Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-01-22

the same. Was it possible that IL could ap-
pear so differently when seen in the piece
But there was no help for il now and
with that reflection the last ray of pleasure
IN her new purchase vanished from her
mind. Not even Johns recommendation could
enllven her. "Why, you're as pretty as a
picture J" said he the same night, when she
had twisted the soft woolen stuff about her
figure and stood waiting under the gaslight
Tor bis inspection. The silk she had pru-
IDENTIFY and thankfully banished from sight.
The dull maroon hue had frightened to a
rich crimson under the light.
" And did the money hold out p
YES" But the reply came family and
Mrs Jupe running in the next morning found
her friend poring over the supplement " to
fashionable paper, her smooth forehead
drawn into two dreadful wrinkles. while she
'tudied with despairing eyes this sheet of
lines aud angles, bicycles and insane paral-
kilograms, hopelessly confused and inextri-
cably entangled
"They are patterns ~ said Mrs. Fay, as
though she would have added, could YOU
ever believe it Z" al thought perhaps I
might cut my dress myself"
" Goodness, child Did you ever do such
a thing?"
"No; but people do"
"They don't begin with handsome suit
however. DO you want to spoil ito ruin
the whole dress, besides wasting the whole
material and the money you have spent
for it,"
The last was an argument, and Mrs. Fay
laid by her sheet of hieroglyphics with
sigh and prepared to listen TO reason. as
Mrs. Jupe called II, uy aiiansins ~ t,.l.
the latter's dressmaker off her hands for one
day, which Mrs Jupe desired to spend out
of town. Perhaps she could make up for
this expense by cutting off two or three of
Susan James days.
The day aud the dressmaker came.
" 1t is good piece of silk, said the lat
ter, testing it between thumb and forefnger.
1t was. 1t weighed like lead upon the
mind of Mrs. Fay The dressmaker laid it
against the wooden goods, opened her lips,
then closed them again prudently. But
Mrs. Fay saw the movement. No, it did
not match. Had not Mrs. Jupe already re-
marked it And was not the maroon turned
to purple by the proximity of this silk, as
any one could see
" | should have thought you would have
bought American silk They usually offer
it at Morton and Brier's TO make up with
these heavy goods. 1t wears so much better
and costs less, you know, by good deal
being so much wider, too, it cuts to better
advantage
at came from New York." said the poor,
crest-fallen Mrs. Fay. But there was no
pride in her voice.
Miss Nudge was measuring it off from
her nose to the ends of her fingers. Eight
yards That will never do it. Not if YOU
take off three-quarters for bonnet and face
the skirt 1t will not trim it handsomely"
:" thought it large pattern" faltered
Mrs. Fay.
"Wel, yes,--of American silk. But
couple of yards more will do; and you had
better send for it at once. Perhaps you may
as well say three while you are about it. A
scrap over is never out of place. This is
a very pretty basket-cloth," she went on dip
lolnatically, for Mrs. Fay's face revealed
her chagrin. " saw the sane at Nlorton's-
two dollars and half, was it not ? Two
dollars and half 1t was three. And it
cannot be the same. sent to New York for
this" Mrs Fay could have cried with vex-
alton.
"You sent to New York !" The dress
makers sharp eyes measured Mrs Fay and
the plainly furnished bedroom where the
cutting was going on with one keen, calcu-
lating glance. But she said nothing more.
And Mrs. Fay sent to New York for three
additional yards of silk. Her heart sank as
she broke her last ten dollar bill to pay for
this and the necessary Innings, facings, but
tons and cord, without which no feminine
garment can be brought into existence.
And Aunt Maria's cloak shrank more in its
proportions until it entirely passed out of
sight.
'' shall do the rest myself" she said to
Susan james, as the latter laid by her work
at the end of her third day.
ado you think you can ?" There was
look of disappointment in Susan's faded
eyes. "That blind stitch is hard to do
nicely unless one is used to it,
Poor Susan Even one more day would
be something. 1t would earn the price of
New Years dinner. Work was not easily
found in these times, and she had depended
upon at least a week here.
81 am sorry, and know it isn't easy to
do" The tears were in Mrs. Fay's eyes
was she not worn out with it already?
But, indeed, Susan, must do it."
So Susan folded the waist neatly and laid
it with lingering hand beside the skirts
on Mrs. Fays own bed, then donned her old
worn cloak and unreasonable straw hat and
went away.
When the dress was at last finished and
put on for Johns inspection the night be-
fore New Years, not even the warm, bright
hue could bring trace of color to the pale,
worn face of its wearer. But John did not
notice it.
"Yes," he said absently, sit is very pretty,
dear, and am glad if you enjoy it-but it
has cost me more than | can well afford"
A shiver ran all the way down little Mrs.
Fay's spine. She could not ask what he
meant. Was it Susan James Was it 2
81 suppose you told somebody that you
got it in New York. At any rate Morton
and Brier heard that my wife had been buy
ing a fifty dollar dress in New York, and
Morton said two could play at that game.
So he went down to Hartford and bought
the steam heater he had been looking at for
the store, and Brier ordered another for his
house"
at was the dressmaker She must have
told it. | always thought she looked like
spitefu thing, aud didn't ask her to our
table," gasped Mrs. Fay growing whittier
still.
VERY likely; only know | have lost
their trade, which is a good deal iu these
times. But don't let it distress you, dear"
! He was frightened at the expression on his
wifes face. 1t is too late to mend it. Let
us think of something else" And he drew
her down upon his knee. "What have you
got for Aunt Maria 7"
| have got her-l have made her." Mrs,
Fay began Historically. 40 John, have
got her ginger-jarT
"a gingerjdr" No wonder John Fay
started.
"Don't laugh" aud Mrs. Fay proceeded
to further astonish her husband by bursting
into tears. at is decorated, you know, and
and looks almost like Kioto, Mrs. Jupe
says. | can't tell you, John-but-every-
thing cost so much, and the silk was too
narrow aud had to get more, and-and
there wasn't any money lett for the cloak
:" ! see how it is" said kind John, who
knew more than she dreamed. He gathered
her up in his arms aud essayed to soothe the
frightful sobs. we have learned good
lesson, though hard one, haven't we, little
woman We will patronize home institu-
tons; at least until we can draw our in.
come from abroad"
The next day, John Fay took his old over
coat quietly TO the tailors and had it rebound
countermanding his order for new one, and
Aunt Maria had her cloak after all aud
happening TO meet Morton on the street
who gave him the cold shoulder, he stopped
him and explained the whole transaction