Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-06-20
ONLY A FARMER.

Quite an interesed 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 under such animated discus
sion was how and where they should
open their summer campaign.
1t had always been an interesting
subject, and to the material element,
attended with considerable anxiety but
never such matter of perplexity--al-
most amounting to despair rs now.
The contents ufthe various wardrobes
had been laid out and examined; silks
and muslins, cambrics and lawns suf-
ticent, it would seem, for u dozen, and
the two elder Misses Wilson declared
with tears i'll their eyes ''that they had
nothing, absolutely nothing tit to
wear"
1t is noteworthy with what surprising
unanimty the two sisters agreed on
this point.
Mrs. Wilson looked with dismay up-
on the fnery spread out before her
after the above assertion.
Pm sure, my DEAR, she ventured
to say, "some of them are badly worn,
and with little alteration"
Now, mamma" interrupted Belle
why will you talk 50 ridiculously
when you know there is not thing
here but what is wretchedly out OF
style! And as to altering anything it
ALWAYS gives me pam in the side to sew,
and Pm not going to Saratoga all tagged
out if | never go.
OF course this settled that 1t is n
little curious what small amount of
work will flag" n girl "all out" who can
dance until the break of day without
the slightest inconvenience.
There's one thing certain" said
Lucy, the second daughter, "we've got
to have at least one new dress"
Il don't know where it's to come
from then" responded Mrs. Wilson,
sinking down YEARLY into chair. at
was as much as | could do to get pa s
consent to going at all. 1t was 2 O'clock
at night before he gave in, and then |
verify believe it was from pure weari-
ness 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 OBJ
tain credit for so doing
But it seemed to have quite diff
ferent effect upon Josie, the youngest
daughter, who had not before spoken,
but who now burst forth:
Il declare, if it isn't sin and a
shame, mamma, for you to worry pa
SOL"
Mrs. Wilson cast reproachful look
upon the speaker.
Il 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 did not worry it out
but that's all the thanks ] get for ~
ing awake nights scheming and plan
ming how to give you chance to get
settled in life"
"Id 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
Croften 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 very well suited
with this arrangement too. Josie was
very handy at finishing up and making
over, and if she was determined to bury
herself in a country farm house, she
would not need so much of that for her
self and could therefore devote more
time to them. And so busy did they
keep her during the two weeks that fol-
lowed, that Josie was glad enough to see
the big trunks oil 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.
AS though papa would board there
/. for nothing" was Josie's indignant re-
ioinder. when Uncle William has such
a hard time to get along"
well, if your pa chooses 70 pay
when he needn't and itisn't expected Of
him, its his own loss. For my part |
don't see the good of having relations
if you can't make use of them"
Mrs. Wilson certainly believed in
making her relatives useful, carrying
out that belief to it. fullest extent, when
ever il was practicable, as some Of them
kne y to their cost. Even her love for
her daughters partook ofthe selfshness
OF her intensely selfish nature, her chief
anxiety being to get them "of her
hands, and in a manner that would be
as advantageous and reflect as much
credit on her as possible.
But they were gone at last, and Josie
was at liberty to make her own simple