Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-03-25
ONE. MORE DRESS.
By OLIVER OPTIC.

ONE MORE DRESS.
BY OLIVER OPTIC
"To think Of wearing tho same dress to
church, Sunday after Sunday ~ exclaimed Mn.
Bradley, young married lady, to Mrs. Green,
her mother.
"Why mot, Sarah ?"
Folks will think it ia the only ono have
which is fit to wear to meeting"
ut III, isn't 1T ?"
~ know 1t, but I don't care about al tho
world knowing it."
"You would not make all tho world believe
that which is not true, would you p
~ don't care; mean to have = new silk im-
mediately."
"But. Sarah, your husband cannot sfsord IT,"
"Yes he can; at least We call curtail our ex-
pense. in something elss."
"well ! don't know; We could make our pro-
vihion bill less"
Mrs Green shook her head.
II don't think there u any need Of our having
beefsteak and mutton chops every morning for
breakfast. We never had such things ct home,
you know, would not give straw for 30 much
meat"
But James depends upon It,
II knew 1t; yet for the sake Of making me ap-
pear little better on Sunday he would willingly
dispense with it."
Would you be willing to ask him the ques-
ton Z" asked Mrs. Grsen.
"Yes, why not?'
"You would ask him to go without his break
fast in order that you may have another silk
go without his breakfast, mother never
thought Of such thing" said Mrs. Bradley,
h diukt rk,oSN n<rk
But you know 1t 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,"
then," replied the young wife, who beg the
reader to believe, would not willingly have de-
prived her husband Of any real comfort. How,
do..you DO you -, suppose Mrs. Farmer gets so many
81 don't know"
"She seems to come out with . new one A.
. dozen silks"
~ hope her husband can AFFORD them," re-
piled Mrs.. Green, shaking her head significant
"Hs IL not any better OF than James. They
have the same salary, and in tile same con-
Germ"
"a thousand dollars in these hard times will
not go . great way with q man who has .
family to support, especially II his wife has
great many silk dresses"
"But James saves two or three hundred Of
his salary every year."
every young man ought to save some
thing"
.'bo you suppose John Farmer does ?"
II think not, ut the rate his wife dresses"
But 1t is too hard to wear the same dress ev-
cry Sunday. II had one more could get along
very we'll"
"No, shouldn't mother"
'There is no end to it when yon undertake to
tn ffNl1p all fhAnn Akavrr1 n
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 IS Haunting out in = different dress every
Sunday ever entered . girls head, especially
girls whose fathers were not independently
rich"
Nobody thinks of wearing the ssme dress all
the time. Only one more"
some is enough Sarah. II you let such silly
notions get into your head, you willnever know
when to stop. You could easily spend all your
husbands salary in dress, and then not keep up
with the demands Of the times"
"I an sure James can Afford me new silk.
1t will not cost much"
"Do not think of it, child. Be prudent, care
full, and contented. and when James IL rioh, 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
of than hers.
CHAPTER H.
James Bradley and John Farmer were clerks
in large house in the city, and both resided in
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 throughlife, but for the different charac.
ter Of their wives.
Mrs Bradley had been brought up to live
-. 4. nE,lv, nh, ut,N ro-
allied the responsibility Of her position, and
rigidly inculcsted the principles Of 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 new sphere Of life.
Mrs. Farmer, on the other hand, though hel
parents were no better on in tho world, hat
brought her up to be lady-to wear fine dresse
and play the piano.
Her knowledge and experience Of houssholt
duties were very narrow and superficial, and he
husbands thousand dollars year would hArdl!
they we're obliged, in order to dress her /. =
her habits and wishes required, to ''scimp" il
many Of the real comforts Of life. The provi
sion bill was kept At the lowest possible figure
Mrs. Farmer thought beefsteaks were un
healthy in the morning, and John found 1t ne
cessary to be Of her opinion. Six dollars sea
son for ice would buy new bonnet henco ic'
WAS the cause Of great many complaints tina
prevailed in summer
The comforts Of living we're sacrificed to the
Injuries Of dress. Beefsteak 1t twenty-five
cents pound was unhealthy ; but now bonnet
at ten dollars piece were necessaries Of life
Mutton chops at fifteen cents . pound cause
the dyspepsia, but silk dresses at dollar and
half : yard, were not only healthy, but indir
pensAble.
All the salary was spent-was intended to b
spent-and the only question was whether
should be put in the body or Oh the body. III
habit Of extravaganza was there. and all th
thrift and which Mira Farmer knew
was to save money for new dresses.
She and Mrs. Bradley were on intimste term
with each other, and AZ may be readily supposed
the subject Of dress WAS frequently discussed.
few days after the conversation Of Mr.
Bradley with her mother, her neighbor "!
making call Mrs. Farmer could talk OF notl
ing hut dress. It WAS the study OF her life
what she most hoped for in the future.
usual, the conversation immediately degeno
ated INTO dress-it was all Mrs. Farmer knew.
SHOW do you like my new raw silk ?" saskt
she af.er several adroit passes in order to intr
sit 10 very pretty, indeed. You come out in
new dress almost every Sunday, Ellen" repi'
Mrs. Bradley.
~ wish could"
II wonder hsS many nice dresses you have
~ have only one that is fit to wear" repli
Mrs Farmer.
"Only one p
"That is tit to wear anywhere"
"You have at least three silks"
''Al old-faahioned-msde last fall-And
out Of date. tried to make John give me =
rege. but he wouldn't"
al am sure il had your dresses, sho,
think were Princess"
''Pshsw II my husband don't give mo
other next week, shant go to church but OF
month";
"K had your dresses, Ellen, should
think Of another for year."
"Pooh!"
"My mother thinks dress well enough"
"Why, You have worn the same dress TO me
ing every Sunday for year"
"And probably shall wear it every Sunday
the next year."
al wouldn't IL were you."
81 can't afford . new dress every month.
was speaking the other day about having
more dress, but mother SAID 30 much against
that gave up the idea."
"Tied to your mothers apron-strngs ye
sneered Mrs. Farmer.
81 am too thankful to get my mothers nd
to reject it."
"But get the raw silk do 1t will bec'
you 30 we'll and then we shall have little
spite from that everlasting fawn color"
"No, l have made up my mind not to
it."
"Put the money into your stomachs inst
and get the dyspepsia into the bargain"
Mrs, Farmer, ~ she took her leave.