Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1866-12-22

Than hor city home, for all things dido
look 40 fno aud have such n grand alf.
; So waited for her 10 thinks aud n
last--"Maltie," said sho, "thefe is on
dress can fix oycr for YOU, and the c it.
folks can't oulshno you"
"Whal IL II, molherr
"The blue dress with the gold stars II
liz"
"Bul that is your wedding dross--I can
take that"
ayes, Mattc, you must" said she
"wheD came out here it was too fine 70
me, aud 1t has been long enough in that oil
chest"
So mother opened the cheat, and we bott
got down on our knees on the floor beside
II, and looked al it lying there. Then she
unwrspped the cloth about it and shook
out the crumped rosemary leaves and
held il up before me, and said
"Mttlie, when you put it on, shall see
myself again." and saying II, her eyes
were vet; and seeing this, put down the
longing for the dress, and said:
"Mcther, put it back: it is too grand for
me. What would Gilbert say to see me
wear z"
But mother was determined. So we set
10 work to change the make of it as we'll
az we could. And the next day, how we
did work! and father looked so amazed,
and was so pleased, that | was to 60. |
sewed till my bones ached; and mother did
the cpItng and contriving, and this is
more han half.
l. wasn't in the time OF sewing machines
but before dark, mother put the last sulch
TO it, and took it up stairs to put it on. |
laid it down and looked at it. Ii was the
grandsst thing | had ever had; since then
| have worn many such, but none pleased
me al The first did Then | sat down by
the window, and looked over to GiIbert's
home, standing back among the trees
which Kept ii in such shadow and dream
ed | was mistress Of it, and the years
wero charmed years for Gilbert and |.
Then curIed my hair and put on the
dress Was it really Matte Raymond
that smiled back at me from the glass;
How the tiny stars seemed TO wink at
me from the deep blue! Then ran dcwnI
to ask mother if she knew herself again.
How bright it all is 10 remember since
things have all been 80 changed!
Across the fields came Gilbert, walking
fast and whiSlling--hoIding a bunch of
white roses in his hand. | ran up stairs
and mother brought me the roses; cRugh
up my sleeves with them and put bunch !
Ior my brooch, and went down stairs, and
was happier then than ever before, or
aver shall be again Till it is all made right,
"Why, Mat" said Gilbert, sit is you
zee, perhaps-you look more like some
ady of old or may be an angel"
Mother laughed and said: "she won't
be outshone"-- but | colored up and an
,wered:
at takes blue TO make me an angel
ho'"-and | tried to cover over mothers
speech. for | did not care that Gilbert
should hea how Wonderland had planned
about it, for he would not understand; men
never do you see. Then, We started
lcross The field, and | held up my dress so
lol one Of The tiny Stars should sweep the
,tass, and Gilbert was al bis gayest, and
aughed and joked me abou! my dress, and
aid only wanted half moon in my hair
o make me queen of the night How q
'roud and happy | was that time. o! &
hat The best parts OF our life can only be
asted but once in all the years We musi
10 alive!
My! how the lights sparkled and lit up I
he gay dresses OF the city ladies'! Over
n one corner they stood watching our ,
ouutry boys and girls. getting ready for
he first dance; and high over all the gay {
aughter and sound of dancing feet, fioated +
he mus sic, and think il must have witch "
d US all. q
Gilbert said we would cross over and '
ee his city friends and 90 held up myi p
ress and Tried 10 still the bounds my heart
ave, and went with proud face TO meet 81
~ woe. q
Gilbert shook hands with them (except m
ne lady, standing apart, talking with the &
andsomest man ol them al and told them lie
was his friend Miss Raymond: and they u,
owed and smiled and seemed to loi get be
~ country ways; so forgot them for be
nee, and was at my ease among them, 50
ondering who the lady was he did not lh
,eak 10. Then the gentleman she was he
liking to- turned and said: "Miss Ray hi
Iond, Miss Howard" and she bowed, and 10
Ianced at me with her great shining eyes. gr
at when Gibert's turn came, she reach US
| forth the whi,est hand towards him, an
I'd looked up in his face and smiled, and
len saw what she would do and hated it
er. I'M
Rober, Hale talked, and walked, and
anced With me, and Gilbert and Miss ca