Volcano weekly ledger. (Volcano, Amador County, Cal.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-12

ford to be independent ~
Why would it not do for us, who have
the more need Of it ~ asked Jane thought.
fully
"Oh, but it won't; that's all know about
it,
! have great mind to go with such a
dress as have"
How foolish" replied Mary, with appa-
rent disgust. You will not wear that old
berage? 2?
will wear my new Calico"
Are you crazy? Go to the ball with a
new calico dress onw
"Just to show my independence, you
know added Jane with a smile.
at would be independence with ven
geancel Wouldn't Mr.. Samuel Vincent
croww
Let him crow" replied Jane, blushing
deeply. !,
"You will prove, then, that what he said
was correct-that he was really ashamed to
be seen in a public place with you"
81 dress as well as | can afford. If
dressed any better, it would deprive my poor
old father and mother of many of the com
forts of life"
But certainly you will not disgrace your
uncles family and your friends by going to
the ball in calico dress 7"
Disgrace them"
Yes disgrace them jane
"Uncle often says he should like to see a
little more independence in the girls.
mean to go, Mary, and in my new calico
dress, too"
You must not be surprised, then, if your
friends cut you"
"Not at all"
"And then, think of the intention Of the
ball.
Don't care for that"
at is to be given in honor of the rich and
gallant Frank Huntington. ] suppose he
will feel most profoundly bonored by your
calco!"
You may say what you LIKE will wear
the calico"
~ don't believe you will You cannot
find any one to go with you in such q plight"
My uncle"
He won't"
. am sure he will"
Even if you get there, no one will dance
with you"
Il can't help that. cannot afford ball
dress-yours cost at least twenty dollars"
Twenty-four.'
i" $50 much ,.t the yorse-I want to go tathe
But it is too bad to go in such plight
as that"
If my uncle consents, | will CO."
This conversation occurred in one Of our
large New England villages. Jane Oakes
was beautiful girl-some said handsomest
in the place, if she would only dress better
Her father and mother were very poor, and
resided in an adjoining town. Jane, by the
exercise of a great deal Of energy and per-
severance, had obtained an excellent educa-
ton, and was assistant teacher in the village
high school, and received a liberal salary
But the flial devotion of the noble hearted
girl would not permit her to spend her money
in dress while her parents wanted anything
she could procure for them.
She was naturally gay and fond of amuse-
ment, especially dancing when INDUCED at
reasonable hours. The approaching ball was
sore temptation to her, but she brayely
resisted the inclination to purchase ball
dress and join the festivities-her conscience
would not permit her to do so. 1t would
wrong her parents.
Mary Trevor was also an assistant
Teacher and both of them boarded at the
house Of James uncle, who was quite an in
fluental parsonage in the village. He was a
plain spoken and common sense man, and
thoroughly detested the vanities which were
year after year introduced into the village
from the city. He had pressed Jane to go
to the ball with such dress as she had 1t
was literally true, however, that common
calico was the best she had.
Samuel Vincent young clerk in the vii
lage, who had imbibed great many foolish
notions, had for some months been pointedly
attentive to her, and apparently with her
good will He had suddenly withdrawn
from the list, only few weeks before our
story opens; and the reason assigned was,
that he was ashamed of her--she dressed SO
shabby.
She was content to let him 90, and one of
her sound sense would not waste many sighs
over such a lover. Jane consulted her uncle
in regard to attending the ball in calico
dress The blunt old fellow was delighted
with the idea, and promised his cooperation
in carrying it out.
The long expected day came at last. and
the village was attired to its very center. 1t
was leap year, and the young ladies had got
up this ball in honor of young nabob of
the village who had just returned from a tour
in Europe. Besides being young, handsome
and rich, he was not married All the girls
wanted him for his handsome face and swell
ing Golfers had not spoiled him. He was n