Nineteenth Century Woman Tailor

That evening, the sound of fireworks echoed from the distant streets, though it was unclear which wealthy family was hosting a ball.

Eloise bought a pack of white sausages and walked home slowly, cradling them in her arms.

She placed the sausages on the stove to warm them, and just as she did, there was a knock at the door.

"Coming, coming!" she called out, and upon opening the door, she saw that it was Thomas who had returned.

Thomas looked as though he had run all the way back. He was shivering from the cold, his face flushed red from exertion, and his forehead was drenched in sweat. He was also carrying a bundle of items in his arms.

"Did you get the day off today? Why are you back so early?"

Eloise turned and went inside to fetch a basin of hot water, instructing him to wipe his face so he wouldn’t catch a chill from the wind.

"Yes, today after receiving my wages, the manager at the law office gave me half a day off. I have to go back early tomorrow morning."

Thomas was always a bit cautious around Eloise, fearing she might scold him, as she used to, for not being more proactive at work and for rushing home as soon as he got time off.

So, he quickly pulled out the gifts he had bought for the family from his coat.

"I earned four dollars and fifty cents this week, with some extra from tips. I bought something for everyone, and here's the rest."

He pursed his lips and placed the items and coins on the table, glancing nervously at Eloise.

She let out an "Oh," and replied,

"Give the gifts to Auntie and Louise yourself when they get back. Keep the money safe, don’t lose it."

With that, Eloise remained by the windowsill, pouring out the water and hanging up the towel, showing no intention of managing his affairs.

Thomas, having been controlled for so long, wasn’t used to this newfound freedom. He still begged Eloise to help him keep the money, afraid he might lose it in the dormitory.

Only then did Eloise agree. She took out a leather-bound notebook she had intended to give Thomas, handed it to him, and sharpened a pencil. She then recorded the savings in his new notebook, writing "Savings" followed by the amount and date, so he wouldn’t forget.

"Come back to me when you need to use it."

Eloise knew that her original self, being overly responsible, would have taken Thomas's earnings and handed them over to Auntie for household expenses.

But now, she didn’t care for such small sums. If her plans went well, she could support the family on her own—why exploit a child laborer?

Still, the original Eloise, a young girl without parents or any particular skills, had no choice but to live cautiously, always fearing she might be a burden to her relatives.

When Auntie and Louise returned home, Thomas handed out the toothbrushes, handkerchiefs, and headscarves he had bought.

Eloise received a wooden-handled wool brush. That night, after eating the roasted sausages, she tried it out and found it much better than the pig bristle ones she had used before.

In truth, life in this era wasn’t so different from later times—it was just that the poor couldn’t afford such luxuries.

The next day, Eloise wrapped the dried meat she had bought in a cloth bag and set off for work.

Both she and Amy were on duty that day, and they ran into Laura in the warehouse, sharing the dried meat. Laura merely snorted and stormed off, not even showing up for the morning meeting.

During work hours, Eloise carried a bucket up to the fifth floor, where she noticed a guest room being prepared by servants carrying in boxes.

The commotion was quite grand, and since Eloise had already familiarized herself with most of the fifth-floor staff, she approached to greet them.

After exchanging a few words, before she could ask any questions, a gray-eyed servant blurted out everything about who was coming to stay and what was in the boxes.

"This lady is a famous dressmaker from Paris. She’s been invited by the governor’s wife to come to New York and design a wedding dress for her sister-in-law."

Eloise’s attention turned to the suitcases.

The servant added, "These contain the fabrics and tools she brought with her. They say the contents are worth nearly a thousand francs, and she tipped the porters dozens of dollars just for carrying them."

Eloise was stunned. She regretted not being born as a strong man who could earn money by carrying boxes. She then asked, "How much does she charge for making a dress?"

"You’re not well-informed, are you? She’s staying in New York until next June, when the governor’s wife’s sister-in-law’s wedding season ends."

"The governor’s wife’s family is from Washington, and her sister-in-law is marrying a city councilman with a prominent background here in New York. There will be pre-wedding salons, banquets, and pre-honeymoon balls—at least five or six events."

"Each event requires new outfits, so over the next six months, this dressmaker could earn thousands of dollars."

The servant chuckled, but Eloise fell silent, deep in thought. It wasn’t easy to become a dressmaker of such renown.

Perhaps it could be her long-term life goal.

Reluctantly, she glanced back at the pristine leather suitcases before picking up her bucket and walking away.

After returning home from work, Eloise didn’t rest for a moment. She calmly finished her tasks, packed the goods into paper bags, and prepared for the next day.

The following day was her day off, and Eloise woke up early. Hearing the clock tower chime, she set out with her belongings to the neighborhood where Anthony’s boutique was located.

In the early morning, newspaper boys were already at work, and milkmen were collecting empty bottles from mailboxes.

Eloise noticed that most of the upscale shops along the way were still closed, and she began to think she had come too early.

But after walking a short distance, she suddenly spotted Anthony’s mustachioed shop open at the corner.

She thought to herself, "That mustached man really is diligent."

Upon entering, she saw that the shop already had a customer.

From a distance, it was a middle-aged woman in uniform but without an apron.

She looked like a housekeeper from one of the nearby mansions, the kind who could only sneak out to shop in the early mornings before their employers woke up.

Anthony, the money-minded shopkeeper, opened early to cater to these middle-to-upper-class customers, and his diligence paid off.

The housekeeper, Jenny, wore a stiff, heavy dark-colored dress with a hint of white lace at the collar. As a servant, she couldn’t wear the fashionable bustle skirts, so she padded her dress with hip cushions to create a silhouette.

Eloise approached and noticed Jenny’s short leather boots with buckles, a style that had been popular for a while and was quite affordable. Her aunt owned a second-hand pair.

Jenny’s hair was tied back, and she wore neither a hat nor a headscarf.

She stood by the boutique’s counter, deep in thought, trying to decide between two ribboned ladies’ winter hats.

Anthony hadn’t noticed Eloise, who had entered and disturbed the copper wind chime.

At that moment, his full attention was on closing the sale.

But the housekeeper, whether due to a tight budget or discerning taste, was torn between a wine-red and a dark green winter hat.

The wine-red hat had a wide brim adorned with satin ribbons, and it was two dollars more expensive.

The dark green one, on the other hand, had a narrower brim, making it more suitable for spring, but it was cheaper.

Anthony was a meticulous man, and he was eager to persuade the housekeeper to buy the wine-red hat. However, she seemed fond of it but kept nitpicking.

"This color suits you very well," he urged again.

"I think the dark green one suits me too... But how can one tell what truly suits at a glance?"

"That's true, it also complements your complexion..."

She was hesitating, leaning toward buying the dark green one for its affordability, but couldn't quite make up her mind. Anthony, of course, couldn't outright badmouth his own merchandise.

Eloise, observing the scene, quickly grasped the situation with a single glance.

She smiled, strolled around the shop, pretending to be a customer herself, then shook her head and approached the housekeeper from behind, whispering softly:

"This wine-red winter hat is actually more practical."

The housekeeper, hearing the voice, turned her head and saw a young woman. Suspicious, she asked:

"What do you mean by that?"

After all, the prices were clearly marked.

Anthony, too, was puzzled by her remark. He looked over and vaguely recalled that she was the one who had come by last time to consign some items.

Anthony had a faint feeling that she might be able to help.

Eloise lowered her head, picked up the wine-red winter hat, and said with a faint smile:

"Miss, think about it. This wine-red hat is dyed so well that it won’t look old even after years of use. It’s more durable than the dark green one, and it’s perfect for keeping the snow off in winter."

"Though the dark green one is nice too, if you prefer it, I’ll take this wine-red one. I’ll give it to my teacher’s wife as a Christmas gift—it’s just the right theme."

Eloise didn’t forget to maintain her cover in front of the shopkeeper, playing the role of a tailor’s apprentice.

Anthony, hearing her lighthearted words, felt the tension in his furrowed brows ease. He stroked his mustache, his expression slightly exaggerated as he chimed in:

"Yes, miss, you’re absolutely right! Your teacher’s wife would be overjoyed to receive such a gift!"

The housekeeper, hearing this, quickly stepped in front of Eloise:

"Young lady, how can you be so impolite? I was here first; I should get to choose first."

"Fair enough," Eloise conceded, stepping aside reluctantly.

The housekeeper took out her purse, counted out seven dollars, and asked Anthony to pack the wine-red hat in a box for her.

Hearing this, Anthony called over the shop’s young assistant to wrap it up, then personally saw the customer out.

When he turned back, Eloise was already placing her own consigned goods on the counter.

Anthony had been in business for decades, and he had managed to grow his shop to this scale without any partners, thanks to his shrewdness.

He had seen many clever people, but judging by her effortless eloquence just now, he couldn’t help but feel it was a waste of talent for this young woman not to help him sell his wares.

Knowing that Eloise was here to consign her goods, Anthony calmly returned to the counter, took out his pipe, filled it with tobacco, and lit it. After a moment of thought, he realized he couldn’t recall her name and asked again.

Eloise replied calmly:

"I’m Eloise Zaniron."

...