Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-20

use trying to be like girls who have
money and nice houses, aud clothes
they're not ashamed of. declare, if it
wasn't for mother, I'd wish ! was dead"
"What did you say, Timer said her
mother, looking up from the ironing
table
~ don't know ! think must have
been talking to myself" said the girl,
looking in, with her forget-me-not blue
eyes dewy with tears. "But, mother,
after all, think won't 60 the fair"
Mrs. Blair finished ironing q collar
before she spoke; then with pleasant
lighting up of her wsrn face, she said
" If you want to stay Mt home be-
cause You have nothing to wear, stop
worrying, dear, for I've thought 1t all
out III press ont my old merino for
you---the rustiness won't show at night
and we'll cut up your little old white
dress and make q fancy apron like one
had here to do up for the young lady
that boarded at the hotel, last Summer;
but we'll take the ribbons oil your hat
to put on it ; you can put them back be-
fore Sunday"
A cloud at the idea of the disreput-
able old merino, moments doubt Mt
the possibility of the fancy apron, then
o full burst of sunshine at the quick
mental picture of her pretty self in the
becoming costume for once, and TIME
danced up to hug her mother, with
"Ob, nanny darling! What nice
things mothers are"
Low as the misery of drunken hus-
band had made Mrs. Blair's position, she
was q lady by birth and education, and
had brought up her two children with oil
the refinement possible in their misfor-
tunes. She was proud of her pretty
daughter, and felt most keenly the
sighting GOODNESS with which the young
ladies of Offport treated her. She was
glad now that a taste of pleasure seemed
to be thrown in her way.
But, although the plans are made, not
q step could be taken toward their exc
ton till small basket of clothes could
be finishnd and sent off to the hotel but
they were quickly done and dispatched
by Bobby, Tlnie's small but very wide
awake brother, and then both mother
and daughter gave every thought and
energy to preparing the simple costume
the latter was to wear.
Bobby proceeded on his errand after
the usual manner Of small boys, who
have so much business of their own to
attend to that it is with difficulty they
can keep their attention fixed on the
special mission upon which they are sent.
He found the young gentleman to
whom he was to deliver the clothes, and,
plying the benlghted ignorance of q
stranger to the village, kindly spent half
an hour of his valuable time enlighten-
ing him concerning its affairs, the fair
quite naturally coming in for the largest
share of mention.
The handsome young stranger listened
with fattering attention, and when Bob
by was beguiled by his interest into CIV
ing a graphic account of his sisters social
snubbing by the other girls, and, told of
the meanness which had assigned the
poorest position to her, his sympathy was
outspoken in language which, less pious
than energetic, much delighted Bob.
Yes, it must have been the apron that
madeline so irresistible that customers
hung around her vicinity, apparently I'M
conscious that just opposite black-eyed
Rebecca waited to draw lemonade from
an unfailing spring for their delectation,
or that Flora's temple, just beyond, was
crowded with attendant vestals, eager
to supply button-hole bouquets at ten
cents apiece and pin them on without
extra charge.
Even if the strangers came, TIME
thought, there would be but a dim pros
pect of their looking at the ponderous
volume she presided over; neither would
any one else, she said to herslf, ruefnlly,
half inclined to give up and run home.
But the dear old face of the rector
showed itself at the lower entrance, and
he, the first visitor, came in with pleas
ant words and smiles dispensed on every
side. but walked straight by all the
booths to hers. His stay was short, but
he left her pretty face bright with smiles
and flushed with pleasure.
She forgot her annoyance and before
she had to encounter any more looks OF
disdain her attention was claimed by
n :. l.. IL