The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-08-31
A STRUGGLE FOR APPEAR
ANCE.

ANSL.
81 HAVE tickets for the concert to-
night, Annie" said James Henley,
coming into the sitting-room, where
his wife was working the sewingma-
chine with busy whirr.
"Oh, James, how l wish | could
gow
The light died away from the hus-
bands face in a second.
wish you could go, Annie. Why,
of course you can 60
Il can't, James. L must finish these
three dresses before Sunday, and it
will take every minute"
Three dresses?'
For Jennie, Susan and Lottie. All
the spring things are ready but these
dresses
But this is only Wednesday"
81 know, James, but look at the
work. There are oyerskirts to each,
and ruffies on all the waists. Jennie's
has three flounces. All the children
in the congregation are well-dressed,
James. You cannot afford to put the
sewing out, 50 | must do it.
LET the children dress more SIM
ply, then. Come, Annie, stop that
buzz for once, and come to this con-
cert"
Cant you go?'
and leave you? l should not en-
JOY it. if | knew yOu We're stitching
here. Come"
With heavy sigh, as if James were
eXacting a sacrifice instead of giving
her q 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
here face all polite interest, was think
ing of the unfinished work.
WAS it not delightful?' James
said, as they walked home in the soft
spring moonlight.
''Delghtful! 1 am glad l went.
James: Mrs. Gordon had on her new
spring dress. and her dresses all
come from London. The trimming
on her basque is quite anew style, and
am sure | can put Jennie'S on in the
same way
Sunday morning shone clear and
cIoudless. Mrs. Henley had put the
last stitch into Lottie's dress as the
clock struck twelve, and she wakened
with a pain in her chest and headache,
but feeling Of triumph. Her chill
dren would wear their new things,
that had cost nothing but the mate
rial. Nothing, Mrs. Henley did not
estimate the hours spent over the ma
chine, the weariness, the neglect of
many little duties. There has been no
actual money laid out in dress-making.
50 it was clear gain on the material.
Very pretty the children looked
when they were ready for church.
Jenny and Susan, twins Of ten years
old, were dressed alike, in delicate
pearl color, trimmed with blue, and
hats of the newest shape and blue rib
bons. Lottie wore cerise color, with
cerise trimming, for Lottin was a bru-
nette of seven.
The charges at starting for Sunday
school were:
BE sure you lift your overskirts
when you sit down; don't lean back
upon the streamers Of your hats, and
walk where you will not spoil your
light boots. Don't strain your gloves"
Oyerdressed, Annie" remarked
Mr.. Henley. "Your own dresses are
not more elaborate" ."
"It is the fashion now to cut child
ren's dresses like ladies'. But you
ought to be proud of your child
ren, James. Everybody compliments
me upon the taste with which 1 dress
them.''
'Annie!" Mr.. Henley said, sudden
ly, leading his wife to a mirror, "look
at your own face"
"Well," she said, wondering what
he could mean.
"Your cheeks are as white as chalk;
there is a heavy line under your eyes,
and your whole air is that of a woman
worked to DEATH
James, what nonsense!"
"It is not nonsense. l 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
animation. You had young children,
a house to keep i'll order, and Just half
our present income. Yet you could
find leisure then for a daily walk,
could read in the evening. or sing for
me, could enjoy an occasional evening
of social pleasure, or some entertain
ment. l had wife them
"James, what do you mean?'
81 mean that, in the place of my
happy, healthy wife, I have now
sickIy, over-worked seamstress. Those
dolls that have just gone out have
none of the grace of childhood. They
are fast becoming little. pieces of van
ity, all absorbed in their fnery. Their
underclothing would do for signs in an
emporium of linen, with the embroid-
cry, rufies and tucks."
"But I do it all myself, James.
Exactly. You are stitching your
life into the garments of your children,
who would be far happier, healthier
sand better in the simple clothing
suited to their years.
"Oh, l am well enough. | am pale
to-day because l sat up late last night.
Int I must dress for church or we
shall be lsta."
The service passed over Mrs, Henley