The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-11-08
MI iscellan @ O u 8.
ONLY A FARMER.
BY MARY GRACE HALPINE.

Quite an interested and anxious group
had gathered in Mrs. Wilson's dressing
room, one pleasant morning in June. 1t
consisted 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 their
usual summer campaign.
1t had always been an interesting sub
ject, and, to the maternal element attend
ed with considerable anxiety, but never
such matter ofperplexity, 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 on this
point. who so seldom agreed on any 9TH
er.
Mrs. Wilson looked with dismay upon
the fnery spread out before her, after lis
tening to the above assertion.
"I'm cure, my dears," she ventured to
say, "some of them are hardly worn, and
WIFI u llltlc ulttGbllOH-
Now, mamma |" interrupted Belle, "why
will you talk so ridiculously When you
know that there is not thing here but
what is wretchedly out of style And as
to altering anything, it always gives me
pain in the side to sew, and I'm not going
to Saratoga all tagged out, if never go !"
Of course, this settled that. 1t is little
curious what small amount of work will
"fag" girl call out" who can dance until
the break of day without the slightest in
convenience.
"There's one thing certain" said Lucy,
the second daughter, "we've got to have at
least one new dress"
II don't know where it's coming from,
them" responded Mrs. Wilson, sinking
down YEARLY into q chair. at was as
much as l could do to get your pa to con-
sent to your going at all. 1t was two
o'clock last night before he gave in, and
then, verify believe, it was from pure
WEAKNESS, and inability to keep awake any
longer"
Mrs. Wilson said this with the air of
woman determined TO perform her duty at
all hazards, and anxious to obtain credit
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
bursts forth
II declare. if it isn't sin and shame,
mamma, for you to worry pa so ~
Mrs. Wilson cast reproachful look upon
the speaker.
~ will say, Josie, that you are the most
ungrateful child l ever saw! I'd like to
know how much money I'd get out ofyour
APP if didn't worry it out. But that's all
the thanks get for lying awake nights
scheming and planning how to get you a
chanceto get settled in life."
"I'd thank you for not doing so. I'm not
going to Saratoga or Long Branch. In the
first place, know that pa can't afford it.
And then promised Mary Crofton that
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 furnishing up and making over.
and if she was determined to bury herself
in a country farmhouse, 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 during the two
weeks that followed, that Josie 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 Joses indignant rejoinder,
"when Uncle William has ouch hard time
to get along"
swell, if your pa chooses to pay when
he needn't and it isn't expected of him, it's
his own loss. For my part don't see what's
the good of having relations you can't
make use of them.n
Mrs. Wilson certainly believed in max
ing her relatives useful, carrying out that
belief to its fullest extent, whenever it is
practicable, as some of them knew to their
cost Even her love for her daughters par
took of the selfish nature, her chief ankle
ty being to get them "off her hands," and