Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-07
Continued from first psge.l

NON-N-~~N~
for the piles of neat mending forwarded
to each room OF the house by THURSDAY
noon.
"Oh yes; your grandmother gave me {
trade-they always did-and chose tailor
ing. When it was work, you know. tC
make your living by. that's another thing
But never could abide sewing for play P
Another slap. This time at the white
lilies on the royal purple ground, over
which Miss Laura spends many brisk
hours. softly humming to herself the
Bride s-maids' Chorus from Lohengrin.
1t is tor the young rector's study fire when
all is done; and that clerical Adonis GER
tainly has fair and blushing cheek, like
girrs-like Laura's just now.
My wife stirs her coffee somewhat I'M
easily too, for is there not Persian rug
the very carpet OF Prince Peribon for
aught | know, growing into wondrous de-
vice and glow of color under her gentle
hands ?" / wouldn't care, know, ii it
should spirit the rector away from my pre-
serves. Laura is nineteen 10 be sure, and
her mother at her age-Never mind, miss,
what she was Far fairer than ever YOU
will be, and almost as beautiful a. she is
to-day.
nv wife. with the faintest pout in her tone,
trousers being the costume OF the ruling
race"
"Of course :" aud Debby Ann shuts her
eyes, and dips her head in laugh that is
visible rather than audible Buttons and
straight seams are plain sailing. should
lose my head among he RIFLES of a gown.
Have another cup? No? Then excuse
me.
And out of the room, with quicker
step than Laura's, with no hurry or bus
tie, but direct as AN arrow to its aim, goes
Debhy Ann.
My wife and laugh into each others
eyes.
That was mastery stroke, Taddeo;
confess it. Neither you or 1 could have
settled it for ourselves, so hy an ingenious
leading question You have extracted a
whole philosophy from Debby Ann"
well, my dear, now that Laura has
flown, electric to the postman's ring, !
don't mind confessing that am as babe
before the modern girl, with her quick
bright mind, her capabilities for martyr
usefulness in decorating "a church. or
working herself thin for centennial tea
party. and her unlimited capacity TO.
dawdle, except under the high pressure OF
strong excitement. But | have, as you
say. struck out some flashes OF light on
it from the gritty sense OF the by-gone
time. All this spismodic energy, this
tireless self-devotiOn under excitement, is
simply the woman in Laura, all that is
left of the mUliebrity OF old. We have
smothered out its vitality. except for these
few wild sparks now and then That we
have not killed it utterly let III thank God
and the wonderful endurance He has given
our daughter.
Look at her now. Could she take
walk with me this minute if should call
her to GO? You know she could not She |
must step out OF her dainty slippers. spend |
how many minutes | don't know in but |
toning those boots. on which she must bal |
ance herself like "a fgurante before she |
can step at all She must take off that fresh
morning -gown--W atteau, do you call it?-
with its rose-colored ribbons and its grace
full tail /; she must endue herself with a
skirt that weighs pounds, in spite of its
scaniiness, fluted like coumn-kited,
thank you and over that ano her swalh-
ing OF drappery, OF no mortal use that one
can see save TO hide the decoration of the
under one. Then. when she has knotted
jaunty jacket, and given her hat the
proper inclination, and pinned on two
wells, she will be ready to start,
land she will be very dazzling, and
shall be proud OF her as she goes spark
ling down the street leaning on nv arm.
There is not much agility required simply
to faner upon Walnut street, SO she can
walk with sufficient grace with me per-
far h a
ask her to 90 with me to rose gardens ov-
er the river, or to take constitutional in
the Park, she will be exhausted at the
mention of it. How could she climb
down and gather 'Quaker-ladies, or climb
up tor columbine among the rocks? She
knows the Wisahickon only from the car.
rage-drve, as she knows the boulevards
in the Park. OF the pleached green by
ways, the tangles of shade. the coy foot
paths under the forest trees, she knows
nothing. She has keen sense of the rid
iculous, and rather than tear her peary
gloves and leave shred of her dress on
every trailing brier, rather than cling
helpless to me and be dragged up every
shelving bank, spectacle from the drive,
she says me nay"
''But you know that at Catskil and at
Jeuelooh, Picdus mamma, where cllmO-
ing is a business"
Yes, my dear, | do know. I've lost
my heart often enough to those pretty
nymphs IN their cOquettsh and simple
mountain dress. At Catskill and at jet
ferson she wears costume at once easy
and close-fittlng, light and graceful, and in
which she can move and have her being
In comfort Tor six summer weeks. Then
she comes back 10 the mummy toilets in
early autumn, and is the dearest, the
most helpless chrysaiis throughout the
year till summer comes again. But il
climbing is not the business OF every day,
exercise surely is, aud You by ordering
her costumes, | by paying tor them, have
conspired TO put LDls as certainly out OF her
reach as though we had incascd her in
neat upfight sarcophagus, for purposes OF