The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-01-02
The Brown silk Dress.
BY MRS. PHILLIPS.

wedding dress! Your other dresses arc in
very good style. and you have plenty of them
considering the changes in f;lshinn--.but u
brown silk 10 he married in!--whn ever beard
of such fancy in girl of eighteen"
otis true, aunt, that my choice may seem
somewhat sombre, but you know very well
that am about to become the wife ofa 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 il bet
ter TO purchase something which would be
useful for some time 10 come, than TO consult
my appearance as splendid bride for one
short cvening-especialy asI am TO see no
strangers"
"Thers Is something in that. There is my
Marias wedding dress. She will never wear
it agnin in the world. She had white sat
in, with lace dress over it. Oh, she did
look beautiful! do admire TO see hand
some bride"
ayes, it is very well for those who can af.
ford it. But il would I've quite absurd for me
10 purchase an expensive dress for one, or e.
ven for few evenings; when by the eXpen-
diture of half the money, | can procure that
which will be serviceahle for some years. But
come, put on your bonnet, and stop over 10
our new house. IL is all furnished, Mt lenRt
all that is finished; value it more highly than
should iii was not so near my mothers
''rhere, William has left this small parlor,
this sitting room, and three chambers, 10 fin
:sh at his leisure, when he is ont nf employ
ment See how every Thing IL arranged,
So handy for my work."
"You don't say you pre going TO do your
own workm
"Certainly ] do. Thovc Is only ono APP
prentice, and should think it strange i'll
could not do it oil with ease"
"My heart, what strange fancies YOU have!
To be sure, il is well enough ifyou can bring
your mind to il, hut the folks do so different
ly nowadays. There is my Maria, she has
moved into an elegant house: all furnished
from top 10 bottom. She keeps great girl
10 do the work, and little one to wait and
tend. Oh, things do go OH beautifully,
promise you!
"IIer husband is young lawyer, is he not
lis he wealthy"
':Oh! he is very well of. He does not get
much practice yet, but dare say no will in
time. He has a thousand dollars Mt interest,
besides, Maria never would have married
mechanic hands ge' so hard and black,
and compleXions especially ifrhey are eX-
posed, get so brown. would not wish TO
hurt your feelings. but do think that for
pride's sake, for the sake of the family, you
might have made different choice"
"Oh, aunt, excise my laughing-l have yet
to learn that a mans honest occupation,
whether it produces hard hands, or white
soft hands, whefherit gives tile cheek brown
or pale hue, is any disparagement to him.
You must get acquainted with William,
aud hear him converse. You will not
think of his hard hands, and his auima-
ted intelligent countenance will drive
his hronzed skin quite out ofypiIr head. But
come, you DOM say any thing about my fur
niture-and you must see my NICE closets"
''Oh! your furniture is well enough. The
less you have the less you will have TO take
care of you know"
ayes, we could not get much furniture.
insisted upon Williams taking the money
which my grandfather left me, To pay oifn few
hundred dollars which he owed for this place,
in order to enable us to begin even in the
world. We both have such horror of debt,
that we are determined never to incur any, if
we can possibly help it, See what II nice
press for bed clothes this is.'
"Why, what IL quantity ofbed and table
linen---it is really NICE, too. You have more
than my Maria has, declare"
"Yes-I always want an abundance of
such things. This drawer is filled with tow
els-this is for my ironing sheet and blanket
and this closet contains my tia and wooden
ware" ... .....r
Il declare, Eliza, your a strange, thought
iul child! Unjust tell you one thing about
Maria, that made us have gpod hearty
laugh. The Monday morning after she was
married the girl came to ask where the tubs
were, and don't you think tho child had actu-
ally forgotten TO buy atub, a ciotiles-line or
pimsl She said it never popped into her
head. But, Ia! it wasn't sirange--she had new
er been used to any thing otthe kind"
81 believe, aunt, have shown yusi all now.
We will go, if you please. | hope you will
not let my brown dress or Williams brown
hands frighten you away this evening"
sob no! Bit as must take the stage for
Marias early in the morning, you must allow
me to retire early" .. n.a.
"What fellows these Yankees are for cotI-
bining elegance and usefulness" said n
Southern gentleman to himselfas he stood
on the Piazza ofthe Hotel ia the town Of ----
"Sir," said he,addressng hmsefto a venera-
BILE looking man near linn, Scan you tell me
who resides in that elegant cottage, where the
grounds. are laid out with so much taste?
ooh! that is Squire Bill Thorndike's. You
must be stranger in these parts, NOT 10 know
hm."f're.r.t .'-,...... .a..... ,...sf .... r'.,
81 am sir: and SINCE Inc seems slrcha prona-