Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
ONE MORE DRESS.
BY OLIVER OPTIC.

Folks will think IL ID the only one haVe
which is fit to wear to meeting"
at is. isn't 1t 7"
81 know it, but don't care about all the
world knowing it,"
..You would not make all the world believe
that which ia not true, would you :"
II don't care; mean to have new silk i'm
mediately.
But, Sarah, your husband cannot afford it,"
ayes no can; at least we caii curtail our ex
penses in something ase.
oWell don't know; we could make our pro-
vision bill less.
Mrs Green shook her head.
~ don't think there il any need of our having
beefsteak and mutton chops every morning for
breakfast. We never had such things at home,
YOU know, would not give a straw for 30 much
meat
But James depends upon it,"
81 know it; yet for tho sake OF making me APP
pear little better on Sunday he would willingly
i. Would you be willing to ask him the ques-
ton 2" asked Mrs. Green.
Yes, why not 2
"You would ask him to go without his break
fast in order that you may have another silk
dress y
go without his breakfast, mother never
thought of such thing" said Mrs. Bradley,
with disturbed look.
" But you know it amounts to the same thing
to him. He WAS brought up in the country where
he had meat for breakfast, and he does not think
he could make meal without it"
1--WE will not say anything more about that
then" replied the young wife, who beg the
reader to believe, would not willingly have de-
prved her husband of any real comfort. How,
do you suppose Mrs. Farmer gets 30 many
dresses I"
a. don't know"
"She seems to come out with new one al
most every Sunday. She must have at least half
dozen silks"
II hope her husband can afford them," re-
piled Mrs. Green shaking her head significant
.'He is not any better Off than James. They
have the same salary, and in the same COLI
Germ"
"a Thousand dollars IN these hard times will
not go great way with a man who has
family to support, especially II his wife has
great many silk dresses"
g But James saves two or three hundred OF
his salary every year"
Every young man ought to save some-
thing"
do you suppose John Farmer does 2"
~ think not at the rate his wife dresses"
but it is too hard to wear the same dress ev
cry Sunday II had one more l could get along
very well"
''You would want another STILL"
"No, shouldn't, mother"
6. There is no end to 1t when yon undertake to
to follow all these absurdities. When l was a
girl had only one dress to wear to meeting,
and that was Calico"
:. The times have changed"
' Changed for the worse. am sure no such
vanity as Haunting out in different dress every
Sunday ever entered a girls head, especially
girls whose fathers were not independently
rich.
Nobody thinks of wearing the some dress all
the time. Only one more"
'One is enough Sarah. If you let such silly
notions get into your head you willnever know
when to stop. You could easily spend all your
,i,n,I t a1nrtr IraUo QYtdf
with the demands of the times.
II am sure James afford me a new silk.
1t will not cost much.
g Do not think of it, child. Be prudent care
full, and contented, and when James ID rich, you
may be different"
Mrs. Bradley was satisfied after considerable
more demonstration on the part of her mother,
that she could get along without the new silk.
But it WAS hard to give up the idea of competing
with Mrs Farmer, whose husband was no better
off than hers.
CHAPTER III.
James Bradley and John Farmer were clerks
in a large house in the city, and both resided in
II neat little cottage in the suburbs. Their for
tunes had been thus far very much the same,
and perhaps they might have continued the
same through life, but for the different charac-
ter of their wives
Mrs. Bradley had been brought up to live
within her means. A careful mother, who re-
allied the responsibility of her position, and
rgidly inculcated the principles of a sound econ
omy, and trained her up to habits of prudence
and thrift. And all the practical qualities she
had brought with her into her domestic relations,
when she embarked in a new sphere OF life.
Mrs Farmer, on the other hand, though her
parents were better off in the world, had
brought her up TO be lady-to wear fine dresses
and play the piano.
Her knowledge and experience of household
duties were very narrow and superficial, and hei
husbands thousand dollars year would hardly
support them.
They were obliged, in order to dress her al
her habits and wishes required, to .'sclmp' Il
many of the real comforts of life. The proyl-
sion bill was kept at the lowest possible figure
Mrs. Farmer thought beefsteaks were un
healthy in the morning, and John found 1t ne
eessary to be of her opinion. Six dollars a sea
son for ice would buy new bonnet hence ice
WAS the cause of a great many complaints Una
prevailed in summer.
The comforts of living were sacrificed to the
lnxuries of dress. Bcefsteak at twenty-five
cents pound was unhealthy; but new bonnet
ut ten dollars piece were necessaries oil NE
Mutton chops at fifteen cents pound cause
the dyspepsia, but silk dresses at dollar and
half yard, were not only healthy, but indis
pensable
All the salary was spent-was intended to b
spent-and the only question was whether
should be put in the body or on the body. IN
habit of extravaganza was there, and all til
thrift and economy which Mrs. Farmer knew
waB to save money for new dresses.
She and Mrs. Bradley were on intimate term
with each other, and as may be readily supposed
the subject Of dress was frequently discussed
A few days after the conversation OF MIR
Bradley with her mother, her neighbor we
making call. Mrs, Farmer could talk OF notl
ing but dress. 1t WAS the study of her life
what she most hoped for in the future A
usual, the conversation immediately degene
ated INTO dress-it was all Mrs. Farmer knew;
"How do you like my new raw silk 7" .aske
she after several adroit passes in order to intr'
duce this matter.
1t is very pretty indeed. You come out in
new dress almost every Sunday, Elem rephe
Mrs. Bradley.
g | wish l could"
81 wonder how many nice dresses you have
your wardrobe?"
q have only one that is fit to wear" repii'
Mrs. Farmer.
"Only one ?"
"That il fit to wear anywhere"
"You have at least three silks"
IAN old fashioned-made last falkland
out of date. tried to make John give me q D
rege, but he wouldn't"
4" am sure if / had your dresses, ! shou
think were Princess"
Pshaw II my husband don't give me a
other nextweek, shan't 80 to church but on
month.
II had your dresses, Ellen,I should n
think of another for year.
'Pooh!"
MY mother thinks dress well enough"
Why, you have worn the same dress to me-