Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-11-13
A STRANGE PROVIDENCE.

"Do let me take these corsets off, man,
ma" heard young girl pleading with her
mother; "they make my side ache and my
heart beats so hard against them that it tires
me. Please let me take them off"
Nonsense! You ought to have pride
enough to wear them. You will grow up as
round-shouldered as q camel without them.
Do you want people to think you are de-
formed ?"
But it hurts me to breathe, mamma l
can't breathe down. And can't help try
ing to. feel as if l was sitting"
"Say no more about it. Other girls
breathe, and you are not made differently
from them, | suppose. Look at Martha Ab-
erly. There's pretty figure for you. A
regular dumpling. Her mother does not
believe in corsets. When your figure is
properly formed, it will be time enough to
talk about it"
1t is four years since, but the frail, lovely
girl has for three years been wearing the
dress which requires no lacing to make 1t fit.
white marble cross in the burial-place
shows the grave where she rests 1t is call
cd a sad providence that thus removed an
only daughter, so sweet in temper, so prom
ising in talent. But Providence had moth
ing to do with it, in my opinion. l think
that there are many careful church going
mothers who will be terribly dismayed when
the day of final reckoning shall come, to see
the wealth Of fresh, happy life that God
meant to blossom out in excellence and beau
ty upon the earth. but which was untimely
crushed and blighted by their own insane
worship of fashion.
If left to themselves, young people are
seldom over anxious in regard to dress. 1t
does not give them sleepless pillows or di-
minished appetites. Youth will assert its
healthiul power, and no one dies young from
the demands Of fashion, unless melted thereto
by the admonitions or persuasions of older
people. Youth does not always of its own
accord, take to tight lacing. 1t is the moth
ers hand that often puts on the corsets, and
it is the mother who should herself be put
into strait;jacket in all those places where
insanity is the stereotyped plea for the mur-
derer
The Sunday School Times tells of lady
who had charge Of a young ladies' Bible
class who, in speaking Of defective home
training, said that her best pupil, eighteen
years of age, had caused her the most acute
anxiety. Rain or shine, she was always at
her post. The girls whole soul seemed to
be absorbed in the Strengthening out of intri-
cate theological problems; "and yet, said
the teacher, " the girl was so pale and wan
that was afraid every sabbath would be
her last in class. One day she tainted, and
in trying to restore her loosened her dress,
and what do you think l found ? Corsets so
tightly drawn that a full respiration was
impossible. | removed them, and found
that the girls ribs actually tapped | took
her to her mother, very prominent and
useful church member, and stated the case
without reserve. Well, you see" said the
parent, Fanny never had any figure. L
shouldn't be surprised if the lacngs were
drawn little too tight. Her waist is nat
uraly so large that it is impossible to make
anything fit genteely on her How is your
class prospecting, Miss -? hope you
are drawing many souls to Christ w-TAe
| Christian.