Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-07-03
The Rag Party.

90 girls l have something to tc'
you," cried Lucy Allen, coming into tn
school-room one morning before min
O'Clock. The girls, who nad been gather
ed in groups, either talking or studying, al
looked up as Lucy went on to say
" Mother says must invite you all t
my house to rag party, next Saturday
won't it be nice 2"
What is a rag party p asked Alice.
"Why, Alice don't you know ?" sal
Emma; "it's party to cut and seS
rags for carpet it's real fun; l mca1
to 60, if mother will let me-"
a rag party - said Kate, very scorn
fully; "who ever heard of such a thing
My ma won't allow me to sew rays.
don't think it is very genteel."
The tears came into Lucy's eyes at thi
unkind speech but she tried not to up
pear hurt, only saying But Kate thi
is to do good, and we needn't be ASHAMED
Of that"
No, indeed ~ said Julia, putting he
arm lovingly around Lucy; "but wha
are you going to do with the carpet wher
it is finished, Lucy
Why, you know the old lady who ha:
moved into the little cottage at the foot
of our lane, and has only her little grand
son living with her; well mother went tc
see her the other day, and says she i:
real poor, there is no carpet on the floor
and she told mother she couldn't afford tc
get any now, becauee the boy had NJ
work. When mother told me, | though
right away about the rag carpet that
saw aunt Betsey Hall making; and it is
such easy work that Annie and thought
We would try and make one as a present
for the old lady"
Good that's first rate idea !" SAID
Nellie; land you are agoing to let u:
all come and help you r
i" Yes, if you would like to, you car
begin at two o'clock and sew till tea time
then after tea mother says We may play
and have some music; SO it won't be SC
very ungenteel, Kate, after ali"
IL don't think | can cone," said Kate
:" Well | do; doat you, girls ~ sale
Julia.
c Yes; SO do -" ami l !" "and l =
cried tue girls one after another.
I" Mex Saturday, then, at two o'clock
don't forget" said Lucy, just as the bel
rang to call them to order.
Saturday came a bright sunny day
just such a Saturday as school girls like
Lucy and her sister were carly at WORK
getting their rags tea1y .er the sewing
party.
They were all there punetually at two
O'clock happy, Industrious little com
pany, very pleasant to look upon. They
worked busiIy and talked busily-as girl'
always do when they get together but
no one spoke an unkinl word about the
absent Kate, for they all thought tha
she would be sorry enough" after al
at not having hand in this pleasant little
labor Of love.
Can you find time to eat these ?" ask
ed Mrs. Allen, coming in after an houl
or two with dish Of pine apples.
No, ma am" replied little Susan, who
was tryingv hard to make the most,
and had sewel her fingers several times
in her haste.
The large girls laughed and did not
seem very unwilling to -est themselves by
eating the apples, When the tea bell
they counted their balls, and found they
had made twenty-cisht.
"Amost enough for the carpet SAID
Lucy, joyfully; 0 | am so glad''
i" How many does it take p asked Al
ice.
Forty, believe you know We dc
not want large carpet"
1t was a merry party at the tea table
that evening; one might easily tell, by
their satisfied and happy faces, that they
had been doing a good work.
How they enjoyed eating Mrs. Allen:
" good things )" and how kind Mr.. AlIer
was and what funny stories Lucy:
brother George told, and pretended h(
felt very much offended because they had
not invited him to help them sew.
Then after tea they had some pleasant
games and last Of all, Mrs. Allen play
cd on the piano, and they sang all toseth'
er, before going home.
"Why. mother, it was just the nices
party | ever went to y sad Emma, wher
she reached home.
Not bit ungenteel, either" said hel
sister Sarah, laughing. And they bott
went to bed, thinking how happy anc
comfortable the poor Old lady aud grand
son would be, when the new carpet wa:
put down in their humble room.
"If Kate only knew t0m happy 4
makes us feel, when we do good to others,
thought Lucy as she read her chapter
that night and came to the verse, lnas
much as ye have done it unto one Of thest
the least of my brethren, We have done /
unto Me- Matt. XIV. 40.