The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-03-13
Select Storp.
THAT BROWN DRESS.

dress, said Mrs. Torrey to her husband
one day, when he was counting over the
money he had just brought from town,
where he had sold load Of wheat. "Sup.
pose you give me one of those new bills,
John, next time you go to town, aud let
me go with you. The coaxing smile she
gave him failed to have its desired effect,
however.
"a new dress !" exclaimed Mr. Torrey,
evidently as much surprised as be 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. Tor.
rey. II have had just two calico dresses
in year. | have the enormous number
oil six dresses, at present, in different stages
Of wear. One calico dress 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 '--holdinp
up frayed sleeve for his Inspection
Shows for itself. I've mended |. until
there's nothing left to mend it with, and
it won't hold together much longer"
swell, that's only fiye,' said Mr.. Tor,
rey.
"The sixth happens to be lawn, which
would scarcely be appropriate for winter
wear, answered bis wife. Give worn tina,
brown dress so long that l hate the sight
OF il. No matter where | go, that has to
go, too. l don't believe the neighbors
would know me if they saw me away from
homo with anything else on"
"Im sure shouldn't care for the opin.
ion Of the neighbors," answered her hus.
band, loftily. 81 always thought you
looked extremely well with that dress on.
It's warm and comfortable, isn't it?'
ayes, and so is blanket" answered
Mrs. Torrcy,
al don't approve Of the practice so prev
allen; among some Of the farmers wives,
nowadays, Of buying a new dress every
time they take notion into their heads
that they'd like one" said Mr.. Torrey,
very impressiyely. "We've got to eeono-
iaize If We ever expect to get out of the
present financial difficulties. If we all
bought needless things, the country soon
be bankrupt. | don't suppose you uader.
stand il Sarah; but it's extravaganza that
has made the hard times" And Mr..
Torrey tried to look us wise as a professor
Of political economy.
mot extravagance on my part" re-
sponded his wife, who was not much i'm
pressed with his arguments. II want a
new dress because | need one, aud there
Is no extTayagance about it. l have
earned one, | think; but it you don think
SO, you had better keep the money.
Mrs. Torreys temper was up. When
ever her husband was in one of his extra.
economical moods, he never failed to rouse
her spirit. She knew that she was a
careful, prudent woman, and she felt that
new dress-and half dozen new dresses,
for that matter-had been fully paid for
by her economy in little things during the
year.
But if he begrudged her the money,
why, she'd go without, if she had TO stay
at home all winter. She wouldn't coax
him for what rigbtfully belonged to her.
Ii his sense Of justice wasn't strong enoagh
to prompt him to do the fair thing, she'd
fall back on the old brown dress, aud ma g
that do for another season"
II don't see much force in your argu.
ment, said Mr.. Torrey. "If had six
suits of clothes, or even three, I'd be more
than satisfied"
He folded up the money as If that de.
cided the matter, and put ii back in the
pocket book.
"YOu poor old brown thing Mrs. Tor.
rey said next day, when he was airing
the closet where she kept her clothes,
you've got to be Sunday best" for an.
other winter" and she held up the dress to
the light and inspected il closely.
The folds were faded good deal, the
trimming was out Of date, aud il had a
kind Of geuieel-pOycrty look about it gen.
orally.
II know what III do" she said, with a
twinkling in her eyes. am wear il every.
where, and Ill go on, every time / can,
and Ill make him a sick Of II as | am.
Last winter | wore that old gray delaipe
part Of tho time, but since that departed
this life III have to make this do double
duty"
Next Sunday she came down arsayed
for church 10 the brown dress.
"Fm sure that looks well enough for
anybody" her husband said. "If YOU
always have as good clothes you WON'T have
any cause for complaint.
Mrs.. Torrey fsownsd aud then she