Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-06-24
Fatlence Wilson, 0uakeress


eh,al instruction, and find inclination a
judgment repeating laws that have beco
invested with sacredness in our childbo,
isnot attended with comfort or ease or no.
of mind fN'
Patience Wilson, birthright member
the Society of Friends, was not comfortabl
or easy or at peace, as she arrayed hersC
ior the sunday morning meeting, and su
J9c'ed herplain drab dress and simple stra
'oiihet to u disparaging scrutiny TheI
"'s a vision in her mind Of young I'll
VINO mad passed that way half an hour be
loIe-a girl whose delicate muslin dres
was sprInkled all over with exquisite pip
rose-buds nesting in green Ieaves-a oi,
VINO wore SOFT lace about her neck. brooc
OF gold and garnets at her throat and q,
her head bonnet with loops and streamer
ot bright ribbon and a cluster % scarIe
French flowers for the facc-trimmine. Pa
thence Wilson looked down on her drab
dress, and her lip curled. Such dead
looking thing" she muttered 4" 1t has
the real aekcIoth-and e.shA- lool for all the
world. Bah | hate these colorless, life
less shades, and DO like bright tints and
intense colorine | wouldn't be such
pIain-looking sirI if dared consult my own
fa-te." she said, complacently, picking up
a cluster of scarlet berries that lay upon
her little stand and placing them inside her
straw bonnet against her wavy black hair.
Then. with touch of the comb, she raised
the waves Of glossy hair, brushed them a
little back from her temples, and the raven
tre>ses lay no longer smooth and sleek, but
ripping and waving after the way of the
world
wouldn't be such plain-looking girl
Patience Wilson repeated, with a smile.
Wy hair looks for all the world like Katie
Hunters and | don't have to use crimping-
irons and curling-tongs What a pity that
/ can't
The arrival of a figure at the door check
eI the soliloquy and made dialogue pos
-ible
We are waiting for thee, Patience
said the elderly, grave-faced woman at the
door, and the dialogue was no longer
matter Of speculation.
Yes, in a minute Patience answered.
smoothing her hair hastily and taking the
scarlet berries from her bonnet with a sud
den jerk.
The woman at the door looked Oh grave
Isl. There was grief in her eye, and when
she spoke there was a world Of reproof in
her fone. -.I | am afraid thy heart is going
out after the vanities Of the world" she
said, sadly.
Patience Wilson's face grew crimson,
and She replied somewhat resentfully, Thee
can hardly call a bunch of berries a vanity,
and, as for the curl in my hair, it is natural
Yes thy hair was always trial to thy
mother and me- remarked the woman at
the door 1t never would lie smooth and
sleek FIVE minutes at a time, but was al
ways frizzine up, making thee look fit for
scarecrow. That's right-put some water
on it. If was in thy place [ would use
a little OIL The next time | cut ounces
III save thee some of the seeds, and thee
can make a wash to keep thy hair in place
Thoro - iUtiIiug looks more discreditablc
in Il young girl than to see her hair stand
ing in all directions Now hurry Pa
tience It looks 50 unseemly to enter the
meeting after it has begun. Couldn't thee
straighten that little curl down by the side
of thy face? Il looks careless and untidy.'
Il never can ret ready in the world
with thee looking at me- exclaimed Pa
thence Wilson, impatiently. She seized
the offending curl and thrust it behind her
ear with no GENTLE motion 1t was the one
little pet lock she had saved to relieve the
plainness of her face There she ad-
ded. in vexed tone, = hope | look prim
enough to suit thee
The woman at the door sighed heavily,
as she answered. s. Thee should be pat
L. !
Patience Thee should be worthy Of thy
name But won't look at thee any longer.
It is getting late, and the singers went to
St. Johns nearly an hour ago. Con-, Re
becca," she said, addressing a girl a few
years Patienccs Junior who had just en-
tered. come with me. and don't hinder
thy sister"
Il won't hinder her. answered the girl.
And | will come when She is ready.
She seated herself on the chair by the
side Of her sisters little mirror with intent
to watch her.
Patience ran her eye over the girl with
the same disparagins scrutiny she had be-
slowed on her own dress.
Thee looks like a dud, was the severe
comment Of this Girl whose name was Pa
tience, and who was expected to be a pat
tern
Why Aunt Phebe said my hair was
combed very nicely and that | looked as
neat as pin :, exclaimed the younger girl,
in amazement.
Bah We Quaker girls all look as if
we had been soaked in water aud dried in
the sun until we had faded to lifeess drab.
and then been smearcd over with shiny
starch, and ironcd fiat and smooth, ex-
claimed Patience. Thee has got a most
lovely complexion for blue.
The young girl gave sidelong glance
into the mirror Thee would like us to
dress like the Hunter girls, wouldn't thee 2
she asked.
tience Did thee see Katie 90 by ? She
looked like such beauty
Aunt Phebe said she was tricked out
like popinjay, said the sister, dissent
ingly.
Oh pshaw!' exclaimed Patience VIII
son. Aunt Phebe don't believe in anv
thing outside of our Westinghouse. For
my part, | believe in some things at St.
Johns
Yes, John Duane.' said the sister
with a meaning smile.
Patience colored slightly, and made a
movement toward the door. Come she
said hastily, Aunt Phebe and mother are
halfway to meeting
So they were, and talking gravely of Pa
tience.
She is a great burden on my mindi-
said Aunt Phebe The pomps and van,
ties of the world are tempting her, and she
is unsettled
\ shadow passed over the mothers Ma
donna face. Patience is Young, thee