Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-17

use, little girl, her father said, approvingly.
1t is your own, my dear; do what you like
with it, And some other time, when papa
mas more money, you can take Alice and
Blanche to the matinee"
Thank you, sir we can go to the mat
lnee any time, but the poor people need the
money now" Essie said, giving the bright
new note back to her father
Yes, now is their hour of need will
'end the money immediately-in your name,
my little girl. | wish could add fifty or a
hundred dollars TO your mite, Essie; but /,
is impossible for me to spare it now"
hope you didn't think was mean, Net
lie, not to lend my money to you; but you
have so many pretty dresses already that
thought I'd rather give it those poor starv.
ing people" Essie said to her sister as they
were going to bed that night.
Certainly not, little goosey. | think
IKE papa, that you put it to good USE"
Nettie lay awake long while that night,
tor sudden, startling, and perplexing ques-
Llon presented itself unceremoniouslv to her
consideration if Essie had made a wise use
ot her money, was not she going to make a
very foolish use of hers ? She debated the
question in all its bearings, and tumbled and
tossed uneasily on her very easy and com
Portable bed. Nettie was not used to max
ing sacrifices There had been no need of
my self-sacriice in her bright young life
md this was the first time she had ever
telt called upon to deny herself in any way
FIFTY dollars will 20 but little way in
relieving their great Distress" she thought;
'and there is no use Of wearing my old
iress and having all the girls make dsa-
yreeable remarks about me, because lot of
people whom never saw and never will see,
md who, I'm sure, would never help me,
happen to be poor and needy. There are
olenty of people who will help them, and
here is no need of giving up my dress
But then if every one should think as she
lid, and sefishly leave it to some one else to
relieve the necessities of the poor? But
hen, again, eUerybody was going to have
new dress for this party; and Phil would
be there, and he always liked her to appear
mong the best Well, it was perpexing
md disagreeabe either way, so why not de-
;ide on the most agreeable alternative
"Ill buy my dress the first thing in the
morning; then | can't be tempted to--no,
III ask papa which | ought to do. No,
can't do that for he'll only say, as he did to
Esse Spend your money as you like it is
your own," and will contrast the difference
between our modes OF using it, and think
now selfish | am 10 spend it for myself. Oh
lear irish | had bought my dress this
morning; then there would have been no
question of right and wrong"
Nettie ran up to her room the first thing
lfter breakfast to take a look at the old blue
lress. She threw it ON the bed and looped
The lace dress over ii with some pale pink
'ose-buds, and it certainly looked lovely
not much of sacrifice, after all, to wear
such a beautiful dress, most girls would
nave thought. But then Nettie had GER
'ainly worn the dress many times before,
md her friends were well acquainted with
vi its defects as well as its beauties.
There's where Eva Mason put her foot
IN the train the first time | wore it,
,lways knew she did it on purpose, mean,
spiteiul thing, although she apoogized so
sweety and was so sorry Here's where
Allan Page dropped chocolate ice over the
pack width can cover that with the lace
md flowers. There's where Arthur Delano
plashed it with champagne the night he was
80 dreadfully under its intluence that's the
worst place, and ! don't know how | shall
conceal it; perhaps can drape my sash
gracefully over it, pinnng it tight to the
kirt beneath the loops, and it won't look so
lreadful. Oh, dear after all, the worst
thing about it is that I've worn it half IL
lozen times already, aud everybody knows
It, and will say, There comes Nettie Locke
IN her old blue again."
This last thought was so narrowing, Net
lie couldn't restrain a few tears, and they
iel, drip, drip, on the "old blue" and
ldded another stain to its already damaged
beauty.
Right on the BOSOM too" Nettie said,
drying her tears quickly. " However, it
sn't so bad can cover it with some natu-
raj roses"
She sat down on the bed beside the still
lovely dress-though it had certainly seen
It's best days-and pinned flower here and
a ribbon there, singing softly the while one
ot Strauss exquisite waltzes. The delicious
tir she was singing took her thoughts cap
tive presently, and carried them far away
from the present and all its perplexities.
She dropped the flowers, rich ribbons, and
aces from her liStless hands, as a mental
vision passed before her of the coming ball.
1 vision of fair young girl in cloud of
nist-like tulle and rosy blossoms; a vision
allurng as Aurora herself when she comes
through the gates of the dawn, scattering
roses and dewy diamonds in the pathway OF
the day god; a vision that brings flush to
her cheeks and a sparkle TO her eyes She
sees the tender light in her lovers eyes as
ne bends to tell her how fair she is IN his
eyes and in the eyes of all men she hears
the passionate sweetness of waltz and galop,
the passionate sweetness of whispered words
and low replies; but above the music of the
bands, above the sweeter music OF her lovers