The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-12-28
A HARD LESSON.

but, mamma, S3lu MINNIE, look
ing grave but determined, II shall haze
to wear this dress, because my only
other white one that is clean is too
tight for anything; it hurts me so that [
can hardly breathe. y
"rm sorry, daughter" the mamma
said, with equally determined face;
''but you surely see that such delicate
muslin as that you have on is not suit
able to wear to lawn party. 1t viii
tear as easily as lace"
But I've got to wear it, you see,
said Minnie, with a touch of impatience
in her voice. ''You don't want me to
wear tight clothes, you know"
''And what reason have you found
for wearing that broad, blue sashPn
swell, mamma, you know it is the
only one that matches nicely.with this
dress and these stockings, and things
ought to match
eyes; and why must the stockings
be worm"
go, WE'LL" said Minnie, catching an
end of the sash and twisting it, II sup
| thought with my nice new slippers
these would look the prettiest, and l
didn't think you would care"
"Does it seem to you that nice
new slippers that were bought to wear
only in the house, are the proper things
for lawn parties?"
Nom; but l had to put them on.
My boots have the ugliest great nails
sticking into my toes; | could hardly
walk around last night; SO, of course, [
had to put on the slippers"
Very grave looked the mamma. 1t
was a sad fact that she had never heard
of the dress that was too tight, or of the
fearful nails in the high buttoned kid
boots, until this moment. Could it be
possible that her little daughter was
tempted, by her desire to appear in fine
new clothes at the party, to speak not
quite the truth? She sat thinking for a
child needed severe lesson.
Minnie she said, and the little
girl knew that when her mother spoke
in that tone, and called her by her full
name, there was no more chance for ar
gument, 'you can not wear that dress,
and that sash, and those slippers and
stockings, to the lawn party"
Now it was Minnie turn to consider.
She looked down and fitted the toes Of
her slippers most carefully into figure
of the carpet.
"Well, she said at last, drawing a
long sigh, and looking as though the sor-
rows of life sat heavy on her heart, 81
suppose can 90 and change all my
things; but | shall be very late. 1t is
time to 90 now
yes" said the mother, her face
most sad ''you may change all your
things. Put on the calico that you wore
this morning, and your everyday
boots.
Mammal" gasped Minnie, "don't
you mean to let me 90 to the party?"
''There is nothing for you to wear,
my daughter. | suppose you would
not like to go IN your everyday clothes,
and you say your other white dress is
too tight, and the nails in your kid boots
hurt your feet. So, of course, you will
have to stay home. If I had heard of
this before, I could have altered the
dress and had the boots put in order;
bat you know you have never said any
thing about it before
Then was Minnie's face very red. Il
can wear them, mamma" she said,
turning away "They are not very
comfortable, but [ can stand it,
''No, daughter, | can not allow you
to stand it. You know l do not wish
you to dress so you can hardly BREATHE
nor wear shoes in which you can hard
ly walk around see nothing for you
but to remain at home"
Then did poor Minnie burst into
food of tears! She poured the words
out very fast. Her dress was not too
tight, she did not have any trouble to
breathe, and her shoes did not hurt her
but just speck, aud she could wear
them as well as not.
''Minnien' said her mother, breaking
into the midst of this storm of words.
''Then what have you been telling your
mother?n
Poor little Minnie. It was a hard
lesson. She went to no lawn party that
afternoon; she sat on the back piazza
in her dark calico dress and thick boots,
and sobbed. She had grown so used to
making little bits of things into great
ones, when it suited her convenience to
do so, that she actually did not realize
that she was telling what was untrue.
] know some other little people who
have the same bad habit. The P0nSy.
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