Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-01-03
A HARD LESSON.

"But. mamma said Minnie. look
inc grave but determined, Il shall hare
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
I'm 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 will
tear as easily as lace
But I've got to wear it, you see,
said Minnie, with touch OF Impotence
in her voice. "You don't want me to
wear tight clothes, you know
s.And what reason have you found
for wearing that broad, blue sashP'
"Well, mamma, You know it is the
only one that matches nicely with this
dress and these stockings, and things
ought to match
AYES; and why must the stockings
be wOrn?'
so, WE'LL" said Minnie. catching an
end of tie sash and twisting il, Il sup.
pose | could wear other stockings. but
/ thought with my nice new slippers
these would look the prettiest, and
didn't think you would care
docs it seem to you that nice
new slippers that were bought to wear
only in the house, are the proper things
for lawn partiese'
Nom; but l had to put them on.
My boots have the ugGest great nails
sticking into my toes; | could hardly
walk around last night; so, of course, |
had 10 put on the slippers
Very grave looked the mamma. 1t
was sal fact that she had never heard
of the dress that was too tight. or Of the
fearful nails in the high-buttoncd 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
full minute before she decided that her
child needed u 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 tor ar
gument. "you can not wear that dress,
and that sash. and those slippers and
stock ngs, to the lawn party
Now it was Minnie 5 turn to consider.
She looked down and fitted the toes OF
her slippers most carefully into figure
of the carpet.
"Well,' she said ut last. drawing !,
long sigh, and looking rs though the soL
rows OF life sat heavy on her heart, ~
suppose / can 90 and change all INV
things; but | shall be very late. u is
time to 90 now II
Yes" said the mother, her face
most saa "you may change a1l 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 party9n
There i3 nothing for you to wear,
my daughter. / suppose You would
not like to 90 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 had heard OF
this before. | could have altered the
dress and had the boots put in order;
but YOU know You have never said any
thing about it before
Then was Mi1nie's face very red IL
can wear them, mammal she said,
turning away ''They are not very
comfortable. but / can stand it. :"
''No, daughter, can not allow You
to stand IT, You know 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 a
flood of tears! She poured the words
on, very fast Her dress was not too
tight, she i'd not have any trouble to
breathe, and her shoes did not hurt her
but just a speck, and she could wear
them as we'll as not.
'.Minnie." said her mother, breaking
into the midst of this storm of words.
'sThen what have yo'l been telling your
mother?H
Poor little Minnie, 1t was hard
lesson. She went to no lawn party that
afternoon; she sat on the bac&, piazza
in her dark calico dress and thick boots,
and sobbed She had grown SO hsed 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.
I kp~ay Sonte other LITTLE neOnld who