Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-02-23
LIKE A FASHION PLATE.

Susy Lee was quiet little country
girl, content to go to the village school
in blue gingham dress and white
apron, and thinking her Sunday blue
muslin and silk "visite" the perfection
of toilet, so far as a young lady of
eleven was concerned.
But in an evil hour a ''city child"
came with her parents to spend week
or two at the house next to Susy's
home.
Susy looked on with eyes of wonder
and envy at the toilet of this young
lady. She had never dreamed of such
splendor and elegance. And when the
city girl cOolly informed her that she
needn't come in there to play with
her while she wore knit cotton stock
ings aid calf-skin Shoes" Susy ran
home to find her mother, sobbing as if
her heart would break.
Mrs. Lee listened to the pitiful story
with a grave face. 1t was not deemed
necessary in those days-as in these
to make the wardrobe of child cost
nearly as much as that of its mother.
Still the mania for dress was even then
just beginning to develop itself, and
Mrs. Lee, who was a sensible, good wO-
man, was pondering over question of
some importance. How, without SEEM
ing unkind, could she convince her lit
tie daughter that dress did not make
the happiness of life, and that it was
net worthy all the time and attention
of an immortal soul
"She is dressed just like the fashion
plates" sobbed Susy. "Oh, dear, if
could only be dressed so Once-just
Once-I should be the happiest girl on
all the earth!"
"Well, Susy. you shall be dressed
like that once" said her mother grave
ly, "on one condition"
"What is it, mother" asked Susy,
half wild with joy.
"YOur dress will be costly enc, and
your father is not rich enough to buy
you more than one. If you will prom.
ise faithfully not to injure or soil
| it"
"0h, 1 WON'T won't motherl
will take such care"
And Susy fairly cried for JOY.
The next week the dress was done. II
was lila; lawn, fragile and delicate
with a tiny lace collar and sleeves,
embroidered pantalettes, Lisls thread
tockings and NOR 'rc6 CATERS buttoned
at the side. A new gypsy hat, with
ing streamers of lilac ribbon, and a
pair of lilac kid gloves, completed the
equipment. Susy privately thought,
as she turned round and round before
the glass, that Solomon in all his glory
was not "a circumstance" to her.
The city girl had gone home, and
that was one drawback to the happi.
ness of the day. But Susy took a
walk up past the stores and round the
park, and was exceedingly mortified tC
find that the people did not leave theiI
business TO speak to her and notice hel
new dress. Her mother had made hel
stay at home from school, lest she
should soil the new clothes, and the
girls would not be out to look at her til
half past four.
Tired of her walk, sue went nome
She could not play in the yard or go W
garnet, out of respect to the lilac mus
lin; still less could she help her moth
er in the kitchen. She went out there
but Mrs. Lee shook her head gravely.
"This is not the place for a young
lady dressed like fashion plate" sht
said. You must go into the parlor
Susy."
Susy went. She sat there and yawn
ed, and counted her fingers, anC
watched the great hands creepin,
slowly over the surface of the tOwI
clock, till She could bear it no longer
and all at once it flashed over her how
silly she had been, and she went t.
the kitchen. and flung her arms arOunC
her mother, and hid her fearful eye
against her brown calico dress.
"Give me my blue gingham. and m,
white apron, and my calf-skin shoe
again, neither, and let me 60 to schoo
this afternoon and play with the girl
coming hone," she sobbed. 81 shall
die if have to stay dressed up in thi
way any longer"
Mrs. Lee made tho change, laughin,
inwardly all the while. Then sh
kissed her little daughter and sent he
merrily off to school, and Susy Lee ha
never wished again to be dressed "lik
a fashion plate" from that day to this