Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-12-06
ONLY A FARMER.

ONLY A FARMER.
Quite an interesting and anxious groul
had gathered in Mrs. Wilson's dressing
room, one pleasant morning in June. 1t
c onsisted of Mrs. Wilson. and her three
unmarried daughters, and the subject un-
der such animated and anxious discussion
was how and where they should open theil
usual summer campaign.
It had always been an interesting sub.
ject, and, to the maternal element, attend.
ed with considerable anxiety, but never
such matter of perplexity, almost amount.
ing to despair, as now.
The contents of the various wardrobes
had been laid out and examined silks and
muslins, cambrics and lawns, sufficient, it
would seem, for dozen and yet the two
elder Misses Wilson declared with tears IN
their eyes, THAT they had nothing, abso
lutely nothing. fit to wear.''
1t is noteworthy with what surprising
unanimity the two sisters agreed with
| each other. :
Mrs. Wilson looked with dismay on the
finery spread out before her, after listening
to the above assertion.
''I'm sure, my dears,'' she ventured to
say, 'ssome of them are hardly worn, and
with little alteration"
Nov, mama !" interrupted Belle, s'why
do you talk so ridiculously /? When you
know there is not thing here but what is
wretchedly out of style And as to alter
ing anything, it always gives me pain in
the side to sew, and I'm not going to Sar.
| atoga all tagged out, if never go!"
Of course, this settled that. 1t is lit
tie curious what small amount of work
will ''fag" girl ''all OUT" who can dance
until the break of day with the slightest
inconvenience.
"There's one thing certain said Lucy,
the second daughter, Twelve got to have
| at least one new dress.'
II don't know where it's coming from
then," responded Mrs. Wilson, sinking
| down YEARLY into chair. sit was as
much as could do to get your pa to con-
sent to your going at all. It. was two
O'Clock last night before he gave in, and
then, 1 verify believe. it was from pure
WEAKNESS, and inability to keep awake any
longer.
Mrs. Wilson said this with an air of a
woman determined to perform her duty at
LDvn rIc To ol>& .s
for the same.
But it seemed to have quite the contrary
effect upon Josie, the youngest daughter
who had not before spoken, but who now
burst forth:
II declare, if it isn't a sin and shame,
mamma, for you to worry pa SO p
Mrs. Wilson cast reproachful look
| upon the speaker.
II will say, Josie. that you are the most
| ungrateful child ever saw! I'd like to
| know how much money I'd get out of your
| pa if didn't worry it out. But that's all
the thanks get for lying awake of nights
scheming and planning how to get you a
chance to get settled in life.''
''I'd thank you for doing so. I'm not
| going to Saratoga or Long Branch. In
theairst place, know thae pa can't afford
it. And then I promised Mary Crofton
that 1 would visit her this summer"
Though Mrs. Wilson affected to be dis
pleased at this announcement, she was Sc.
cretly relieved.
Belle and Lucy were very well suited
with this arrangement too. Josie was very
handy at furb shing up and making over,
and if she was determined to bury herself
in country farm house. she would not
need to do SO much of that for herself, and
could, therefore, devote more time to
them. And SO busy did they keep her du.
ring the two weeks that followed, that 10.
sic was glad enough to see the big trunks
all packed and waiting in the hall.
To save expense, Mrs. Wilson had ar
ranged to dismiss the servants, and shut
}up the house, with the exception of one
room for her husband, who was to take
his meals at his sisters.
"Of course, she won't charge him any
thing, SO that will be one item saved" re-
marked Mrs. Wilson, as she regarded COM
placently the effect of Bellies new dress
which her management had secured.
''As though pa would board there for
nothing,' was Josie's indignant rejoinder,
"when Uncle William has such a hard
time to get along"
"Well. if your pa chooses to pay when
he needn't and it isn't expected Of him,
its his own less. For my part / don't see
what's the good OF having relations if you
can't make use of thena.:@
Mrs. Wilson certainly believed in max
ing her relatives useful, carrying out that
belief to the fullest extent, wheneyerit was
practicable, and some of them knew to
their cost. Even her love for her daugh-
tiers partook Of the SELFISH nature, her chief
anxiety being to get them "off her hands, -
and IN manner that would be as adyan-
tageoAs to, and reflect as much credit On
herself as possible,
But they were gone at last, and Josie
was at liberty to make her own simple
preparation, which did not take her long
to complete.
Fhe father and daughter had 2 nice