The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1880-08-21

young, bright, happy girl could.
But oh! the hours of anxiety that
beset Josie after the too tempting invi.
tation had been accepted.
All Centrevilie would be there. o.
course; the Newcomes had the iuest
lawn in the neighborhood, and every.
body would be charmingly dressed.
Such ali opportunity for the diplay of
summer toilets did not occur every
day, and when it did, of course every
one would take advantage of it.
Josie was not a vain girl, and only
moderately fond of dress, but for lawn
party hat was an absolute necessity,
and what in the world was she going to
dop for she had been wearing her dark
straw, trimmed with q bright winged
little bird, all the spring and so far into
the summer that only a natural brunette
complexion like hers could have stood
such close acquaintance with the sun.
But that hat with light muslin dress
would never do for lawn party. Con-
sequently, poor Josie was in despair,
at least as nearly so as bright, hopeful,
light-hearted girl of her age could be.
II must overhaul my wardrobe" she
thought, the day after accepting the in-
vitation; and with comical little
grimace she added, being so extensive
of course | may have forgotten many
things-no doubt l shall find Just what
| want in it."
Next day, accordingly, as soon as her
mornings work was over, and after the
one hours practice on the little cottage
piano which she never omitted, Josie
proceeded to overhaul her wardrobe rs
she had said, and greatly to her surprise
Notwithstanding its limited proportions
she actually found two articles of which
she had been unconscious. They were,
first, a leghorn hat, very old, very yel-
low, and having very wide brim; and
second, dress of fine India muslin,
time-stained and antiquated in style, but
so long ani wide in the skirt that j osie's
quick eye instantly saw it, in the mirror
of her mind, ripped, bleached, and re-
made into an elegant dress Of the pres
ent day.
Both articles had belonged to the
pretty young mother dead so many years
ago, that even the memory of her was
like a fieeting mist-like dream to Josie
Herne. But the warm tears dropped
from her eyes. and she kissed the hat
and dress as she took them up reverently
in Der hands.
Dear little mother" she murmuraG,
and thought, perhaps, that mothers
spirit lowered near, anxious that her
little girl should enjoy her day of limo
cent pleasure while she was young and
happy.
The hat was broken and worn round
the outer edge, butsso wide that it could
bear with improvement, a couple of
inches taken from the brim, and then,
when pressed into shape on the post of
the old fashioned bedstead, it looked, as
Josie laughingly assured herself, like a
" brand new gipsey of the latest style"
What to trim it with became the next
momentous question; and after thinking
the matter over all day while engaged
in her other duties, Josie was obliged to
give it up, leaving the hat still poised on
the Iend of the bedpost, consoling her
self with the hopeful reflection:
"Well, I'll manage it someho w-some
thing will be sure to turn up in time for
the lawn-party."
Meantime the yellow, time-stained
India muslin was ripped, and washed,
and bleached like the new-fallen snow,
and then made into charming costume
with ruffles and knife-plaitings in the
newest style; and indeed it made dress
handsome enough for any occasion
But, alas! nothing in the shape of trim
ming for Josie's hat had yet been found,
and in despair she had almost decided
on wreath of wild field flowers and
grasses. They would be appropriate and
lovely-for an hour, perhaps; but after
that they would be faded and withered,
and terribly Suggestive of a genteel
makeshift. But q kind fate, who surely
waits on poor young girls, came to the
rescue.
On the day before that fixed for the
lawn party, Josie was hanging out her
few little laces to dry on the rosebush in
front of the house; and while she did
so, her clear, fresh young voice sang out
gaily:
" Gin body meet body
Comm thro' the rye,
Gin body kiss body,
Need a bcdy cry"
"No, indeed" thought good looking
youth, who was just passing; f" for my
own part, I be more likely to smile,
and he stopped and looked long and
admiringly at the pretty girl spreading
her little bits Of lace to dry; then, a:
she turned toward him, he lodged