The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-04-22
FASHIONS FOLLY.

al have tickets for the concert t.
night, ANNIE" said James Henley, CON
ing into the sittiDg-room, where his viii
was working the sewing machine with
busy whirr.
ooh, James, how 1 wish I could 60 !!
The light died away from the husband
| face in a second.
"Wish you could go, Annie! Why
of course you can CO."
&C. can't, James. 1 must finish thes
three dresses before Sunday and it vii
take every minute"
"Three dressesT'
For Jennie, Susan, and Lottie. 1t il
Easter Sunday, you know, and all tn,
spring things are ready but these dresses
"But this is only Wednesday,"
al know, James; but look at the work
There are overskirts to each, and ruffie,
on all the waists. Jennie's has three
founces. All the children in the congre
CATION 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 go?"
"And leave you? / should not enjoy
it if knew you were stitching here.
Come"
With heavy sigh, as if James were
exacting sacrifice instead of giving her
a pleasure, Annie left the room, and went
to her own apartment to dress for the
concert.
All through the evening, while her
husband drank in the sweet sounds in
which he delighted, Annie, with her face
all polite interest, was thinking of the
unfinished work.
"Was it not delightful" James said,
as they walked home in the soft spring
=" Delightful! 1 am glad went, James.
Mrs. Gordon had on her new spring
dress, and her dresses all come from Lon
don. The trimming on her basque is
quite new style, and am sure I can
put Jennie's on in the same way"
Sunday morning shone clear and cloud
less. Mrs. Henl.y had put the last stitch
into Lottie's dress as the clock struck
twelve, and she wakened with pain in
her chest and a headache, but feeling of
triumph. Her children would wear their
new things, that had cost nothing but the
Nothing Mrs. Henley did
not estimate the hours spent over the
the WEAKNESS, the neglect of
many little duties. There had been no
actual money laid out in dressmaking,
20 it was clear gain on the material.
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,
with blue, and hats of the new
st shape and blue ribbons. Lottie wore
,erise trimming, for Lottie was a bru-
1ette of seven.
The charges at starting for Sunday
ichool were
"Be sure you lift your oyerskirts when
you sit down; don't lean back upon the
steamers of your hats, and walk where
you will not spoil your light boots.
Don't strain your gloves"
"Overdressed, Annie!" remarked Mr..
Henley. Your own dresses are not
more elaborate"
Z" 1t is the fashion now to cut children's
dresses like ladies'. But you ought to
be proud of your children, James. Ev-
erybody compliments me upon the taste
with which dress them"
"Annie!" Mr.. Henley said, suddenly,
leading his wife to a mirror, "Iook at
your own face"
"Well," she said, wondering what ne
could mean.
Your cheeks are as white az chalk;
there is a heavy line under your eyes,
and your whole air is that of woman
worked to DEATH
James, what nonsense"
1T is not nonsense. / wish it was.
Five years ago you had the complexion
Of child, as clear and rosy as Susan's.
Your eyes then were bright, full of ami
nation. You had young children,
house to keep in order, and just half our
present income. Yet you could find
eisure then for daily walk, could read
IN the evening, or sing for me, could en-
oy an occasional evening of social pleas
Ire, or some entertainment. / had
wife then"
james, what do you mean?"
mean that, in the place of my hap
W. healthy wife. | have now q sicklx