The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-03-21
miscellaneous.
A Girl i'm Blue.

uclC shC SltS III ucl clCBduL new morning
dress, nothing in the world to do but to
amuse herself; and must stain my hands
pairing potatoes and onions, and don't know
what all for her dinner! A dress with a
train, and she only sixteen! Only two years
and few months older than | am! How
would look in IL train? never expect to
have such an elegant dress as she has on
this minute, and it is only her morning dress
Tonight she will wear that lovely garnet silk
trimmed with white lace. Think of me in
my old blue flannel 1t is everything have
to wear / don't see why there should be
such difference between cousins | wish
Helen had slaid in New York Why she
wanted to come to the country in the winter
is more than l can understand She isn't
homesick bit. l just believe I'll stay at
home to night. Almost all the girls will
wear new dresses and my old one will look
older than ever beside Helen's grand one"
Carrie" called that young lady's mother,
and Carrie went TO the Kitchen
There she gave her hands TO the potatoes
and her thoughts to the discouragements
around her. At last she spoke some of them
aloud.
Mother, I don't think III go to night after
ALL"
Mot go to Rates party. Why, what has
happened? Is the child sick? ?"
Nom, I'm not sick, Pm discouraged
don't want to go and wear that old blue
dress, and that's the truth | shall look diff.
ferent from any of the others, and seeing me
with Helen will make everybody notice it
more"
"My child, Helen's father is worth IL mil.
lion, and your father is not worth thousand
dollars besides what it takes to support his
family"
II know it, ma am I'm not finding fault,
only don't want to go to be looked at,
that's ALL"
The mother looked very sober, and some
thing besides tine steam that pulled out of
the pudding dish made her eyes moist. Car
rie split n large potato in two and looked
gloomy. Then the mother said, speaking
low:
Wont you disappoint a good many peo-
pie tonight, daughter? Isn't Kate depend
ing on you to help her with the charades and
the music"
~ can't help it, mother People must not
depend on me. Most every girl but me has q
new dress for to might, and / can't be going
there just TO help other people have a good
time, when know shall be feeling mortifi-
ed all the evening"
Cant you? Why, daughter, even Christ
pleased not himself"
After that not another word was said in
the kitchen for nearly an hour, Carrie fin
ished the potatoes and ran away. Where
she went and what she did her mother did
not know, but when she came to set the ia
BILE her face was pleasant to look at and she
stopped on her way to the pantry to kiss her
mother.
"Tm going, mother, and I'll have as nice a
time as can and not grumble bit"
She looked very pretty in her blue dress,
18th its deep, low collar and nice ribbons in
her hair. At least her mother thought so,
though when Helen came down in all the
glory of her garnet silk and gold bracelets
there was certainly difference.
1t was a sort of family gathering, to which
the city aunts and uncles had come; and
there were some elegant dresses there, and
Carrie in her blue one did really feel very
much alone. Yet she went chccrfully through
the evening, helping with the charades and
the music, helping in dozen quiet little ways
that nobody knew about, and yet trying to
keep. out of notice as much as possible.
Cousin Helen played and sang, and did
both very nicely, while Carrie only played
Accomplishments for others to sing
Later in the eve ming there was whisper
ing between two OF the city cousins, and pre-
was Uncle Towards college friend was a
wonderful singer, and would entertain the
company if anybody could be found who
would play for him.
II wish lie would sing The Storm King
for u.s." said Aunt Alice, it is the most won
derful thing! l would like to have mother
hear it. Helen, couldn't you play for him ?"
III No, indeed his music is all awfully
hard, and he is awfully particular; and that
piece don't know, anyway"
But Aunt Alice was determined that her
mother should hear 1.-THE Storm King" She
talked with Mr.. Ames, and then she moved
among her guests trying to find one who was
willing to play the accompaniment. Not a
cousin could be found they were all afraid
of the great singer and the difficult looking
music AT last the girl in the blue dress
grew ashamed of herself.
"Aunt Alice, will play it," she said COM
ing out Of her corner.
"You" said Alice in surprise, for Carrie
was one ofthe youngest of The cousins "Do
you know itp"
"No ma'am, don't know 1t, but can play
from the notes
Then did Helen look at Ler young cousin
in respectful establishment.
"Can you play pieces you do not know ?"
she asked her.
"Why yes" said Carrie laughing; If they
are not very hard. ] ought to, have been
taking lessons for three years."
"Well, | have taken lessons for five years
and can't do it,"
Carrie is very faithful with her practic.
ing" said Carries mother.
And Carrie played the accompaniment,
which really was difficult, and played 1t so
well that Mr. Ames, the great singer, told her
lie had never had q player who pleased him
better.
And don't you think she forgot all about
her blue dress, until her attention was called
to il in very strange way.
aShe not only nlays remarkably well aaid