The girl turned and went quickly away. As she walked along
hurriedly, her slender form bent forward, and there was an
unsteadiness in her steps, as if from weakness. She did not linger a
moment, nor heed any thing that was passing in the street.

A back room in the third story of an old house in Cherry street was
the home of the poor sewing girl. As she entered, she said, in a
cheerful voice, to a person who was lying upon a bed which the room
contained--

"I have got work, sister. It is a vest, and it must be done by
to-morrow evening."

"Can you finish it in time?" inquired the invalid in a faint voice.

"Oh, yes, easily;" and as she spoke, she laid off her bonnet and
shawl hurriedly and sat down to unroll the work she had obtained.

The vest proved to be of white Marseilles. As soon as the invalid
sister saw this, she said--

"I'm afraid you won't be able to get that done in time, Ellen; it is
very particular work. To stitch the edges well will alone take you
many hours."

"I will sit up late, and get a fair start to-night, Mary. Then I can
easily finish it in time. You know a vest is only a day's work for a
good sewer, and I have nearly a day and a half before me."

"Yes; but you must remember, Ellen, that you are not very fast with