The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-11
Ny Striped Silk Dress,
BY L. NINA HAzELToN.

Yes, the poor thing, it's almost gone,
there is no doubt about that. The
fiounce is soiled and frayed an inch
deep, there is a dreadful darn right on
the front breadth, the under sides of the
sleeves are so ragged that | am obliged
to keep my arms in a certain position,
when l wear it without a sack, and in
fact, the whole dress looks as though it
might at any moment, without the
slightest warning, suddenly go all to
pieces, like the wonderful "One HOss
Shay"
Yet it goes to my heart to think of
cOnsigning my old gray silk to the dark
depths of the rag-bag. 1t is customary,
l know, when people or things have be-
come useless after long years of service,
to cast them carelessly aside, as no
longer worthy of consideration or kind
ness; but, somehow, | find it impossible
to treat my first silk dress in this cruel
manner.
How well remember the day it was
bought! What long time [ was decid-
ing between the many patterns that
were spread out before me Should /
have a blue or brown, black or
gray? And when it was suggested that
stripe would be best, | was fully half
an hour making up my mind whethera
wide or a narrow stripe would be the
prettier. But at last fixed upon GER
. tain black and gray silk, nor have
ever repented my choice.
Well, it was a beautiful dress when
first finished. There were ruffles and
bands of the material, and innumerable
pipings of glossy gray satin, and the
front of the Overskirt was cut in points,
while the back was ruffied, and here
and there were bows of the silk. The
last stitch was taken Saturday night,
and when Sunday morning dawned
bright and beautiful, | felt in an unusu-
ally religious mood, and was ready,
that day, to go to church twice, Sunday
School, and two or three prayer meet
ings thrown in between, so great was
my humble piety.
l was perfectly satisfied to have no
other good dress that whole summer, for
| went out very little, and it looked new
aud fresh; but when October came, and
the concerts, and operas, and lectures
began, and | found | must wear nv gray
silk everywhere that went, the novelty
soon wore of-and the bottom of the
skirt also, | am sorry to say.
Did you hear Miss kellogg last win
ter? In the balcony, just to the right,
sat the girl in the striped silk dress.
Did you hear Thomas Orchestra, or De
Murska? Did you attend the Star
Course of Lectures If you had looked
where the editors sit, you would have
discovered the girl in the striped silk
dress. If you walked down Chestnut
street, there she was. If you went ia
the library, there she was again. II
you rode in the Twelfth street cars, you
were sure to meet her. | fear people
began to wonder whether | ever took of
that dress, but did not eat, and sleep
and live in it, week after week
But | would not remain indoors be.
cause 1 had only one dress to wear
although l disliked to ride on the same
line of cars too frequently, and some,
times slipped out the back gate, Instead
of going around the front way, for feal
of the neighbOrs.
The happiest moment of my life came
to me when wearing that same despiseC
silk. Not that [ got a husband in it
Oh, dear me, no! A girl with only one
good dress stands very poor chance o.
getting suitor nowadays. But some.
thing almost as delightful happened one
afternoon.
/ believe l trembled from the time ]
threw the old gray silk ovsr nv head
w 5Oi uLlll 4 i'fuisfl NY
self sale back home again. i was 3
very cold day, the first of November
and 1 remember L wore black velvet
basque almost as venerable as myself
and which showed it's age, 1 think.
rather more, and a gray felt hat that
got at a milliner's way down in the
lower part of the city, where they owed
my father some money-a very fortu.
nate thing for me, by-the-by. l had s
pink ribbon bow, with long ends, at my
throat, and carried certain small roll
the disposal of which was to make my
fortune.
How the wind blew as 1 left the cars
and hurried down Chestnut street My
face began to grow dreadfully cold; and
how could ever confront the great pub
Usher with q red nose / shall never
forget with what fear and trembling ]