intímate ácíiüamíá] one of nay emplojers, and whose face wa quite well known to allin the lishment, began to occasiomJly drop into ïny departnient and look on duriug instruction lnmrs. Ho was very pleasaat and gentlemanly in his manners, and gave as an excuse for the interest he tooit, that he was a boni Yankee, and therefore very fond of invontions. Although there were other teachers, I discovered that he lingered most fïequently in my vicinity, and seomed more interested in my conversation than that of my companioBs. I was young at the time, and 110 doubt had the nsu.il desire of my 'sex to please. I feit flattered, perhaps, at liis respectful attention, and took particular pains to make my obsorvations on "what I knew about sewing machines " as intelligent as my limitcd powers permitted. He soon became a frequent visitor, and sometimes when business was dull would linger and converse on other subjects besides the technicalities of the trade. I found that he was well educated, had tmvelod considerably in his own country; and knew, as they say, " men and things." His intímate fiïendship with one of the firrn I prevonted any remarks as to the frequency oï hisvisits; and he made the additional apology for possible intrusión, that he was very much at his leisure and sometimes thought of connecting himself with the business. I must admit tbat I was quite interested in him, and feit pleased when sometimos he would bring me somefavorite book about which he had converged and exchanged views, or ask my opinión on some magazine article that was engrossing public attention. I had never given a thought to his relations in life - whether he was married or single; he had simply been to me a pleasant episode among my..daüy labors; and the flash of his blue eyes and frank srnile when he was saluting me, I at first considered as merely among the other usual incidents of my daily life. It was durin a somewhat extended conversation, one day, some weeks after our first acquaintance, that the thought flashed across my mind that he had seen trouble and was unhappy in conneetion with his aö'ections. His opinions of the female sex, I "discovered upon probing him a little, were notvery entlmsiastic or rose-colored. Sometimes, when speaking of marriage and its relations, I thought his remarks rather cynical and bitter; and once or twice he criticised some of my young and fashionable pupila very severely, seeming to have a very poor opinión of them as to their usefulncss as probable wives and mothers. I naturally always defended my sex; and once when I laughingly expressed nay belief that if I ever should see the woman destined to be his wife, it would no doubt be one of those same petty, useless, fashionable creatures against whom he railed so bitterly - a look of pain passed across his face, that set me to thinking that I had touched a sore spot in his experience. We became very good friends, eventually ; indeed, I am af raid that should I confess to the truth, we indulged a little Li harmless and pleasant flirtation. I know that I was always pleased to see him; and lam snre thut hoofteii lingereu beside me in a manner savoring a little of devotion. Still tuis was only on the surf ace; and I grew more and more certain, from a melaneholy that often possessed him, that thero was some secret connected with his domesfcic life of an unhappy character. At last, from an accidental remark of one of my employers, I discovered the " skeleton in his closet." He was a married man, but separated from his wife. I think that I feit a little pained at the information and I certainly could not help the coldness of my manner when next I met him. He saw the chango, and asked with his eyes for an explanation, though not with his tongue. Had he taken the latter liberty, it is very possible that I might have told him, and then - this story would never have been written ! As it was, a few hours thoroughly calmed me; showed me somethrng of the imprudence of which I had been guilty, in making so close an acquaintance with a man about whom I knew literally knothing; and roused all the woman within me, in pride anda dim suspicion of revenge. That revenge was mucü nearer than I could possibly have dreamed ; and unlike most revenges, no sorrow is entailed by the recollection. But of that anon. Following the discovery, the first thing I did was to enlarge it by ascertainiug paiticulara - how, is a matter of no consequence in connection with this story. Whatladditionally diecovefecl, however, is of consequence. He had married a petted, wayward, boiiutif ui girl - the only child of woalthy parents, who had by injudicious management ïostered every weakuess of her character. He had formed her acquaintance and married her after a short courtship, while on a visit to her native town, and after a few months removed to the city, where lic now made his residenco. He had brought her home to the house of his mother, who. with her sister, was of the true New Éngland type. ïhey were thorough-going, practical wonien, notable housekeepers, slightly Puritanical in their belief s, and holding very little sympatby with youth and innxperience. The young wife was impulsive, unused to discipline of any kind, careless, ignorant of any habits of industry, but warm-hearted and affectionate. Ho donbt a very troublesome relativo to the staid, methodical women with whom ehe took up her residence. Unfortunately for the tife, also, hor husband had been taught to look up to his mother and sister as the best of women, and had fondly. fancied that when his new treasure carne under their control all those little weaknesses, of which he had soon bcome aware after marriage, would be cured by their example and advice. But his sanguine hopes were doomod to early disappointment. Instead of his wife growing docile and yielding' ,she became more willful and intractable, rebelled with a high spirit against any rule, and laakea upon her husband more as a cojiipnnion with whom to enjoy tlie amusement1 1' fashionuble society, than as a helpmate and friend with whom to pum through the trials and carès of life. Stül whe had a kind heart and warm iiflections ; and had more love and sympp.thy been exhfbited in connection with efforts to , change her habits, and less cold, severe exactions shown on the part of her husliaud's relflüyes, the (-vent miglit huve been licttcr i'or all. At l;isi, íIkí usual i roMilt lollowed. Quarrels becan frequent-oconrrenoe ; esrangementgrew up Dctween husband and wife ; and it was only a year after their marriage timi : the young wife, one day, after a pareionato outbr(%ak and most unhappy scène with Uto husband, left his home and reliunn'! to that of Ik i'parrthts. Here she wan not only received with open arms, liut i-cjiidolcd uid fiyinjiatlii'.d willi tq 'her great injnvy u dlvorra proposeá, and all ohai ' reconúrti stioyed. Such was the painful story, as I gathered tbe particulars - no rare ono in the world, I in quito aware, aiul yet sad enough as rmbodying the wreek of two lives. Perhaps a knowlodge of the wholo softened my pride toward Mr. Lee a trifle, though it by no nieans cured my wounded self-respect or put me more at ease with myself. What more acquaintance might have followed is uncertaiu ; perhaps none whatever, undcr the changed conditions ; nor have I the clearest idea how my revenge would have been accomplished, had I not been favored by new and unexpected circumstances. It was in the month of December that one very cold and blustering morning a lady was. ushered into the instructionroom by one of the salesmen. She was a young and rernarkably pretty woman, as I disoovered at the first glauco, and dressed very becomingly in the prevailing mode. The usual remarks that ' 'she was afraid she would be stupid,", and my reassurance that I had tnught piipils from 12 to 80 in age, and from Irish Norah lo the Hou. Mrs. Highflyer in positiou, passed betweon us ; and theD, af ter feet were comfortably warmed, and gloves removed, the lesson began. Úpon the raising of her veil, as she seated herfielf, I discovered that her beantiful brown eyes showed traces of recent tears; and severa! times as the lesson progreseed an uñconsciously drawn long sigh or sob proved very plainly that she had lately passed througii somc strong omotion, and that nature was kindly restoring the equilibriüm. In the course of the lesson, trat day, she told me that she was married and the mother of a little boy somewhatover j a year old. She hinted .t trouble in connection with her marriage relations, and of late news that had cansed the past night to be spent very unhappily. j She seemed low-spirited, and deeply ashamed of her ignorance as regarded all knowledge of sewing or the construction of the simplest garment. I encourI aged her - told her that patienco and j I plication were only necessary, -as she showed very good natural abilities and i j would leavn easily. lint she replied sadly thst she was afraid that tho&e were virtues she had never cultivated, nor even until lately deemed at all necessary. She assured me that I could form no idea how useleás and helploss she had been. She had never likod to sew, and her mother had never wished her to do so, telling her that thore were plenty of poor people who would be glad to do such labor instead. She hoped I would not laugh at some of her no doubt trifling and silly questions, as she had never even made a garment of any kind in her life - not eVen a little one tor her baby ! j I laughed good-naturedly ; I could not help it ; and told her that she took too severe a view of hor dèficiencies - that there were plenty of other ladies just like her ; but she sMd, smiling a little j mournfully in return, that if I knew how bitterly she had lately begiui to stand what an uueducated woman in ! useful matters she was, and how I venient she had found the position, I would not wonder . at her desire to ilo bette:-. The first lesson was succeeded by oüiers, for several days following, j ing which I learned that she had been l married between two and three years ; that she had always before her marriage led a gay and luxurious existence, perhaps because she had jnever known of any other, her parents being f ashionable ! terfliesj that she had passed through a great sorrow, Deen very sick when her babe was born, and was now just beginning to appieciate some of the realities of life. She confessed that it was when recovering from a sick-bed, and among the new and strango feelings that came with the birth of her babe, that she had awakened to the truth, and listened to the proniptings, always before ignored, of her more practical ' nature. That it was through the advice of a kind friend, who had been with her through hor sickr.ess, that she had purchased a sewingmachine, the friend believing that it would be a good beginning in her efïorts to do something useful. All this my new pupil did not teil me in so many words, but it was the substance of what I gathered by degrees. I was very rnuch interested (as usual) ; and one day, as she wasleaving, casually remarked that her husband was no doubt pleased at progress in mastering the mystery. Then I heard what I had almost before suspected, as with tears iilling her eyes she said that she had uo husband in one sense - that she had separated from him - that ib was her own fault - an act done by herself in hot anger and rage, but now bitterly repented. She indicated that there were others to blame, bat did not excuse herself ; and said that she had spent the night previous to the day on which she had taken her flrst lesson, in great grief from learning that he was very soon to sail for Europe, and the thought that they would then be utterly and forever separated had nearly driveu her to distraction. I feit very sorry - never more so for any human beiug ; her repentance was so sincere and her sorrow so hopeless. A dimsnppicion had been creeping thiougli my rüind during tJds last reiation, that I had heard a story something akin to this before ; and as she was about leaving I reminded her that althcugh we were well acquaintcd aa teacher and pupil, I had never yet heard her name. Apologizing for her remissness, she handed me a card as she left the room. I wiil not say that I was very much surjrised, for I had half guaf-sed the coincidcnce byintuition - when I read on the card I held in my hand, "Mis. Gracie Lee." Yes, it was Harry Lee's wife who had been my pupil ! A great many strange feelings were at work within my breast during the next ten minutes. _ I had not geen Mr. Leo for some time; he had avoided the instruction room - a course of conduct for which I had been thankñil. I.had heard notliing of his intention of going to Europe, and feit sure it must ba a new project, very suddenly thought of. And why. ; Kad my actions anytnxng to do with it? I feit sorely distressed before I had dono thinking out the whole matter; and I might have been even more so had I not possessed a resource always ko deur to women and children - that of doing something. Now the rest of this is going to bo very brief. On my bed, that nig'ut, the desire to "do somethrngT" born of the neeessity, took praotical sluipt!, and I saw my vay to my revengo ou Ilarry Lee. Dickens' Cnnstmas stones were then in the .height of their popiilarity ; I had been frtscinated by them, and to their influenoe and that of the approachiug holy sonson perhaps my plans were cbiyrly dut'. I Jiope my imaginary biusligp rmjlbe sprod, wJien I s;iy that (o accompïïsh it 1 tóók óccasTiJii tö throw myself into Mr. Lee's way (of course by apparent accident), and that within n ■',,■( ! i hiiii back In tlierinstrikctoom and the reiiowul of otirlviondly' ugh at such hours (late in the afternoon) that there was no chance of his meeting his wife. That I never labored harder with any pupil than with that -willing but nervous little lady, to enable lier rapidly to become not only proücient at the machine but to aeem so. Then that I progressed by making an appointment with Mrs. Lee, on some excuse as to my convenience, at 4 o'clock on the afternoon before Christtnas - (Christmas Eve at a very early stage of the anniversaiy), and meanwhile gained a character for benevolence by telling my companions in teaching that they had better go home early and thus enjoy the gay sigbts and sounds presented by tho streets on that festive season. Aad then I crowned the whole by making another appointment with Mr. Harry I Lee, for the same place, half an hour later, having in view the necessity of bringing him unexpectedly upon his wife at the very moment when she should be sewing away at the top of her ability. Once ripon a time I kept an extraorclinary bug thnt I had captured, under a glass tumbler, for days, to see the chango by which it would become somethiug else. It eflected the chango one night when I could not see it, and I was left very little wiser than before. And I know not niuch more about the meeting tween Harry Lee and his wife, over the j sewing machine, that ovening before Christmas ; as (conf oua,d it ! ) I feit myself j obliged to leave them alono together just i at the interesting moment, and fchey had made it all up before I thonght it proper to return ! However, I had my revengo. Mr. Lee (I wish to be understood and believed on this point) never flirted any more j with me, however mildly - "never no more." He went to Europe, but a little ; later, and took his wife leaving his little I son with his notable New England mothor, who was sure to take good care of him though she might not permit him to romp too hilariously. They wero kind . enough to believe thatl had been of i vice to them ; and I was the recipiënt of j certain rings, one of which Harry Lee gave me with what I thought was rather ! a conscious look, and the other of which ! Gracie Lee gave me with no j ness and a hearty kiss. I saw thom together, and at home again, in a pretty now home over which, taught by some mistakes in the past, the wife was sole mistress, apparently very happy, the next Christmas ; and I think that Mrs. Lee, under some sort of idea thíit she owed the recovery of her husband to her sewing machine, looked upon that usoful article as a species of good fairy, and her seat at it as a place of refuge, and ahvays was to be found sewing wlien things went all crooked in the j household. My af ter acquaintance with thom, at all events, showed that the indolent, useless, and self-willed wife had become the busy, useful, and gentle one; and that the husband, who Jiad begun by misunderstanding her, had come fully back to his senses, and grown much wiser as to the quality of the woman with whom he had been intrusted. And something of this, if not all of it, was the result of a little flirtation nipped in the btul, and of My Ohristmas