Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-04-07
win pirls Out-dresseQ the Henley rirlS'

win GIRLS Out-dresSeu the Henley girls,
Summer came, and the long spring
DAYS were spent in preparing a seaside
wardrobe for the children. for Mr.. Hen
lev. by the advice of his physician, was
going to take his wife to the ocean air.
The pain i'll the side had become very
troublesome. and there was Il little hack
inc cough that meant wakeful nights. The
| r:.le cheeks were seldom tngod with II
healthy color, and the eyes were languid
and heavy. People spoke pityinGly of
Mrs Henley rs quite an invalid,' and
her husband mourned over the alteration
in his wife.
lie insisted upon having Il physician,
who advised fresh air. and exercise, and
a tonic And Abba obediently swallowed
the tonic, took Il daily walk. and then
made up for lost time by stitching far
into the night. For were not the Good
wins, the Wilcoxes. and All the leading
fashonables of l., Going to the same
hotel where Mr.. Henley had taken rooms,
and could Jennie. Susie and Lolita have
one inch less rullling AMI tuching than
they possessed'
Mr.. Henley protested in vain. If he
sent seamstress to help his wife, it only
gave an excuse for Il dress or two more
to be made, and he finally gave up the
attempt to bring Abba to 4 more reasona-
bic ambition. He was an ai1'rcti"nrtc
husband. kind father, liberal in proyI-
ing for his family, but his salary was not
sufficiently large for him to rival the cN-
penditure Of the fashionable friends Abba
| had made 1t WAS entirely vain to tell
could, upon smaller means, dress herself
| ! ,.Ii |
He obstinately maintained that his wifi,
health, her companionship. her interest in
his pursuits, in the books he read her mu-
sic and her sweet voice in singing were
far more valuable than twcntv->cvrn
ilounces upon Jennie's dress OF fifty tucl>>
in Iottas skirt.
the loss he dcplored of Abbas bright in
terest in what had interested both. lie
tried to admire the really exquisite >pcc-
mems of needlework brought for h.s III
specton.
He only shrugged his shoulders when
his little girls minced along with dtinty,
fine lady ANS instead of bounding " It'll
the freedom Of childhool. He bore the
steady whrr of the sewing matching in
the evening, instead of the Voice OF music
of his wife.
But when Abba's health began to give
way. he cxcrled his authority, and f,unl
he had been silent too long. The love Of
dress had grown stronger, and the ;imbi-
ton that had taken 81 dcplorablr Il path
could not be put aside. Alba submitted
to all James directions while he W;l~ be-
side her, and worked doublv hard when he
was away.
But the summer Warlrobr> completed.
the dainty bathing lrc>>c, trimmed. the
Saratoga trunks packed, Abba faithfully
promised James to rest during their sum
mcr soourn 1t the seaside. With a sud
den consciousness of growing weakness.
there came 10 her an appreciation Of her
husband love and patience that had been
numbeI. She began to re;tliZe that She
had let her ambition for dress Uvrr~hld-
dow her love ior her husband. and thu;
She had wronged him in drpriviny han OF
the cOnplnIonship he had pgiZei 20
highly.
:" Will rest while am zone. and when
come back. James, | viii give my exc
n;n.-> To You, IL | did when we were tir~t
married..
That was her parting promise never to
be cNactcd. Only Il few days of RS, wcrr
allowed her. before an acute a,,.tcN OF
lung fever Frustrated her. james lrt hi
business to hurry to the seaside. a nuI-,
WAS engaged. and medical xiii I'D il
utmost. But the constitution. W,;l>rIlri
bv confinement and ovrrWorh, coul II
resist the disease, and Willie the summer
days We're i'll their full beauty, Mrs. Hen
ley knew She WIS dying.
Ii was Il bitter thought. Life hcld ~
much that was precious: hrr kind. Iu> .n.
husband, her beautiful children, her happy
homc-all these must be- lctt.
"A mysterious ai-prn>alion Of P.ovi-
lrncr, sud Ms. Goo Twin; ">uch !; GOOD
mother. And tho,,. children are iu-t the
aye when they most need :, mother
care.
Bat Abba Henley, in the dread hour
VIII She babe farewell to hope. Wouud
her arms about her hu,' HnI'~ neck. and
>ubbcd:
&" II had only listened 10 vuu. james,
might have been guide 10 our cAil,.Ion.
companion 10 YOU tor many YEAR. :,lil
when | died have left loving memories
Instead of i trunk Of linr clothing. |
have wasted my life
And James Henley, in hi~ wiInW,r
weeds. with hi~ three little Girls in >umbr,
black beside INN. wonders mo.rn;ui'y
how many of the III .thcr~ of the llu,l ar,
wasting their lives in tn" same struggle
for appearance.