Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-08-15
Fr m the 30 8ton TT reiier.
ALICE LINDSEY
TIE LIT LIE BLOOMER.

Are you to appear IN your BIoomer rig TO-
day"
If it clears off bright, Grandmother,' replied
Alice Lindsey, and she walked to the window
and raised the shades tha she might see what
were her prospects.
1T will be clear in an hour, said her grand
fathers the sidewalks are almost dry now.'
/ Still the crossings are muddy and | wish to
see the sun fairly shine beore ven,ure
i guess said Grandmother smiling, some
body is very willing to find an excuse FOR put
ting it Off
i do not know whit makes you say So said
Alice cooring slightly; the dress is beautiful
and intend to weari.'
Now pray said All es mother, pray do not
try to set the child agi,nst it. She gave me no
peace until boughtit it for her, and new she
must wear it,
/ You need not fear mother. shall wear it
and had just as lief Grandmother would talk
as not
Tut-tut-tut-l;'le Miss Independence,
said Grandfather, cone here, and let me see
how you look Alice cane with dgnlhed air
and turned her pretty face t1wards him. 4 be-
lieve You are a spoiled child said her grand
father, kissing her fondIy what has put this
Bioomer notion into your head all at once?
1T has not come all at once replied Alice
i have thought about it, and read about 1t. for
some time, and am quite convinced that it has
good sense as well as beauty on its side, and
mean to be Independent enough to wear it,
.What do Won like best about it, the good
sense or the beauty said Grandfather, chuck
ling little.
You need not laugh, G-andfather,' said Al
"a, =, ln,,oI,fpr M wpnl1
find ont if you had woman's clothes to wear
This remark not seeming 70 sober the old g m
teman much, Alice went Oh still more earnestly.
'Only see how it is; here, cannot 90 into the
street without carrying around my ankles some
fifteen or twenty yards Of cloth
'Whew = said her Grandfather.
well it is so, and if the ground is at all
damp, all this cloth must get damp, or else
must hold it up, and that tires me, and makes
walking tedious; then if the ground is wet, ii
will dragrle, in spite of all can do to prevent
i,,-and what sight | am when | get home
! can tell YOU, such walking costs more than II
comes to-
There is no need Of having so much trouble,
SAID Grandmother, 1T IS owing wholly TO the
folly of the fashions Of tha day. We used 10
dres. rightly; we wore few rundcr-clothes and
had them fastened properly with shoulder-straps,
and had them made Of warn stuff, and short, SO
they could not draggle; and we put our feet
into woollen stockings, and thick shoes. But
bless me what would our city ladies' do now
in such a sensible dress as this: Their silks
and their muslins must stand out around them
like barrel, and trail nlo'r behind them with
the fashionable sweep. Nice, pray tell me
how many skirts Mary wor. when she was here
last summer"
Five every day. said Alice, 'and seven
when she was dressed up
Bless my heart = said 1er Grandfather,
don't see how such little creature could stand
up stra gnt in the middle Q them.
1T was because she was so small that she
wore Them replied Alice. she said if she
did not, her clothes would hang As if they were
on bean noe
IT was enough to kill her. remarked grand
mother what a weight TO carry abou, on her
hips do not wonder she Is sickly.
# presume.' remarked Aces mother, nha,
she has become so accustomed TO the burden
that she does not notice it all habit reconcles
Us To anything.
1T hurt her none the less for all that, per-
sisted the grandmother.
Now said Alice. we little folks cannot
aDuSt llt bl''uitl b''oo III ouSh q " "oJ " -
warm without being heavy, and we cannot
make it heavy very well and what is better
still, it is suitable for any weather. With a
pair of dark pap'aleltes, and rubber. boot, ]
can 90 out in a storm as well as man
i believe you are in the right of it,, said
Grandfather. Il do not care what you wear,
if can only have you well. | would put you
into coats and pants, If That would insure your
keeping II the sick list, | cannot ina CINE
what ais all the young girls. ] don't find one
in twenty who is WELL
1t is Just So, remarked Grandmother; /
heard a minister say, the other day, that he
should be puzzled to find one healthy woman
in his whole parish. He could MT think Of one
who had not something the matter with her
The best of them would be at least subject To
nervous or sick headaches, which united them
Of en for duty or enJnynen.'
Il do not see into IT, persisted Grandfather
i do not believe there is any need of it either !;
and if The Bloomr costume will do ANYTHING
towards bringing ,bout better state of health
do pray let us have it; | am sure il is mod
est
we were well enough without any Bloomer
fashlons, said Grandmother. Sacks and pants