Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-12-07
STRUGGLE FOR APPEARANCE.

81 have tickets for the concert to-
night, Annie. "said James Henly, com
ing into the sittingsroom where his
wife was working the sewing machine
with busy whirr.
ooh, James, how l wish I could
go!"
The light died away from, the bus
bands face in second,
"Wish you could go, AnnieI Why
of course you can GO
# can't, James. l must fnish
these three dresses before Sunday
and it will take every minute"
s'Three dresses 2"
"For Jennie. Susan and Lottie.
All the spring things are ready but
these dresses"
"Dut this is only Wednesday,"
81 know, James but hook at the
work. There are ovcrskirts to each,
and rufiies on all the waists. Jen-
MES has three founces. All the chill
dren in the congregation are well
dressed, James. You cannot afford
to put the sewing out, SO / must do
it."
'Let the children dress more
simply, then. Come, Annie, stop
that buzz for once, and come to this
concert"
''Can't You 60 ?"
And leave yous I should not
enjoy il if knew you were stitching
here. Come"
With a heavy sigh, as if James
were exacting a sacrifice instead of
giving her a pleasure Annie left the
room, and went to her own apartment
to dress for he concert.
All through the evening, while her
husband drank in the sweet sound in
which he delighted, Annie, with her
face all polite interest, was thinking
of the unfinished work,
s'Was it not delightful Il" James
said, as they walked home in the soft
spring moonlight.
"Delightful | am glad I went
James Mrs. Gordon had on her new
spring dress, and her dresses all come
from London. The trimming on her
basque is quite new style, and l am
sure can put Jennie's on the same
way"
Sunday morning came clear and
cloudless. Mrs. Henly had put the
last stitch into Lotties dress as the
clock struck twelve, and she wakened
with a pam in her chest and head
ache, but feeling of triumph. Her
children would wear their new things
that had cost nothing but the mate.
rial. Nothing! Mrs. henly did not
estimate the hours spent over the ma
chine, the WEAKNESS, The neglect o.
many little duties. There had been
no actual money laid out in dress.
making, SO it is clear gain on the ma
terial.
Very pretty the children looked
when they were ready for church
Jennie and Susan, twins of ten years
old, were dressed alike, in delicate
pearl color, trimmed with blue, an6
hats of the newest shape, and blue
bonnets. Lo,tie wore cerise colol
with cerise trimming, for Lottie wa'
a brunette of seven.
The charges at starting for Sunday
School were
"Be sure you lift your overskirt'
when you sit down; don't lean bach
upon the streamers of your hats, ant
walk where you will not spoil you
light boots. Don't stain your gloves.
"Overdressed, Annie" remarked
Mr.. Henly. "Your own dresses ar
not more elaborate"
sit is the fashion now to cut chill
f, dren's dresses like ladies'. But yo,
ought to be proud of your children
James Everybody compliments nj
npon the taste with which | dres
them.
oAnnie y Mr. Henly said, sudden
", leading MS wife to mirror, ''lool
at your own face
well" she said, wondering VIA
he could mean;
s.Your cheeks are as white as chalk
there is a heavy line under your eyes
and your whole airs that "a = wona
worked 10 death
james, what nonsense !"
s'lt is not nonsense. | wish it was
Five years ago you had the complex
im of child, as clear and rosy q
Snsan'S Nnur f-yf.S tLrp wt.rt. hri.rii