The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-05

ting nervous, sis. Too much study, l m
afraid. l shall be glad when you get
through this terrible last term. But
you're coming out well-that's not the
trouble, l hope? Let's run over the
battles again, so as to be sure of them. y
And he took up the book which she had
pushed aside.
Mrs. Mayberry laid the strips of silk
upon the book. "What do you think
of thoseP" she said, gently.
"ThcseP" he asked. Why, what are
they? How came you by them?''
sc Is it best for Jennie to have grad
uation-suit like either of them?"
sour Jennie? Good grandmother of
Methnsalah! Our little Jennie rugged
out like fifty-year-oldP YOU'RE joking,
wifei' ..s...d ar
Jennie had ceased crying and now
looked up anxiously.
"Never was more in earnest, john"
Well, l don't pretend to know
about these things. But you dom really
want it, do you, childP Such a
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. I" Your mothers dresses are
always servicesble, and they are not
silk. And then look as the cost of it.
Whew! Ten-tDteen dollars, sup
pose"
"More than double that returned
Mrs. Mayberry. A
90 eot&joe @ha M
will not be serviceable for my daughter
not at that price"
"But if l get the school at StapletonP"
asked Jennie.
"Ah! If! 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 I must buy in April. No, no,
daughter-no black silk for you yet.
However-let me see. / have it now!
One of my happy thoughts-just in the
nick of time, declared"
He drew out his pocket-book, and
from it's 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
certain purpose, a plan your mother
and l made while ago. But I've
changed my mind within an hour, and,
Jennie, if you'll wear the same dress
you have on now-this 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'n be there to see," he added.
"Moreover and likewise" he continued,
merrily, "Tommy and will get as
many spruce trees and as much ever
green to trim the school-room as you
will accept. And mother'll lend all
her plants, every fower-pot, I've no
doubt.''
Certainly, with pleasure respond
ed Mrs. Mayberry.
"The graduation, or commencement,
rather-for then you will really begin
your life as woman" said MIR. May
berry, "ought to be a joyful occasion.
And yet a serious and thoughtful one,
as you then lay aside childish things
and take the first step toward the sober
realities of life. And I want you to
know, Jennie, that that first step will
have much to dom determining your flu
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 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 'in
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"
"All the girls are telling what they
shall wear, and l thought ex-
pected-" began Jennie, in a trembling
voice. .a. 80,
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, l know, and are attached to
your mates. Have had many happy
hours in the old school-room; will wish
to look bach the last days spent there
with pleas memories. Spend the
money-it urs now-in a way that
will give you 4e most delightful recol-
lection"
"Now, please, let us drop the SUBJ
ject," said her mother, laying the SAM
Piles on her work-stand, and taking up
Tommy's jacket. sAm l to have your
help on the button-holes, dearP" 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 a stool at her mothers side, that
both might sew at the same time.