The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1880-04-08
THAT BROWN DRESS.

/" think it's about time had n new
dress said Mrs. Torrey to her husband
one day, when he was counting over
the money he had just brought from
town, where lie had sold load of
wheat. Suppose you give me one of
those new bills, John. next time you go
to town, and let me 90 with you" The
cDaxing smile she gave him failed to have
its desired effect, however.
"A new dress" exclaimed Mr.. Tor
rey, evidently rs much surprised as he
had ever been in his life. "Why,
Sarah, | thought you had plenty OF
good clothes. | don't see what you can
be thinking Of when you plan to spend
money these hard times, on new dresses,
when you have more now than you
know what to do with"
81 don't know what you're thinking
OF when you say that" answered Mrs.
Torrey. | have had just two calico
dresses in year. have the enormous
number of six dresses, at present. in diff
ferent stages of wear. One calico is
quite good. Two calicoes are half worn
out. That old brown dress has done
duty for two years as my good dress,
and this one "-holding up-a frayed
sleeve for his Inspection" shows for
itself. I've mended it until there's
nothing left to mend it with, and it
won't hold together much longer"
"Well, that's only five" said Mr.,
Torrey,
1.-The sixth happens to be lawn,
which would scarcely be appropriate
for winter wear" answered his
wife. i've worn that brown dress so
long that / hate the sight of it. No
matter where I go, that has to 60, too.
| don't believe the neighbors would
know me if they saw me away from
home with anything else on"
I'm sure / shouldn't care Tor the
opinion of the neighbors," answered her
husband, loftily. Il always thought
you looked extremely well with that
dress on. It's warm and comfortable,
isn't it?"
Yes, and so is blanket, )" answered
Mrs. Torrey.
Il don't approve of the practice so
prevalent among some of the farmers
wives, nowadays, of buying a new
dress every time they take notion into
their heads that they'd IKE one, said
MIR. Torrey, very impressively, We've
got to economic five ever expect to get
out of the present financial difficulties.
If we all bought needless things, the
countryd soon be bankrupt / don't
suppose you understand it Sarah; but
it's extravaganza that has made the
hard times" And Mr.. Torrey tried tc
look as wise us professor of political
economy.
Not extravaganza on my Fart" re-
sponded his wife, who was not much
impressed with his arguments. al
want new dress because need one
and there is no extravaganza abolt it
have earned one, / think; but if you
don't think so, you had better keep til,
money.
= Mrs. Torrey's temper was up. When
ever her husband was in one of his extra
economical moods, be never failed t.
rouse her spirit. She knew that sh
was careful, prudent woman, and sh
felt that new dress-and half dozel
new dresses, for that matter-had bee
fully paid for by her economy in littl
things during the year.
But if he begrudged her the money
why, she'd go without, ifshe had to sta
at home all winter. She wouldn't Goa
him for what rightfully belonged t
her. If his sense of justice wasn't stron
enough to prompt him to do the fai
thing. she'd fall back on the old brow
dress, and make that do for anotht
season"