The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-21
THE SILK DRESS.

There's Annie Be,donn said Aunt Jane,
looking up from her Hitting as she heard tne
sound of footsteps on the plank walk winch
lay along the front fence. "Poor soul! |
never see her that don't think of that verse
in the Billie which says that "from him that
hath not shall tie taken even that which he
hath, and she sighed deeply.
looked from the window ju in time to
see Annie Bsldon before she turned the
corner of the next street. She was faded,
care-worn looking woman, a little
past middle age, with dark brown hair
TIL, ky sprnakled with gray Her
dress was a rusty black cashmere, her black
shawl was decidedly shabby, and bor Grape
bonnet was shabbier still She looked
neither attractive nor interesting, and
turned from the window AM took up my
crocheting again, remarhing only that "sne
locke. as if she had had her share Of sorrow
Sometimes Think she has had good deal
moro tAan ler share" said Aunt Jane 81
know dozens Of women would have sunk into
the grave under only half as much. And
the best Of it is, sho don't never complain
She's the cheerfullest soul that ever
breathcdn
Does she live near hercn l asked, more
out of politeness than frcm any real interest
in the subject
"No, but she was my rcxt-door neigabor
for twenty Eve years when this was a farm
house. The town lay two miles oil then, and
we never looked 20 see it grow up right to
our very doors. Annie wouldn't be wearm
such shabby clothes if there kalnt been q
mortgage on their place. Size could have
g,Il OF, .,,tft
been free
Tell RIO about her, Aunt Jane, said as
the Old lady paused You'll have plenty OF
time before supper.'
Dear me, child, there isn't much to tell
n maybe the little there is wouldn't prove
very mterestin' TO You. l know Annie looks
shabby N old, n gray now, N not much like
she did thirty years ago. We was girls to
gethor, N he was the prettiest an Gveliest
little ing l ever saw. Her eyes was black
as Goals, N her hair hung in long clrls &
her waist. She had laugh n good word
for everybody, n more beaus than SIZE could
tend to. There was only two Of EN-. thoughr
that she favored at all One was Tom Lay.
t0n--'
"The owner of the Layton mills:" inter-
rupted
Yes; but he didn't own the mills then
H was only superintendent there. N though
he was saviu', industrious young man, uc
one locked to see him get to be a millionaire
But be had good salary, N his father was
well-to-lo, n he was recSoned good match
for Annie. For : while folks thought she'd
marry him; but he want a professor, N
Annie set a deal by her church She allowed
a. q.
went inside Of one she'd be false
to her principles, for the Bible says the
righteous shall not be yoked to the upright
eoua, you know Tom took it real hard al
first. but he didn't bear Annie no i'll Will n.
when 81 married Luther Beldon he sent heI
u handsome present Luther, lie was reai
steady young man, but somehow or other he
didn't have no luck He had q good farm.
but work as he might, he never made nothin'
off it more'n bare Twin, N Annie had to
pinch N screw to keep clothes to their backs.
She was master hand at nanagin', n she
worked like a horse. but year after year
went by n they didnt get no better off
Drought n early frost, N too much rain,
KEEP EN- aller. behindhand, IN Jest wh9l
they was thinkin' they was goin' TO do better
thered Come something that would put en-
back again
Luther be got discouraged, but Annie she
never lost heart. Leastways she never
seemed TO- When they'd come over herein
LGther he'd get to tellin' how crossways
things alters went for him, she'd alters have
something cheerful to say. Shed tell about
it was long lane that had no turnin'; n ii
was alters darkest Jest before the day N
oil,
till Luther he'd get pleasant again n ready
to laugh with her over their troubles
Amt got treasure in my wifef he'd
say. Long as frosts n mildew n floods
don't take her away from me, guess can
get along
They was over here TO take dinner the
day was so I was wearin' fer the first
time new black silk dress which John had
| given ma for birthday present Il was
thick n soft m mighty handsome, N Luther
he didn't seem able t. keep his eyes Oft it
4 wonder when I'll be able to give you q
black silk, Annie, he said, putting his arm
round her as she stood by his chair We've
teen married seven years n | amt been
able to get you nothin better n calico
81 don't need silk says Annie. I've got
all the dresses / can use now
Luther looked at her real steady minute
Then he says sorter SLOW N quiet; For al
that mean to get you one, Annie l want
to zee how you'd look in it,
No bettern | look now in my blue de
la!ne,' says Annie.
Wen see bout that, says Luther. q
| don't cara how hard times are, / mean tc
live till set you black silk dress
~ IL l.
| cock of her if he could; but for all her brave
words ! know she was downright fond Of
pretty things, N it really hurt her to have
! 20 wear old faded dresses, n bonnets five
! years behind the style. But she never said
so, n she'd walk into church Sunday aftel
| Sunday in her old blue delains n yellow
straw bonnet, lookin' as sweet N happy a
if she'd been dressed like a queen
| well, Luther he never came over herr
| after that without he had sons remark {,
make bout my black silk, N he stuck to j
| thai he would give Annie one like it bssort
lie died
| But year after year went by n my sili
was all Wore out n I'd got another, N still
! Armies h7st dress was a cheap delaiuo, nj j
! wasn't cften she could afford to buy even
! paiE OIL 'Jbbpl SlONes 10 cover heF nanuS
| Things hadn't gone better with Luther, n
they had other thing to sorrow for Tran hos
ing their hest horses N cattle n their crop,
| They lost their six children, one after tn
other. Three Of 'em died in one week y
| scarlet fever N ana the others was sickl'
little things m went off in slow coRsump
| ton.
IF it hadn't been that she had to Eee,
| Luther up, believe Annie d have give wa,
many time; but for his sake she didn'tshoy
one half she felt. An she never lost faitl
in the Lord. She said His ways scsmad hur,
but that He knew what was best for her
"Wen time went on, m about five year
ago things seems TO take turn for the bette
with Luther His wheat crop turned on
wei n he sold it TO good profit N be got hi
corr off the bottom lands before the rive
rose, m that was a great help 90 him. Ii
seemed real cheerful. N told john that h
was just beginnin' to enjoy life, N if thing
went we'll he'd soon have the mortage cleare
off the farm. The weather set in cold I
stormy just after Thanksgivin', N on
afternoon was out in the chicken var
shellin' corn 10 the hens IN all muffled up t
my eyes when heard wagon stop at th