St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-11-16

face, which touched Myra Sydney. at
Will be time wasted, dare saw" said
she to herself, "still | should like, just
for once, to argue out the dress ques-
ton with a girl like this. She is one
of a great class, and, poor things, they
are so dreadfully foolish and ignorant"
She made no immediate reply to her
companion, but rose and rang the bell.
IL am going to give you a cup of
tea," she said. clark, how it rains
You can't go yet, and you will be less
likely to take cold when you do go, if
you start well warmed. Besides,
want to have you stay. | should like
to have little talk over this question
of dress, which is so interesting to all
of us women" She smiled brightly at
her guest, who, as if dazzled, watched
the entrance of the tray with its bub-
bling kettle, its plate of thin bread,
and butter, and crisp, dainty cakes ;
watched Myra measure the tea, warm
the pot of gay Japanese ware, and
when the brew was ready, fill the thin
Tipped cups, and drop in sugar and
cream.
GLOW nice !" she said, with "A sigh of
satisfaction. Her heart opened under
the new unwOnted kindness and COM
fort, and Miss Sydney had little diff
Guilty in learning what she wished to
know. Cary Thomas was the girls
name. She had lived "at home" till
two years ago. Did she like the city
Yes, she liked it well enough, but it
was not much like home to board. She
and another girl that worked at Snow
& Asher's had a room together out i'll
Farewell street. They had pretty
good times when they were not too
full of work, but in the busy season
they stayed so late at the store that
they didn't want anything when they
got home, except to go straight to bed.
They got seven dollars a week, and
more when there was extra work to do,
"Can you lay up anything out of
that ?" asked Miss Sydney.
"No, ma'am, not cent; at least
don't. There are some girls in the
store that do, but they've got sick
friends to save for"
Now" said Miss Sydney, having
thus felt her way, 'to go back to the
jacket question. AS told you, can't
at all afford to have one for every
dress.n
Cant you, ma'am; and what do
you do, then ?'
Il buy one jacket which will do with
everything wear"
"But that isn't suit" said Cary,
doubtfully.
"No; but is it absolutely necessary
that everything should be suit ?"
"The girls at our store think so much
of SUITS" she said in n puzzled tone of
self defense.
81 know some people have Il fancy
for them, and they are very pretty
sometimes. But don't you see that
they must cost a great deal of money,
and that working people, you and my
self for instance, ought to manage
more carefully ?"
"Do you work, ma'am ?"
"TO be sure | do, You look sur
prised. All, you think that because
have a little home of my own, and live
in pretty room, | must be a fine lady
with nothing to do. That's mistake
of yours. | work nearly as many hours
IL day as you do, and earn the greater
part of my own income, and | have to
consult economy to keep my home and
make it pleasant, and among the things
which | can't afford to have are suits"
81 wish you would tell me how you
do, ma'am."
81 will, though Pm not in the habit
of talking quite so freely about my
affairs, but I'll tell you, because it may
give you an idea of how to manage
better for yourself. In the first place
keep to two or three colOrs. | have a
black gown or two, and an olive brown,
and this yellowish green that you see,
and some lighter ones, white or pale
yellow. Now with any of these the
same bonnet will do. The one | am
wearing now is black, with little jet
and pale yellow, and it goes perfectly
well with all my dresses and so does
my black cashmere jacket, and my
parasOl and gloves, which are yellow
also. Don't yOu see that there is an
economy in this, and that if | had a
purple dress, and Il blue one and a
brown, | should want different bon
net for each, and different gloves and Il
different parasol ?"
"Why, yes, it does seem So" said
Cary drawing a long breath. "I'd like
to do something different myself, but |
don't suppose I'd know how"
"Would you mind if l told you what
| think ?" asked Myra gently.
"NOm, I'd thank you"
at seems to me that the chief trouble
with girls who work in stores, is that
they care more for what they call be-
ing Stylish than for being either neat
or pretty. A young girl can look her
best in Il simple dress, if it is well put
on and becoming"
That's what mother used to say,
and Mark, he always liked me best in
white bib apron. To be sure he never
saw me in city clothes'-
"Is Mark your brother ?" asked My
IA. Then she smiled at her own stu
pidity, for such deep flush as mantled
in Cary's cheek, is seldom evoked by
the mention of brother.
"NO'm, he's just a-friend. His folks
and mine live opposite
"In GilmantOn, and is he farmer p
ellis father farms, and Mark works
for him, but his time is out in the
spring, and then he calculates to set up
for himself"
"DOes he ever come to the city 7"
"NO, not once since | was here, but
he speaks some of coming down along
towards spring, and that's one reason
like to look as stylish as | can, SOS not
to he different from the rest, wher
Mark cOmes.n
81 think iii his place should prefer
you to be different" said Miss Sydney
decidedly. "NOw, Cary, don't be of
Tended, but what yom girls aim at is t,
look like the ladies who come to tn,
shop, isn't it G-'stylish,' as you would
say p.
eyes, suppose it is" admitted Cary
'Well, then, must tell you the plair
truth You utterly fail in your attempt
No one would mistake a girl, dresse,
as you are at this moment, for lady