Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-09-11
CHRIS GRADUATING DRESS.
By HOWE BENNING.

They'll be perfectly splendid, ol
course said Kate Cox. Con Living.
ston is going to wear India null, with
puns and quillings and lace ad libitum,
and Fan Ellis is to have pale blue silk
she knows what's good for a blonde,
and Isa True, white Grape
And what is Louis? p asked Kate's
audience.
oh, mamma and she are not agreed
yet. Lou wants silk and mamma says
white Is the. only proper thing; she was
a Holokite, and the law there was white
and blue sashes.'
Somewhat different style, though,
fancy, from the white Of to-day, wher
your mamma graduated
Just think Of 1t, girls! Her dress wa;
white Swiss muslin, full round waist
plain skirt and pufied sleeves, and hel
blue sash-she has it yet-is not az
wide as my finger is long. How they
must have looked!
My mother says it was great dea
more sensible than the present way,
remarked Cathle Floss, 'Inever SHOULD
dare to graduate now, for fear Of beiEs
the dowdy Of the class. All you hea
the seniors talk about is just dress
dress
'Oh, it's splendid, 1 think said an
other. Almost as good as ones frs
ball. Imean to make a sensation wher
my turn comes, and be thought regard
less for once
1T will be her only hOpe.' whispered
Kate: the sensation never'll come from
the inside Of her head. Butt it's stopped
raining, girls lets co. And the mer-
ry group scattered down the stairs ant
homeward.
Meanwhile, in the dressing-room ad-
joining. Chris sat on the floor listening
to the lively chatter with a sudden
dread numbing her heart. Her hea(
had been so full Of mental philosophy
literature, and essays that she had for
gotten she was to graduate in a dress
and now-silk and India null, Peol
Chris might as well expect piece ou
Of blue sky as either Of these. 1t hat
been such happy life to study the deal
books. and feel that every day wa:
bringing nearer the time when as teach
er, she could help the patient, hard
working father and mother, and give
the little ones a chance IN the world
She had known that they were poor ant
her classmates rich, but that never
troubled her sunny nature before
Everybody was good to Chris. Ever
the naughty Fan Ellis found it conven.
lent to get her help over hard places
and as for Con Livingston, whom Chri:
wOrshipped in girl fashion, hadn't she
many sweet little note and word treas
ured away of hers ? But this dress ques.
ton! Con in India null with ruffles an(
lace was set entirely away.
The little, plain home in poor stree
was reached at last, and Chris went il
to find the busy mother with hands ant
lap full of mending and foot outstretch
ed for baby to stand by. He crowd
and shouted at the sight of his sis1r,
and Chris took him up and went tcthe
window.
'Mother,' she said, after a Shlle,
what am l going to wear to gaduate
inu
The neither sighed. She ha thought
Of that a great deal.
4 don't know, daughter, 'he said, at
last. 4 did hope to getJou a neat
white, but times are so hal and fathers
wages are lowered, andjo have out
grown everything.'
Yes said Chris, Shat can 1t be
then p
4 don't see how, can be anything
more than q ljcht Alico.'
"A calico? O rther?
Yes, dear, pow.'
But the othcs have silk and null
and Grape
yes. dear l know, and so does
Chris, who hd nowhere to lay her head,
Think it ovein that way. You know,
Chris. motEr would if she could, and
the voice rembled.
y es, 4other, never mind; it'll be
all right l guess
But (hris set the baby down aid went
up to Ter little room. She did iot care
muclfor supper, and the childfn Won
derd what made her so still.
When she went up TO bed, and Liz
md Cora were sound asleep, he poor
Child sat down by The open indow to
think it out. But the great thrs we'll
ed up, and finally the head SIX on the
window seat, and the achingieart said
all the time, "It is very ard, very
hard y and the tears rolledaster and
faster.
After long time, as iseemed 10
Chris, she heard some ene'alling very
softly. Chris a! Chris y s. lifted her
head but at first could smoothing, the
room was so bright to hermmed eyes.
Then os she became acctomed to the
light, she saw & lovely fd smiling up
on her.
who is itr asAed Cls, wondering.
Il was sp->to bring ou dress, re-
n,ied u visitor, TO wer on your great
ssTS0l'day. lis Onlyl very common
one now, but it depend upon yourself
70 make it as beautin as you Yill,-l