The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-10-05
MABEL'S STORY.


We lived far away in the country in a
rustic district. My father was postmas-
ter of the place and kept few groceries
for sale. But he had enough to do to
maintain his family scantily and clothe
them decently. was sixteen, and a
housekeeper; my mother was dead, and
I was the eldest of us four children. The
rest being younger, strove to do my
best for them.
My one great trouble then was nv
clothes. Other young girls of our sta
tion that l associated with dressed better
than could, and it grieved me. Vanity
begins earlier than that in the female
heart. had made up and remade every
article of my mothers wardrobe for the
children or for me, had worked I'D every
shred to the best advantage and now
that was all gone, and did need new
dress for the coming winter. 1 made my
shoes last as long again as other girls
did, for knew my father needed every
sixpence he could earn, and dreaded
wanting anything. Not that he ever
was cross, buo he often sighed, and
looked 30 panied and sorrowful when l
asked for money, that l tried to do with
as little as possible.
But here it was the last of October /;
my summer dresses, poor enough at all
times, looked very thin and paItry now
One Saturday afternoon l shall never
forget. 1t is what am going to tell of
My work all done, the children at play
in the orchard, combed out my long,
brown hair, put on my best cotton frock,
selected plain linen collar of my own
making, and pinned it round my neck
with an old breastpin, the only bit of
jewelry had ever owned. With me /
think it was an instinct to dress WELL
Not fine; only neat. Then, taking out
my last winters best frock, 1 sat down
by the window to see what could do at
renovating it. 1t was light blue me-
rino--very light indeed now--and knew
it was too short for me, as I was still
growing, and was very shabby. But by
turning and putting in a wide band of
ribbon which had, thought it might
be made to answer; SO l set to work with
will.
The work was vexing. was trying
to do what scarcely could be done, and
as I sat sewing and contriving, felt fit
to cry over our poverty. just then the
dog on the shop-sill set up loud bark
ing, and looked to see what it was at.
A man was coming in at the gate with
pack on his back travelling pedler,
l knew. He smiled and came in, al
though L said did not want anything,
and the children, seeing him, came run
ming in too.
Il cannot afford to buy, indeed I can
not I Rant saving Ruf tho man ONLY
kept on smiling, and opening his pack
on the parlor floor. And it was too great
treat to me to see the things, to make
great opposition.
The first that came out was Just the
very thing I had most longed fora
beautiful fine French merino, of dark
crimson color. had once seen a dress
of this kind, but none had ever been Of
fered for sale in our little place that
could equal this in shade or texture.
The pedler looked at me with his keen
black eyes as knelt down to feel the
prize had no hope of winning. "The
lady will buy" he said; but shook my
head, and crossing my hands behind me,
stood up resolutely, trying hard not to
long for the much-desired piece of goods
"Not buy !" Ee exclaimed, in broken
language of some sort, could not tell
whether French or German; and he
looked so astonished, even pitiful, that 1
felt sorry at once, and confessed that l
had no money, and could not purchase.
but the beautiful young lady have
some old silver-old jewelry-old silk
dresses-just good as money 7" said he.
laughed at the idea, but he only
opened another package to display to
the boys some dumb watches with very
gay chains, and handing them each
one, he took out small doll, for my lit
tie sister, and told them to run away
now, till sister bought her dress" L
motioned to the boys to stay near the
doorstep, and then taking up the much
coveted dress-piece, again examined it.
oatan was tempting me, or some vexa-
tious spirit that does duty for him, and
never had been SO sorely beset. How
could L let it 60, yet how pay for it
The black eyes never left my face, but
the fellow was respectful. only bowling
lower as he said, q You think it good 2"
"Oh, yes" replied, "too good for
me-"
mot So" he said. 1t suits you much,
and you shall have cheap"
"I tell you have no money"
"No matter. l trust. You give me
something to keep for you, and / come
again." he said. .--
But / have nothing" 1 insisted.
Still he only seemed more eager said
something of hard times, of having to
stay at the tavern, and expenses over
Sunday, of being so very tire and I
with the merino in my hand all the
while.
Suddenly he stepped close to me.
pointing to the poor brooch ! wore. 1
could give him that. he said that is,
lend 1t to him in trust until he came
again. Did think much of it. he asked.
l laughed as / undid it. L did not
think much of it, but it was all the jew
elry Iipossessed in the world. ! showed