Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-04-28
Only a Farmer.


under such animated discussion was how
and where they should open their usual
summer campaign.
1t had always been an interesting
subject, and to the maternal element, at
tended with considerable anxiety, but
never such a matter of perplexity, al
most amounting to despair, as now.
The contents of the various wardrobes
had been laid out and examined silks
and muslins, cambrics and lawns, suffi-
cient, it would seem, for dozen, and the
two elder Misses Wilson declared with
tears in their eyes, "that they had moth
ing, absolutely nothing, 6t to wear"
1t is noteworthy with what surprising
unanimity the two sisters agreed on this
point, who seldom agreed on any point.
Mrs. Wilson looked with dismay upon
the 6nery spread out before her after lis
tening to the above assertion.
"I'm sure, my DEAR" she ventured to
say, 'some of them are hardly worn, and
with little attention"
"Now, mamma !' interrupted Belle,
"why will you talk so ridiculously p
When you know that there is not a 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 a
little curious what small amount Of
work will flag" a girl "all out" who
can dance until the break of day with
out the slightest inconvenience.
"There's one thing certain" said Lu-
cy, the second daughter, we've got to
have at least one new dress"
81 don't know where it's to come from
then" responded Mrs. Wilson. sinking
down YEARLY into chair. "It was as
much as could do to get pas consent to
going at all. 1t was two o'clock at night
before he gave in, and then I verify be-
lieve it was from pure weariness, and
inability to keep awake any longer"
Mrs. Wilson said this with an 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 con-
trary effect upon Josie, the youngest
daughter, who had not before spoken,
but who now burst forth.
81 declare, if it isn't a sin and a
shame, mamma, for you to worry papa
so -
Mrs. Wilson cast reproachful look
upon the speaker.
81 will say, Josie, you are the most
ungrateful child | ever saw. I'd like
to know how much money I'd get out of
your pa if l didn't worry it out. But
that's all the thanks l get for lying
awake nights scheming and planning
how to give you a chance to 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, l know that pa can't
afford it. And then l promised Mary
Crofton that | would visit her this sum-
mer."
Though Mrs. Wilson affected to be
displeased at this announcement, she
was secretly relieved.
Belle and Lucy were well suited with
this arrangement too. Josie was very
handy at furnishing up and making
over, and if she determined to bury her.
self in a country farm house, she would
not need 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 >
remarked Mrs. Wilson, as she regarded
complacently the effect of Bellies new
dress which her management had Sc.
cured.
LAS though pa would board there for
nothing" was Josie's indignant rejoin.
er, "when uncle William has such hard
time to get along"
"Well, if your pa chooses to pay wher
he needn't and it isn't expected of him
it's his own loss. For my part l dom
see what's the good of having relations
if you can't make use of them"
Mrs. Wilson certainly believed il
making her relatives useful, carrying ou
that belief to the fullest extent, when
ever it was practicable, as some of then
knew to their cost. Even her love fol
her daughters partook of the selfshnes
of her intensely selfish nature, her chic
anxiety being to get them 'off her hands
and in a manner that would be as ad
vantageous and reflect as much credit o.
| barsalf as nossihle