The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-06
GJhildrem's Column.
A Girl in Blue.

ner A dress with train, and she only
sixteen Only two years and few
months older than am How would Il
look in a train? l 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 gar
net silk trimmed with white lace Think
of me in my old blue flannel 1t is every
thing have to wear ! don't see why
there should be such difference between
cousins wish Helen had staid in New
York. Why she wanted to come to the
country in the winter is more than / can
understand. She isn't homesick a bit.
just believe I'll stay at home tonight
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 pota-
toes and her thoughts to the discourage
ments around her. At last she spoke some
of them aloud:
Mother, 1 don't believe I'll go to-
night after all.
Not go to Hates Christmas party /
Why, what has happened? Is the child
sick ?"
Nom, I'm not sick only discour-
aged. don't want to go and wear that
old blue dress, and that the truth. l
shall look different from any of the
others, and seeing me with Helen will
make everybody notice it more"
My child, Helens father is worth
million, and your father isn't worth
thousand dollars besides what it takes to
support his family"
'' | know it, ma'a 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
something besides the steam that pulled
out of the pudding dish made her eyes
moist. Carrie split large potato saw
agely in two and looked gloomy. Then
the mother said, speaking low:
Won't you dissappoint good many
people tonight, daughter? Isn't Kate
depending on you to help with the char
AIDES and the music p
"I can't help it, mother. People
mustn't depend on me. Most every girl
but me has new dress for tonight, and
l can't be going there just to help other
people have good time, when I know
shall be feeling mortified all the even
ing"
Cant you Why, daughter, even
Christ pleased not himself"
After that not another word was said
IN that kitchen for nearly an hour. Car
RE finished the potatoes and ran away
Where she went or what she did mother
did not know; but when she came to set
the table her face was pleasant to look
at, and she stopped on her way to the
pantry to kiss her mother.
I'm going, mother; and Ill have as
nice time as 1 can, and not grumble
bit
She looked very pretty in her blue
dress with 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 a
difference.
1t was a sort of family Christmas
gathering, to which the city aunts and
uncles and cousins had come; and there
were some elegant dresses there, and |
Carrie in her old blue one did really |
feel very much alone. Yet she went
cheerily through the evening, helping
with the charades and the music, help
ing 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 accompaniments for others to
sing.
Later in the evening there was a whis-
pering between two of the city cousins,
and presently it became known that Mr..
Ames, who was Uncle Towards college
friend, was a wonderful singer, and
would entertain the company if anybody
could be found who would play for him.
1 wish he would sing The Storm
King for us" said Aunt Alice ait is
the most wonderful thing I would like
to have mother hear it. Helen, couldn't
you play for him ?"
81 No, indeed his music is all
awfully hard, and he is awfully partic.
ular; and that piece l don't know, any
way"
But Aunt Alice was determined that
her mother should hear The Storm
King She talked with Mr.. Ames, and
then she moved among the guests trying
to find one who was willing to play the
accompaniment. Not cousin could be
found they were all afraid of the great
singer and the difficult looking muse c.
At last the girl in the blue dress grew