Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-12-24
The Village Sewing Circle.
BY CHRISTINE II. CARPENTER.


ling among the green Connecticut hills.
The leaves of the clustering vines
framing pretty white cottages just STIR
red in the sunshine, while even the
bees and butterflies crept to shelter in
the hearts of the great red and white
roses, family nodding to some occas-
ional zephyr as it languished by
From the open window of Widow
Mays chest room " hum of voices
stole out upon the scented air, and
within, more than a score of busy
hands fashioned divers fabrics into fair
shapeliness. 1t was the weekly sew
ing-circle of the Maysville church, for
which a fair was in prospect, fact
that formed the secret of this feminine
conclave. Who ever saw sewing
circle without its little titbits of Cos
sip? This was no exception to the
rule. Presently CHEEKY face looked
up from its owners glancing needle:
''Do you know said she to her
neighbor, ''that Eve quite altered my
opinion of Mrs. Wells, lately! Pray
don't start-she has not arrived yet"
''How is that? You used to think
her the most extravagant woman in the
village, and I'm not sure but you were
quite right. To my certain knowledge
she wears the most new dresses, new
bonnets, and SO costly, to say nothing
of the style in which those children of
hers are primped up! You don't pre-
tend to imagine her husband can stand
it so much better than others | might
mention?"
''Oh no; Mr.. Wells is not rich
only comfortable.
Il can't afford two new dIesses to
my neighbor's one"
maybe you don't know how to
economize.
Economic I'd like you to point
out another woman in Mavsville who
can stretch out dollar flrther'n l
CAM
Eyes, can do it."
'Just tell me, and I'll take lesson
right of. "
''You might profit by it, too, as l
have.
"DO Tell
'.It's Mrs. Wells"
ssMRs. WELLS That does beat my
time-to set her up as my model :
Now, dare say, if one really knew,
she spends just three times as much. >
mo, she doesn't, nor in fact any
more than you do. E"
''Oh. nonsense. How do you get
over the four bonnets, and the dresses
and fancy furbelows one always sees
about her, The little matron shook
her head sagaciously. No, no, Mrs.
Brown, calculate the whole matter i'll
plain figures. Now, for instance =
There were my two bonnets last year.
Ned thought as how l should have
something better than the hideous
things Miss Smith gets up in the vii
lage, so l went to New York. Well.
there were two days lost just going
and coming at the very time | was
most wanted. l tired myself almost
to death looking for something reason
able, and at last had to take the near
est to my means. | thought 1t would
do we'll enough till got home, and
Mrs. Wells called on me next day with
the very lovliest bonnet on her head |
ever saw. 1t never cost less than
twenty-five dollars in the city. mean
that gray velvet she had last fall"
II know all about it. 1t didn't cost
but six dollars, and it didn't come from
the city. "
six dollars. You must be dream
ing! And where in the name of crea
ton, could any one get such bonnet
in Maysville! Then. again, when |
was in the city saw dress something
like that blue merino Of Susie Wells
everybody liked SO much. l thought
I'd enough left to buy it for Ada. |
knew the stuff wasn't more than four
teen shillings yard, and it takes just
four yards but besides, there was the
making and trimming. Invent in and
priced it. 1t was eighteen dollars. "
"And Susie Wells cost her mother
only about nine.
THAT beats me out and out. Where
does she go to get such bargains:
mot very often ont of Maysville."
s.Why, never see them. When |
90 to Miss Smith for anything new.
most likely it's some notion she's bor-
rowed from the Wellses. l do believe
they set the fashions for this village for
dressmakers and all. "
well, Mrs. Wells can do it if she
likes, for the truth is she has sure
guide. This is the secret.
s'Do tell" suspending her work to
listen.
..Yes, and what's more. Mrs. Wells
doesn't buy halfthose new things ready
made she makes them herself.
..Oh. it's all in gumption, then.
never had any.
mo, not that alone. | went down
to the house yesterday to take tea. and
we got chatting, and somehow We came
to talk about economy. and l said l
didn't see how some folks managed to
make such show, when other. doing
quite as well in the world. couldn't
Now, YOU don't mean me" said Mrs.
Wells, went on. 'Maysville people
do think you are awful eXtravagant.
sWhy?' said she. because you have
so many new things, and made so cost
w, and the children are always furbe-
lowed enough to cost a small fortune.
Now, I'll warrant, said she, that all
mine and the children's new things to-
gether don't cost me any more than
yours, or any other family in the vii