The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-11-19
Miscellaneous
TnE DRESS, NOT THE LADY.

by MARY n DEhNlSoN'
Nellie Blossom pretty name, is Il not
sat i'm her dressing-room laughing as
hard as she could laugh. What IL could
DO for / am sure nobody could tell, for she
was alone, neither reading, nor singing,
or talking TO herself. She had been occu-
pied in combing her beautiful hair, and
this was the situation in which she sat.
A brush in one hand, n great mass Of silk
cuIls in the other, her head thrown back,
her voice ringing out in q succession OF
good hearty h has"
"What il the matter, Nellie p asked her
mother, standing smiling at the door.
80, / was thinking Of something so
funny p cried Nell, ~springing TO her feet
aud plying the brush; ''never mind, moth
or, I've got o plan in my head, and if
decide upon putting II into execution, III
tell you THAT IL is"
At breakfast pretty Nellie was all smiles.
''Shall you 60 out shopping to-day p
asked her mother, CHANGING casually to-
wards her daughter.
On this. Nelly began TO laugh again; then
restraining herself on catching her fathers
eye, she answered, ~ haven't quite made
mp my mind-perhaps ] may"
"Ah contriying already how TO make
way with that fifty dollars Uncle Joe sent
you yesterday Well, Nell, make good use
Of IL; there's many a poor man would feel
like a prince these hard times with fifty
dollars in his hand"
'rll try to, sir, replied Nelly, her laugh
ing eyes growing more quiet in their ex-
preston.
Who did you see last night Nelly ?"
asked Mrs, Blossom, Longing over her tea
after the paterfamilias had gone out.
Henry Lloyd and Charles Sheldon, rs
usual replied Nelly, Archly.
sWere they both nttentive2"
"As two shadows, replied Amy. "Henry
never looked more noble in his life"
Last time IL was Charles" said Mrs.
Blossom.
Nelly blushed. II know" she said; 81
find it difficult to choose between them, /
confess"
"Henry il the handsomest and the rich
est of the firm" said her mother, looking
out, as mothers will do, for the main
chance.
II don't know about Henry's being the
handsomest," replied Nelly "there is
something very superior o Charles
Sheldon's face, but he is so very retiring !
one has 10 give him 80 much margin To
DO sure, Henry is more dashing, might be
called more elegant, and has certainly a
more brilliant eye and color. Perhaps he
dresses in rather better taste; but although
he pleases me more in company, there is
something in Charles Sheldon's quiet way
and deep eye that sometimes seems more
attractive"
"Both appear to have sterling qualities"
said Mrs. Blossom.
eyes, they appear 10 have; but I'm going
10 test them to-day"
"What do you mean, Nelly?
"Ol that's what l was laughing at up
stairs, this morning" replied Nelly, in a
merry way. "You see, I've such a capital
plan J and I'm the very one 10 carry it out,
1 think. / shall spend my fifty dollars on
poor Mills family"
what wild freak now?" asked the ma
turer Blossom of the two, looking wonder
ingly at her daughter. Dear easy little
woman, Nelly had not much 10 fear from
any interference on her part. II is well
that the young girl naturally possessed
much discretion, good sense and good iudg-
ment, for her mother had never imposed
any restraint upon her %inclinations, way
ward or otherwise.
Don't you think Agnes rather a pretty
looking girl, mother" y
"What, little Agnes, my dressing-maid p
replied her mother.
mot 30 very little; about my size, / be-
lieye," said Nelly.
Woii' "hht vi hoIE L hm WI ulteh-
ton"
"Why, you haven't answered my question
whether you thought she was pretty" said
Nelly.
80, yes pretty, rather" was the reply.
"Well, I'm going TO dress her up SPLEEN
didly2"
"Nellyr
az am, truly, in the new bonnet I order
ed yesterday, and my best flounced silk.
I'm Just going TO load her with chains,
rings, bracelets, and everything handsome;
and then I'm going q shopping with her"
Nonsense p CALCULATED the elder Bios
som; smelly, you're crazyr
Nowhere near il, said Nelly, laughing
again; I'm going to have real fun, you
may believe"
dBut what object have you in this quite
foolish scheme 2" asked her mother.
"Oi you'll soc" replied Nelly. "Im go
ing now, and when Agnes is dressed, I'll
come downiand exhibit her"
Agnes was pretty and smart also. She
very Ignorant, but having been dress
ing maid In several good families, she had
picked up a little smattering of useful in
formation. As for the rest, she was full as
handsome, and nearly as graceful, when she
chose 10 be, as many a lady of fashion.
She entered into the scheme with spirit.
"You are mol TO buy anything, you
know, " said Nelly, as she turned waiting
maid. clasped on the bracelets and aided in
dressing, abut ask for such and such silks,
speak in an ordering, commanding way,
you know, and manage somehow TO show
your money. OF l have il, carry II in this
purse; tho gold will shine through the
beautifully"
''And what shall you wearY' asked Agnes,
surveying herself in a long mirror, with a
pleasant face.
81? o, q plain drab merino, with closed
and linen cuffs; mammals every
day straw bonnet with the flowers taken
out. common Lisle gloves, and look just as
q pipe stem"
80, dear. deAr2" cried the girl, laugh
ing; ''why, people won't know you"
II don't mean they BhalI,P said Nelly,
demurely proceeding TO dre0s her hair low