The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-02-25

By AUGUSTA LARNED.
II don't think it is wicked, Myra,
to say hate old duds. There is moth
ing in the Ten Commandments
against it; and, to put the case a lit
tie stronger, my soul abhorreth old
duds,"
I The speaker was lively girl of
twenty, with a head of thick, dark
hair. cut short and curling about a
broad, low forehead. Bright brown
eyes, a nose that aspired the least bit
toward heaven, a,rich complexion, a
mouth too large for positive beauty,
with white, irregular teeth, made up
a picturesque and attractive face.
"Look here," she continued, hold
ing up her work, s'there are more
than a dozen pieces in this dress
sleeve; and on the wrong side it looks
like the map Of Mexico. Oh, how I
have racked my brain getting it out.
I know I ought to be very grateful
for the ugly stuff: 1t was sent in a
missionary-box; and I dare say some
kind old soul thought she was doing
a vast deal toward clothing the max
ed by her donation. But fear it
was wasted on me, for I am an un.
grateful girl"
"No, you are not an ungrateful
girl, Hepsy and it isn't right to run
yourself down."
Myra, Hepsy's sister, year young
er than the other, was toiling rather
languidly, and not to much purpose,
at the same distastefnl work, in a
shabby, low room, Uttered with snipe
and shreds. She had a soft bloom:
ing beauty, with hazel eyes that look.
ed everywhere for love and protec.
ton, and large blonde curls touching
her white neck as if caressing it.
eyes, I am. am hardened" re.
turned Hepsy, pulling rather savage
ly at her thread until it snapped, "by
seeing us grow poorer and poorer
every day, and by watching father as
he grows less certain of his steps, and
gropes along with the thin, white
hair hanging about his troubled face
and his hand put out stealthily be-
fore him." Two tears gathered in
the girls dark eyes and trembled on
her lashes; but she avoided this man.
Hesitation Of hardness by quickly
brushing them off: "And then,'' she
went on, "the worst of it is, he is SC
sensitive about his loss Of sight. Il
does not do to take the least notice
or offer any comfort. He has felt the
Sunday visits of the new minister
from Merton very keenly. He stoops
more and looks older every time Mr.
Marsh breaches. When things ar
bad, and getting worse every day
and one is nothing but a weak, use
less girl, I'm sure it's enough to hard
en- a person"
"Poor, dear father" sighed Myra
"but perhaps this is better than SOM
other affection. We can keep grea
deal that is unpleasant from hin
now; don't you know we can, Hepsy
And by and by he will get used to it
The thing is, how to live at all.
never was good at figures, and m,
| head whlrls when I think about ou
| embarrassments."
"The sum, How to exist on nothin,
a year, is little puzzling," sal
Hepsy. II have bothered my small
brains with it night and day. But
am always subtracting and never ad
ding; and the remainder, or what
ever that thing-um-bob is called, az
pears to be starvation. Such calcu
lations are not profitable; so I brus
them off into some dark corner, an
go to weaving fairy-tales. Do yo
know, Myra, I should like to be dis
tractingly beautiful?"
Hepsy put head on one side, ant
looked at her sister searchingly.
SHOULD you, Mousie?"
eyes, I should. Beauty, they sa,
is a snare; but I would not mind tr,
ing its dangerous fascinations. I SUI
pose I am selfish. 1t makes peop]
selfish to wear old clothes perpetua
lly. One gets into deceitful,. unde
hand ways, trying to hide, the rem
in ones shoes and the faded breadth
in ones gown: I am sure, I shou]
be a much better girl if able to afffo,
a new dress now and than - -
20, Hepsy!' and Myra raised b
soft, pleading eyes. II never kne
you cared so much for dress. VI
made me take that sprigged delai,
Mr.. Beck gave us last fall, and
:. the spring I had a buff calico; b
you have had nothing new for =.
;. age" ~.
, IL 'That doesn't signify" return'
Hepsy, a little snappishly. "Fol
IL flook at Won vvhor fhov don'+ ro+;