The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-23
M0RNING-GL0RY VINES
And How They BlOssomed Into a Pair
of New Shoes.
by Jennie III. Bingham.]

human chatterlng, every Dlt issuing from inc
mouths of some half-dozen schoolgirls, who
with baskets and books had just tripped down
the steps of the venerable stone school-house,
and were lettering along to their homes.
" 1t must be the very best exhibition we've
ever bad" said the tallest girl, decidedly.
"Pm so glad I've got that new music You'll
have to help me select, girls" cried out little
midget in blue ribbons.
and OH Mabel, what sDin you wear shout
ed another girl, as if this were the question.
ats an easy thing for you, Mabel" suggest
ed quiet voice, as its owner glanced from her
own plain calico to the dainty muslin of the
other girl.
Pm going to have dress straight from New
York" she answered, dwelling with emphasis
on the Straight" Mother said l should if
/ took part in the Ex."
Lucky child !" groaned little Blue Ribbons.
Mine III b e that everlasting muslin straight
from the closet, where it's been my bestest for
! two years." ending up with comic sigh and
laugh, in which they all joined.
Rachel, you may have all the scarlet gera-
/ NUNS you want"
"Oh, splendid! By-by;;' and Rachel turned
| in before a humble little house, and bounded
up the steps.
"oh, mother, Pm going to recite at the Elk p
she called before she was fairly in.
'Ain't it jolly?" pulled Johnnie, breathless
| in his attempts to be the news bearer.
"Why don't you say something, mother2"
demanded the girl.
What do you want me to say? Minnie is
! glad enough for BOTH" answered the mother,
smiling a very faint smile over her sewing
machine and glancing toward the invalid
chair, where pair of very thin hands were
being clapped vigorously.
''0f course Minnie is pleased" advancing to
! bestow rapturous hug.
"What Will you wear, Rachel?" asked the
mother, a trife anxiously.
''The same old thing" answered Rachel,
trying to say it cheerfully. "a new dress is
out of the question. But I'll have my cambria
! laundried. Don't you think it looks real nice,
Min when it's starehed? And some new shoes,
eh?"
won't your old shoes answer" asked the
mother, hesitatingly
"Why, mamma look!" and Rachel raised
! up decidedly shabby shoe. "Oh, don't sigh
| So"
We've had so many expenses lately.
know, dear, you're very cheerful to get along
without dress But where shoes are coming
! from don't know"
"What viii you recite?" asked Minnie, Civ
ing her sisters hand little pat of sympathy.
! ~ haven't quite decided" began Rachel,
shaking of her sad air. miss Moore spoke of
Alice Cary's Order for Picture But like
| Kentucky Belle best"
"Oh yes, you know that so well, Rachie."
"Do II" and Rachel stepped out on the floor,
with a stage bow, and began in very sweet
voice:
"'Summer of sixty-three, sir. and Conrad was
Gone to the country town, sir, to sell our first
| load of hay
"oh, l think this is so pretty!" and she
! lowered her voice aud waved her hands grace
| fully:
From east 10 west, river to shine out under
the moon.
Nothing to make shadow in the yellow after
noon;
Only the breathless sunshine, as l looked out all
Only the rustic, rustic as / walked among the
corn
It's beautiful. know you'll get some flow
ers. Won't she, mamma2D asked Minnie clap
ping her hands again.
Hush, child. don't get excited. It's tea
kettle time, Rachel"
Such busy times as those were among the
girls and boys, plump up to the time of the
dress rehearsal Such trials of skill before
home critics and mirrors, such a humping of
pianos by the musical part! You will perhaps
understand when | tell yon that the annual
exhibition was the event of that little village.
| And then the dress rehearsal! On the au-
thority of the blue-ribboned girl they had
"such a good time.''
This dress rehearsal was where the trouble
began Tor my heroine But, therei Pm get
ting ahead. of my story. Well, Rachel prac-
ticed, you may be sure, and ironed out her
pretty cambria, and hoped against hope that
something would turn up. Sometimes she felt
like rushing into the shop and demanding
some shoes of those provoking shop-men who
would set up the daintiest ones In the window
right before her eyes.
But the dress rehearsal came and absolutely
nothing had turned up. And SO Rachel doesn't
she deserve to be called q heroine?) covered up
the ache in her heart, and declared that the
| OH sic tHfft
show a bit. She had never thought they
could look so nice" And then she practiced
slipping the worst one little out of sight in
manner pronounced by all quite easy and
graceful.
But the boys and girls were every one severe
critics. Poor Rachel! She had not thought il
would be SO difficult to wear only cambria.
And then all the butterfly girls right on the
front seat, where they must stare straight at
her feet! She stammered and hesitated, and
with the last word left the stage chagrined and
disheartened.
Perhaps Miss Moore saw something of the
need of encouragement. At any rate, she de-
! tanned Rachel with few kindly suggestions
and some whispered words of praise, while the
others rambled on ahead
Isn't it too bad about RachePs shoes?" asked
the taller girl
Eyes When we had set out to make thi:
5 exhibition so perfect, TO have one of our best
/ speakers wear such shoes!"
at just spoils her speaking" added another
5 just the least bit spitefully, because she had
t hoped TO be on the programme.
It's bad enough to have cambria dress
: but this is too MUCH" groaned Mabel, in 6
{ grieved tone.
Gust too much" groaned the chorus, even
Blue Ribbons going with the majority.
How much of this Rachel heard nobody
knows. Enough, however, to keep her outside
the house winking and blinking against the
5 tears which would come; enough to make hel
utter a tragic VOW that she would never dis
a grace herself and the school again-never.
t Every well-behaved story must have hero
you know. 1 wonder if it is too late to intro
Y duce mine? Tom Taylor Mabeps brother, i
e you please, who with his cronies had formed
j the rear-guard for the group Of girls. Perhaps
might say that in the Taylor family Tom wa!
: little at discount. His mother had to ac
a knowledge that he never yet had reflected
t credit on his bringing up. Robert, who had
: actually carried off prize at Boston school
> declared that Tom was eyerlastingly backward
. be liked outdoors ever so much better thar
e books / really think he never was known t.
. get through recitation, and as for stage per
: formances, he invariably broke down in dire
:. confusion.
= "Say," he began, when they were safely
. within their own yard, II think you're awfu
mean to Rachel"
Now, Tom, you don't know anything abou
v our plans"