Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-04
Make Us Very Stylish"

"Must go to bed now, mamma ?" said
Alice Peel, ." it's only eight o'clock, and papa
sometimes lets me sit up another half
hour 2" "Yes," said her mamma, ait is
Saturday night, and want you to go nov.
Ring the bell for Kate" Well, you'll
come up and hear me say my prayers, won't
you, when I'm ready for bed 2" Yes, I'll
come" said Mrs. Peel, if get the pocket
on my dress and the hastings all out. for
want to wear it tomorrow" Then, turning
toward a cousin who sat near, she said /:
Just look, Mamie, isn't it stylish don't
believe there'll be prettier dress in our
church tomorrow, and won't my hat look
lovely with it? Mrs. Nash said it was the
most stylish hat she had seen this winter,
and she's pretty good judge, think"
Kate then made her appearance and took
Alice up stairs, and Mrs. Peel kept busily
at work on her dress, so busily that when
Alice called " Mamma, I'm ready now !"
her mother said Uncle Charlie, won't you
go up and tell Alice a little story and hear
her prayers | think she would rather have
you than me any time 2" As Uncle Charlie
was very fond of his little niece, he dropped
his paper quickly and skipped up the stairs,
telling Alice she had better say her prayers
first, then cuddle into bed and he would tell
her fairy story. She knelt down, and say
ing, You know | say my prayers all alone
now," began 40 Lord thank thee for all
the good things have had to-day. Forgive
my sins, make me good girl, help me to be
kind and pleasant to everybody, and keep
us safe tonight. Bless papa and mamma,
and Arthur and Uncle Charlie, and Cousin
Mamie, and take us all to heaven. Give us
lots of nice things aud o Lord, make us all
etvl;sb Ap,nn ~ Won will Inuhtlacg eunil
at this prayer, but it is literally true Was
it not severe reflection on the young
mother, and yet very natural prayer for
child who felt from the daily conduct of
her mother, that to be every stylish was
the great aim and end of life. Children are
wonderful imitators, and generally reflect
home-teachings most thoroughly. Of course
there are some sad exceptions, but it is a
well known fact that whatever is done and
talked of at home, among the older people,
will be pretty sure to be thought and talked
of again by the children. Little Alice, al
though her mother was a church-member
and Sunday-school teacher, heard no con-
versation at home about religious matters,
doing good in the school, working for the
poor children, helping the missionaries far
over the ocean, or anything of the kind
but every day she was accustomed to hear
once and again such expressions as these :
Isn't Mrs. Gray stylish2 | like Mis-
Vaughn so much, and she's such stylish
girl" "Mrs. Thompson gave such a stylish
lunch party the other day, and aren her
children lovely? Every one spoke of them
at the Springs last summer, they were so
cunning and stylish Now there is no sin
in being Stylish and it is just as WELL If not
IA little better to dress as people do this year,
than as they did ten years ago; but when Il
mother or any one becomes so absorbed III
her dress and entertainments as to leave
the impression upon her child that to be
stylish was the one thing to be thought aud
talked of above all others, and even prayed
for is it not time that we should all stop
and think of our influence, asking ourselves,
"Are we setting such an example before
our children in our conversation or our as
pirations 2"