Floyd's Flowers; Or, Duty and Beauty for Colored Children / Being One Hundred Short Stories Gleaned from the Storehouse of Human Knowledge and Experience: Simple, Amusing, Elevating

Surely all young girls ought to know how to sew, and, not only sew, but all girls, I think, ought to love the purely feminine occupation of sewing. Since I am sure that many of the little girls who will read this book know how to sew, I am going to tell you about some little sewing that my wife did.

In 1903, the Ladies’ Home Journal, of Philadelphia, offered a prize of fifty dollars for the best way to make pin-money at home. You know, girls, that pin-money means pocket change or spending money. Many hundreds of women all over the world sent in suggestions to the Ladies’ Home Journal, each one hoping, I am sure, that her suggestion would win first prize. The following letter sent to my wife will tell you just how her suggestion was received:

“It gives me much pleasure to tell you that among the hundreds of letters received in response to the offer made in our January magazine in connection with The Editor’s Want-Box, Mr. Bok has chosen your offering as the one entitled to the first prize of fifty dollars. He congratulates you upon your success and thanks you for the interest you have shown.

“Our Treasurer will send you a check within a week.

The check came all right, girls, and my wife thought, as she said to me, that in winning the prize she had found a new way to make pin-money—that is, by telling others how to make pin-money at home.

Two hundred of the little articles were afterwards published from time to time in The Ladies’ Home Journal. The first article of the series appeared in the magazine for January, 1904, and my wife’s little story, which won first money, was at the head of the list. I am going to give here the whole of the little article, as published in The Ladies’ Home Journal. Of course, I am proud that she won the prize, and I hope other young ladies by-and-by may be the happy winners in such contests. And here is the article:

“When one’s pin-money is all gone but twenty-five cents the question comes as to the way to replenish it. One day when I found that I had only that amount I invested it as follows:

“The same day I made three baby caps as daintily as I could with these materials. The next day I sold them for twenty-five cents each, and then I had seventy-five cents. I then bought

“With these materials I made two baby caps, somewhat larger than the first ones, and trimmed more prettily. I found no trouble in selling them for $1.50. Straightway I invested the sum in lawn, lace, ribbon, etc., and as I had done so well with the caps I thought I would try my hand on little bonnets. I made two. A friend offered me $5 for them before they were finished. I accepted her offer and from that day to this I have never been troubled about pin-money.

“In four weeks’ time I made and sold twenty caps and eleven bonnets. The material for the caps cost me $2.50—twelve and a half cents for each. I sold them for twenty-five cents each. The material for the bonnets cost me $8.25, or seventy-five cents each. I sold them for $2.50 each. So I netted $21.75 for my work. The time which I devoted to this enterprise was that which ordinarily I would have used in calling or in running up bills for my husband to pay.

“Since the first four weeks of which I have spoken in detail I have made more expensive caps and bonnets for babies from six months to about three years old. The last one I made was of silk, beautifully trimmed, tucked and hemstitched. I sold it for $6, making a clear profit of $3. My husband says I’ll soon be in position to organize a trust.”