The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-12-11
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How should our little girls be dressed
In wlnters In the first place make waist
Of cotton flannel; let the sleeves be long.
Make pair Of drawers of the Same ma
tcrial, long enough to reach tho top Of the
bootee, and button them upon the waist;
then flannel garments made In tho Same
manner except the drawers; they should
be finished with band and buttoned Just
below the knee. Next, the hoops, Qf
they must have them, but girls are much
better of without them,) and over them .
warm, light skirt. Lastly, the dress,
which should be ofwoolen material, made
with long sleeves, and the waist and
sleeves lined with strong cotton. Strong
boots with heavy soles, and warm, thick
woolen stockings. When she goes out,
she should wear warm sacque, and nit
tens.
Our little girl ought always to be dress-
ed In this way II she wants to be well and
handsome. But she does not always
think SO. At twelve or fourteen she thinks
herself too old to wear short dress; too
old to run and romp with her brothers
too old to climb fences and trees-to jump
and "teet"r" and swing-to ride down
hill and hunt hens eggs; too old to be
free, happy and healthy too old to be .
child; and SO she must put ON the long
dress, and learn to be ''lady." Twenty
times day we hear the mother say to the
daughtor-"Ellen, don't run,it u not pref
to-" "Ellen get OF that tseter; It's not
lady-liko for you to do sol" '.Ellen you
are too big girl to romp and play"
And so she calls her In, and seats her
In a rocking-chair, with frightfally long
over-and-over seam before her, telling her
to sit still and sew like "lady." She
does sit still and sew like lsdy-lf she
does not happen to be one OF the SIRE
presslbles;" and she plants the seed for
future diseases with every stitch. |
When sho was called indoors to be
made a"lady" Of, she was . match for
her brothers In every outdoor sport. Her
cheeks were rosy and she slept well at
night. She was up early In the morning,
and out to the barn with Tom and Dick,
and was as hungry At breakfast - they;
but since the process Of making her "la-
dy" began, she has changed somewhat,
her long skirts have made Il almost i'm
possible for her to run Mt all, and In q
race with Tom she Is left far In the rear.
II she tries to climb fence, her feet arc
caught In her hoops, and she is In danger
of falling.
Finding herself thus hampered BY her
clothes, she soon gives over the unequal
struggle. aud learns to be . ''lady." She
Is hardly ever up at breakfast now, and
thinks Tom and Dick are great, rough
boys; too rough for her to play with.
She has given to little Bessie all her
dolls aud toys. She attends the evening
parties and 'giggles at tho boys; and sad
to say, she has lost her taste for former
simple Joys, and hnd her greatest pleas
urc In glitter. show aud noise.
OF what pity she has ever become
"lady!" What pity she could NOS nave
remained n sweet, wholesome, hearty
chIldl
Mothers, I pray you. do not hurry to
r,sb vour littie daughters forward Into
ronn..,.dyhood @ and long dresses! Keep
them. I entrest, simple Little girls, and In
sbort clothes, a. long - possiblsl They
will inevitably escape from you soon
enough. Soon enough win tho crib and
be empty, and no Sound Of
footsteps be heard on the stairs.