Early on the next day, Coulson called, and with the most insinuating address, asked to see Mrs. Warburton.

“Ask him to send up his name,” was Mrs. W.’s reply to the information of the servant, that a gentleman wished to speak to her.

“Coulson,” was returned.

“Tell him that I cannot see him.”

To this answer he sent back word that his business was important and urgent.

“Tell him that I cannot see him,” was the firm reply.

Coulson left the house, baffled for once.  The next day he called, and sent up another name.

“He is the same person who called himself ‘Coulson’ yesterday,” said the servant to Mrs. W.

“Tell him that I cannot be seen.”

“I’ll match the huzzy yet!” he muttered to himself as he left the house.

It now became necessary for Mrs. Warburton to rally all the energies of her nature, feeble though they were, and yet untried.  The rate of boarding which she was required to pay, was much beyond what she could now afford.  At first she nearly gave up to despair.  Thus far in life, she had never earned a single dollar, and, from her earliest recollection, the thought of working for money seemed to imply degradation.  But necessity soon destroys false pride.  Her greatest concern now was, what she should do for a living.  She had learned to play on the piano, to draw and paint, and had practised embroidery.  But in all these she had sought only amusement.  In not a single one of them was she proficient enough to teach.  Fine sewing she could not do.  Her dresses had all been made by the mantua-maker, and her fine sewing by the family sempstress.  She had been raised in idle pleasure—­had spent her time in thrumming on the piano, making calls, tripping about the streets, and entertaining company.

But wherever there is the will, there is a way.  Through the kind interference of a stranger, she was enabled to act decisively.  Two rooms were procured, and after selling various articles of costly chamber furniture which still remained, she was enabled to furnish them plainly and comfortably, and have about fifty dollars left.  Through the kind advice of this same stranger, (where were all her former friends?) employment was had, by which she was soon able to earn from four to five dollars a week.

Her employment was making cigars.  At first, the tobacco made her so sick that she was unable to hold her head up, or work more than half her time.  But after awhile she became used to it, and could work steadily all day; though she often suffered with a distressing headache.  Mrs. Warburton was perhaps the first woman who made cigars in—.  Through the application of a third person, to a manufacturer, the work was obtained, and given, from motives of charity.

She had been thus employed for about three months, and was beginning to work skilfully enough to earn four dollars a week, and give all necessary attention to herself and child, when Mr.—­, the manufacturer, received a note signed by all the journeymen in his shop, demanding of him the withdrawal of all work from Mrs. Warburton, on pain of their refusal to work a day longer.  It was an infringement, they said, upon their rights.  Women could afford to work cheaper than men, and would ruin the business.