I like to browse Google Books...and every once in awhile when I'm looking for something more serious, I find an article or story that's just plain fun to read!
If you follow this link, it should take you to an e-copy of "The Ladies Repository" magazine from 1869, and if you scroll down to "page 48", there is a story entitled. "My Friend's Sewing Machine Experience".
Fun stuff, and what's interesting, is that little has changed in the "bones" of the story between then and now!
The Ladies Repository