American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-06-10
CALICO.
By ROSE TERRY COOKE.

Dl kOS6 TERRI COOAEs
"What shall I wear, mammya' And
little Nelly Day looked up into her moth
erss face with wistful glance, as if she
vs. half amused and half sad.
"Your newdress, Of couse, "placidly
answered the Widow Day
But mother, it's only calico"
ssTkat's very true, and ten-cent cal
leo It that; still. it is all you have got,
Nely."
"And the girls are all going, man.
myS even the Holdridges and their New
York company"
Mrs. Day turned pleasant, keen face
toward her daughter, looked at her
steadily for minute with faint smile
lurking about her lips, and then an
swered, with the New England word
of-all-work, sWenp"
ssBut it isn't WELL" said Nelly, with a
little vexed laugh "I don't like to 60,
nanny dear, where my company IL be
ashamed Of me.''
"Then I should certainly stay at
home" was the serene answer.
Is on, motherl"
Mrs- Day got mp and came across the
room 70 Cornslia-
!" MY dear little girl, look the thing
n the face. You own two calico dresses
and black ak and q gray merino; the
'uerino ID too heavy, and you can't af-
ford to wear the silk scrambling after
arbutus. Look things in the face, and
Etake your choice.''
sour arbutns parties and are so
pleasant" sighed Nelly.
"Then can't you make up your mind
to 20 in . clean calico and enjoy your
salff or have you an intention of going
to'shcw the New York people your best
. gown, and how little You care about
running ite Nelly, don't be goose
Put your silly little pride in your pocket,
my dear, or else use it on your sand
witches, for know nobody in the valley
has any better than can make"
Who's proud now, ma'am, I'd like
to knowr" laughed Nelly, her sweet
temper and sense coming to the front
and kissing her mother, she danced of
to put = fresh frin in the throat of hel
silk dress for Sunday, for to morrow the
arbutus party would take all her time
Nelly and her mother were poor; but
when one is young and pretty, poverty
= only . matter of small stings. 1t was
the mother who felt anxiety for the flu.
tare, who spared herself all superAuou.
comforts, who pinched and pared and
lsbored to lay up little for some day
Of rain. or perhaps for Nely's wedding
Who knows?
Her husband had been dead this fif
tssn years. Had he lived, she would
probably have been still poorer. HI
vns . country clergyman, studious
dreamy, helpless. It is true, his wit,
loved and niourned him, but every BODY
know It was better for her that he died
-and left her his life-insurance. II she
did not think 30, it was owing to fool
hh way women have of preferring &
living loving husband to five Thousand
dollars. Follye OF course; but ther
they are women.
Now she had only Nelly, and she loved
her azter that same fashion; but q Ger
tain crisp common-sense and provident
maternal instinct helped her no. to spoil
the child, however much she would have
liked to. p
Only calico! But when Nelly left hen
little room next morning dressed for the
expedition, Mrs. Day was altogether
sstisfed with her aspect.
Nother'' had made the gown her.
sslf. It was simple enough; black
and white stripe, more white than black,
single deep raffie on the skirt bound
and headed with black cambria bands
. jacket fitting closely but not tightly
to the delicate rounded figure, finished
with black cambria rufiie, like trim
ming around the throat, but within it a
pleated linen friu, both kept in order by
band Of black vely6f, from which hung
white spar Cross, her solitary trinket,
and one that was her mothers before
her; little black cloth sacque Of n
singularly graceful shape, braided on