Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-12-24
THE BROWN SILK Dress.
ny MRS. PHILLIPS.

"Why Eliza what a strange choice for we'd
ding dress Your other dresses are in very good
style, and you have plenty Of them considering
the changes in lishion-but a brown silk TO be
married in who ever heard of such fancy in
girl of eighteen 2"
"'Ts true aunt, shat my choice may seem
somewhat sombre, but you know very well that
am about 10 become the wife of poor mechanic
who depends on his daily labor for support As
the wife of such man, must necessarily limit my
expenditures TO my circumstances, and | have
thought it better TO purchase something which
would be useful for some time TO come, than to
consult my appearance as splendid bride for one
short evenlng-especially as | am TO see no stran-
gers"
"Thcre is something in that. There is my Ma
ra's wedding dress She will never wear it again
in the world. She had white satin, with lace
dress over it. Oh. she did look beautiful! do
admire to see handsome BRIDE"
ayes, il is very well for those who can afford it,
But it would be quite absurd for me 10 purchase an
expensive dress for one, or even for few evenings
when by the expenditure of half the money, can
procure that which will be seryiceablc for some
years. But come, put your bonnet, and step
over TO our new house 1t is all furnished, at least
all that is finished | value il more highly than
should if it was not so near my mothers"
There, William has left this small parlor, this
sitting room, and three chambers TO finish at his
leisure, when he is out Of employment. See how
every thing is arranged. So handy for my work"
"You don't say you are going to do your own
work p
Certainly do. There is only one apprentice
and l should think it strange il | could not do it
all with ease"
"My heart, what strange fancies you have To
be sure, ii is well enough if You can bring your
mind TO il, but the folks do so differently now. a.
days. There is my Maria, she has moved into an
elegant house: all furnished from top to bottom
She keeps great girl to do the work, and little
one 10 wait and tend. Oh, things do go on beau
tilully promise you
"Her husband is young lawyer, is he not-is
he weal,hyp
"Oh he is very well Off He does not get much
practice yet but dare say he will in time He
has thousand dollars at interest besides, Maria
never would have married a mechanic-their hands
get so hard and black, and thei. compilations, es-
pecialy if they are exposed, get so brown. would
not wish to hurt your feelings, but do think that
for prde's sake for the sake Of the family, you
might have made different choice"
"Oh, aunt, excuse my laughing-I have yet to
learn that mans honest occupation, whether it
produces hard hands, or white soft hands, whether
it gives the check brown or pale hue, is any dis
paragement to him. You must get acquainted with
William, aud hear him converse. You will not
think OF his hard hands, aud his animated inlelli-
gent countenance will drive his bronzed skin quite
out of your head. But come, you don't say any
thing about my furnture-and you must see my
nice closets"
ooh your furniture is well enough The less
you have the less you will have 10 take Of you
know"
"Yes, we could not get much furniture. in
sisted upon William taking the money which my
| al oFI off, tn fa hmm md dol
lars which he owed for this place. in order TO ena
bic US to begin even in the world. We both have
such horror of debt, that we are determined new
er TO incur any, if we can possibly help il. SCI
what a nice press for bed-clolhes this is"
"Why, what a quantity of bed and table linenI
it is really nice, too You have more than M
Maria has, declare"
"Yes-l always want an abundance Of such things
This drawer is filled with towels-ths is for m!
ironing sheet and blanket-and this closet contain
my tin and wooden ware"
81 declare, Eliza, you are a strange, thoughtful
child | must tell you one thing about Maria, tina
made us have good hearty laugh. The Monda
morning after she was married the girl came to as
where the tubs were and don't you think the chill
had actually forgotten TO buy tub, cloihes-line
or pins She said it never popped into her head
7 But, la il was mt strange-she had never bee
used to do anything Of the kind"
II DelleYe, aunt, nave SHOWN you all now
We will go, if you please. hope you will not lie
: my brown dress or Williams brown hands frighte
you away this evening"
"Oh no But as must take the stage for MI
ria's early in the morning, you must allow me t
y retire early"
"What fellows these Yankees are for combinin
elegance aud usefulness" said Southern gentle
man 10 himself as he stood on the plaza of the liz
; tel in the town of -. "Sir," said he, address
:, ing himself 10 a venerable looking near hin
lean you tell me who resides in that elegant co
tage, where the grounds are laid out with so muc
> taste o.
"Oh that is Squire Bill Thorndike's. Yo
must be stranger in these parts, not TO kno
/. him."
II am, sir; and since he seems such prom
II nent member Of society, should be happy to kno
Il something of his history"
ooh there is nothing remarkable in il, nothn
at all, sir. His father a man Of great learning
but he nearly run through fortune in trying
U live in style. lie died, and lefi three boys. The