Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-02-19
ais Il hest for Jennie 10 have a Grad

looked up anxiously.
"Never was more in earnest, John"
+" Well, | don't pretend to know
about these things. But you don'treally
want it, do you, childP Such
gloomy thing. Why, you ought to have
something bright and cheerful then, it
seems to me"
alt would be very serviceable," said
Jennie, meekly.
"Serviceable-howP" queried her
father. Z" Your mothers dresses are
always serviceable, and they are not
silk. And then look as the cost of it.
Whew! Ten.ffteen dollars, sup
pose"
"More than double that" returned
Mrs. Mayberry.
"That settles the question. No, it
will not be servceable for my daughter
NOT at that price"
"But if get the school at Stapletonp"
asked Jennie:
q "Ah! IT. Time enough to talk
about silk dresses when you've money
that you don't know what to do with. If
you do teach you shan't begin for over
a year"
"More than half the girls in our class
will have silks for graduation, Prudy
says, and"
81 suppose she will; she looks like
that kind of girl. And, as usual, her
father is going to borrow my moving
machine next summer, and the new
pillow that ! must buy in April. No, no,
daughter black silk for you yet.
However-let me see. ! have it now!
One of my happy thoughts-just in the
nick of time, l declared"
He drew out his pocket-book, and
from its folds took several bank-bills.
"Mr. Simonds paid for his hay this
afternoon. I'm right glad to get the
money just now-was intending it for q
certain purpose, a plan your mother
and | made q while ago. But I've
changed my mind within an hour, and,
Jennie, if you'll wear the same dress
you have on now-thi5 neat gray flannel
with the pretty pink neck-tie-at the
graduation, you shall have every cent he
paid me---to spend as you choose"
Jennie looked troubled.
"I'll be there to see,h he added.
"Moreover and likewise" he continued,
merriy, "Tommy and | will get as
many spruce trees and as much ever
green to trim the school-room as you
will accept. And mother'n lend all
her plants, every fo%er-pot, I've no
doubt"
Certainly, with pleasure" respond
ed Mrs. Mayberry.
"The graduation, or commencement,
rather-for then you viii really begin
your life as woman" said Mr.. May
berry, sought to be joyful occasion.
And yet serious and thoughtful one,
as you then lay aside childish things
and take the first step toward the sober
realities of life. And l want you to
know, Jennie, that that first step will
have much to doin determining your fu-
ture course. Don't begin with show and
extravaganza then, even if you-that is,
lean afford it; it would not be right
or becoming"
"Mike Brady hasn't any overcoat,
father, because Mary's got to have a new
gown to graduate in" said Tommy.
"And Mrs. Drayton told me fort
night ago that Hannah had left the High
School on account of the expense of
graduation" said his mother.
Well suppose there are others lin
the same box as Uncle Russell ex-
presses it. He said to me the other day
that he shouldn't be able to take up his
note as soon as he expected, next month,
his two boys school expenses are so
great this last term"
GAN the girls are telling what they
shall wear, and | thought ex-
pected-" began Jennie, in trembling
voice.
Her father interrupted her, placing
the bank-bills in her hand.
"Think of it over night, dear. You
have had good teachers, and you are
fond of them, / know, ard are attached to
your mates. Have had many happy
hours in the old school-room; will wish
to look back on the last days spent there
with pleasant memories. Spend the
money-it is yours now-in way that
will give you the most delightful recol-
lection"
snow, please, let us drop the sub,
ject," said her mother, laying the sam
Piles on her work-stand, and taking up
Tommy's jacket. Gam to have your
help on the button-holes, dear?" she
added, quietly.
Jennie gave her bright smile, gath
cred up the bits of silk, went directly to
the stove and threw them in the fire.
"Button-holes, buttons-anything you
say" was her answer, as she seated her.
self on stool at her mothers side, that
both might sew at the same time.
Chow about your battlesP Dates al
rightP" asked her father. "Let me
hear them"
She recited them slowly and correctly,
ending with gay laugh, and-"I was
determined to have them right"
"And you have succeeded. Add an.
other-a victory for General Good
sense, at Mayberry Point. What's the
dateP"
"Never mind. Graduation Day, wei
call it, perhaps" and having clasped
her purse with a vigorous snap, there
was a tinkle of its steel rings as she
slipped it into her pocket; and then hel
skillful fingers ran rapidly through the
mazes of button-hole stitch. So Tom
mys jacket was completed, and he was
glad enough to have it ready to veal
the next day.
Graduation Day was remarkably fail
for March. The school-room was crowd
ed with the parents and friends of thu
pupils. Everybody admired the decor