Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-10-10
MABEL'S STORY.

V STgF nfT --T 8fE a q
We lived far away in the country in a
rustic district.G Ny father was postmas-
ter of the little 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 housekeeper; my mother was dead,
and was the eldest of us four ehildre9.
The rest being younger i stroye to- 90
my best for them.
Ny one great trouble then was my
Clothes Other young girls of our sta
ton that associated with dressed bet
ter than could, and lit grieved me. Van
ity 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 up every
shred to the best advantage; and now
that was all gone, and | did need a new
dress for the coming winter Imade my
shoes last as long again as other girls
did, for / knew my father needed every
sixpence he could earn, and j dreaded
wanting anything that lever
was cross, hut Ahe7 often sighed, and
looked so panied and sorrowfuf when |
asked for money, that / triedtodo with
as little as possible, w.,
But here it was the last of October;
my summer dresses, poor enough at all
times, looked very thin and paltry now.
One Saturday afternoon, ! shall never
forget. 1t is what am going to tell OF.
Ny work all done, the children at play
n'the orchard, ] combed out my long,
brown hair, put on my best cotton frock,
selected a plain linen collar of my own
making, and pinned it around my neck
with an old breastpin, the only bit OF
jewelry | had ever owned. With me |
think il was an instinct to dress well.
Not fine; only neat. Then, taki4g out
nv last winter best froel1, | Shutdown
Sygthe window to see what i could do at
renovating it. II was 2 light blue
mesiuo-yery light indeed now7-and l
knew It was too short for me. as | was
still growing, and was very shabby.
But hy turning and putting in q wide
baud Of trimming which ] had, Thought
II might be madeto answer; sol set to
work with will. r-.,s-,w
d. The work was ,Yexlng. was trying
to DO what scarcely could be done and
as | sat sewing and contriving, lfeltD mt
TO cry, oyer, our poverty just then the
dog on the shoplsill set up loud gbark-
ing. and looked to see what it vas at
"a man was coming in at the gate with q
back on his back a travelling -peddierr'
/ knew. He smiled and came in, al
though + said ] did not wnnt any thing !;
and the children, seeing him, came run
ia cannot afford to buy; indeed | can
not" | kept saying But the man only
kent on smiling, and opered his pack on
fbe oarlor Aoor.i And it was too great a
treat to me to see the things, to make
great opposition. --
The first that came out was Just the
very thing | had most longed tor-a
beautiful 6ne French merino, Of Q dark
crimson color. / had 'once seen a dress
al this Kind, but none had ever been Of
fe,.ed for sale in our little place that
could equal this in shade or texture.
The peddlerI looked at me with his
keen black eyes as ! knelt down 10 feel
the prize / had no hope of Winning
"The lady will buy, he said; bntl shook
my head, and crossing my hands behind
me. stood up resoluteiy. trying hard not
20 long for the much-desired piece OF
Q 'oods. .TWAaJaL as.
" Not buyl" he exclaimed in broken
L. gnake Of some sort. could, not tel
-, her German or French, and he
Ioo I so astonished, even pitifnl, that !
III. 80 " at once, and confessed that /
l " " ionef. and edghd not ptTehase-
~ = M 5 &c beautiful Young lady have
.ouo old siIyer--old jewelry-old silk
ust as good as money SAID
Asii IsnSbadi AZ the idea, but he only
onened another package to display to
tbe. bovs some dumb watches With very
gav chains and handing them eaeii one,
he took out a small doll for my little
sister. and told them to run away now,
a TIL sister bought her dress. mo-
toned to, the boys to stay near tue aoor-
stem. and then taking out the much,
coveted dress-pieee, / again examined
IL Satan was tempting me. or some
vexatious spirit that does duty for han,
and never had / been so sorely beset;;
How could l letit 20, yet how pay foritY
The black eyes never left my face, but
So 1;sllaSy was respectful, only bowling
Low a. he said: /" You think it good7
ooh, yesr / replied, too good tor
: p'a0ct 60 "ahe said. It shits you
I'D -, .ba1l have IL chean" =