American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-06-10

the edge in a Greek pattern; a wide.
leafed black hat with bit of snow white
feather trimming round the crown; and
a pair of black gloves, much mended,
and little purple and shabby abou,
the finger-tips, completed the costume
but when you put this simple attire on
to slight graceful figure with blcom-
ing face, starry dark eyes, and abundant
rich brown hair tnrned back from the
white temples and knotted up high on
the small head, while dozen little
fluffy tendrils fiuttered over the Tiny pink
ears and low white forehead, you did not
remember that the dress was oAlice
And even an ugly calico Night have
been forgotten II you peeped into the
clean new lunch basket-only a COM
mon splint basket, with an old damask
towel folded over the contents, but filled
with such dainty sandwiches; some OF
tongue that Mrs. Day had cured her.
self, rosy, tender and favorous; some
Of ounce marmalade in firm-grained
slices translucent as clouded amber
some of acid jelly; and some of maple
sugar. . benighted reader, who never
ate this last-named dainty, you have q
new experience before you! here were
slices of whitest wheat and some OF
freshest rye bread, well spread with
golden butter, and then thickly spread
again with maple sugar stirred while
hot into thick paste, sweet as honey,
but spicy even In sweetness with the
taste Of the trees heart, the forest odors,
the clean fine aroma of Northern woods
and wilds. No wonder that Mrs. Day s
sandwiches were proverbial in Beckett
The widow looked with satisfaction
at her pretty daughter; she had fash
toned as well as made those graceful
garments, and if the sacque was ingen-
iously pieced from Parson Days Sun
day coat, the dress ten-cent calico,
and the white band of feathers plucked
from the breast of two Thanksgiving
chickens and sewed by her own fingers,
she knew that the patterns of those
economic garments her own quick eye
had copied from a Partisan outfit sent
to Beckett for one of the Holdridge girls
wedding, and did not Lima Holdridge
lend Nelly the Bazars every weekp
Moreover, Mrs. Day had an artists
eye for dress; she would have been q
treasure in some great dressmaking
establishment, and she knew very well
that Nely's array was thoroughly in
keeping, and then it was on Nelly!
So her treasure set off to meet the
party at the depot, and perhaps the lit
tie girls heart sank bit when she saw
the elaborate walking dresses of dove
colored cashmere, seal brown de bege,
French gray serge, or shining poplin,
frilled, pleated, shirred, punched, tied
back, and elaborated in a fearful and
wonderful manner, that the Holdridge
girls and their two friends from New
York wore; even the village girls had
done their utmost to be fine in emula-
ton. Addy Mason was q spectacle to
behold, in pea green alpaca trimmed
with black velvet, and pink roses in her
turban of felt; while Jane Glass was
gotten up in her best black silk farbe-
lowed with yak lace, and her new Sun
day bonnet of white straw with blue
green ribbons and tips of pink; ugh
Nelly shuddered at the sight, for Jane
was sallow-hair, eyes, skin, and teeth
But here was a sort of counterpoise
surely she looked better than Jane OF
Addy, and one is not so strong minded
at seventeen as to despise a crumb Of
comfort in any shape.
Pretty soon Nelly forgot her dress al
together. Lima Holdridge brought q
gentleman toward her seat and intro
duced him as Mr.. Fearing. How pleas.
ant he wasi What nice gray eyes hs
had! and how they watched Nelly while
he talked. to her in such a gentle, re
spectful, deferential way that Nelly
could not be shy; and pretty soon he1
eyes sparkled, her color rose softly, hel
red lips opened to stream of gentle
playful talk, and her bright laugh rang
cheerily if softly. How soon they came
to Pine Hill and then Mr.. Fearing car
ried her lunch-basket, and she threw
her saque across her arm, the sun wa
SO hot; and in five minutes they were
at the wood road, while the rest Jagged
behind, heated with their heavy dress
es, and tired with holding up the long
skirts. So Nelly and Mr.. Fearing stoot
still and waited, and when the haltine
company arrived, her quick wits ant
nimble fingers were speedily at work t.
help them.
CT always carry pins and salt ant
matches to a picnic" said Nelly, with I
laugh, I" for I noticed often that nobod,
ever remembers those things"
1t was well she did to-day, and the,
all voted thanks to her on the spot, a!
with lightened burdens and smiling
faces they began the walk up the steel
hill road to the bare fields on the nortl
side of Pine Hill, where the arbutu
grew. The day was lovely, sweet will
the delicate ineffable perfume of earl,
spring; the sun shone warmly down
the south wind blew softly, the resinou
odor of pine boughs sighed from tn
soft gloom of the woods, and the brigh
full brook poured over a little fall at tn,
hill foot, as If it were SO glad to be fret
once more it must leap and laugh t.
express its delight.
Here, under the brown grass, hiding
shy faces of baby bloom with its thicl
dull leaves, clustering closely to thu
shelter of great stone, or creeping