Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-11-12
A SILK DRESS.

Jane, looking up from her knitting as
she heard the sound of footsteps on the
plank walk which lay along the front
fence. "Poor soul I never see her
that | don't think of that verse in the
Bible which says that from him THAT
hath not shall be taken even that which
he hath,," and she sighed deeply.
/ looked from the window just in
time to see Annie Beldon before she
turned the corner of the next street.
She was faded, careworn looking wo-
man, little past middle age, with
dark. brown hair. thinly sprinkled
with grey. Her dress was rusty
black cashmere, her black shawl was
decidedly shabby, and her Grape bonnet
was shabbier still. She looked neither
attractive nor interesting, and I turn
ed from the window and took up my
crocheting again, remarking only that
''she looked as if she had had her share
OF SORROW"
"Sometimes think she has had a
good deal more than her SHARE" said
Aunt Jane. ST know dozens of women
would have sunk into the grave under
only half as much. And the bes. of il
is, she don't never complain. She's
the cheerfulest soul that ever breath
ed"
"Does she live near here P" / asked
more out Of politeness than from any
real interest In the subject.
"No / but she was my next-door
neighbor for twenty-five years when
this was a farmhouse. The town lay
two miles off then, and we never look.
ed to see it grow up right to our very
doors. Annie wouldn't be wearin'
such shabby clothes IL there hadn't
been q mortgage on their place. She
could have sold every acre at good
profit if it had been free.''
''Tell me about her, Aunt Jane,"
said, as the old lady paused. "You'n
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 iLterestin' to you.
know Annie looks shabby, IN old. m
grey now, 'n' not much like what she
did thirty years ago. We was girls to-
gether, 'n' she was the prettiest m
liyeliest little thing I ever saw. Her
eyes were as black as Goals, m her hair
hung I'm long curls to her waist. She
had silaugh 'n' a good word for every
body, ,'n' more beaux than she could
'tend to. There was only two of 'em,
though, that she favored at all. One
was Tom Layton
"The owner Of Layton Mills ?" I
interrupted.
"Yes but he didn't own the mills
then. He was only superintendent
there. IN though he was savir,' in
dustrions young man, no one looked
to see him get TO be millionaire. But
he had good salary. IN his father was
well-to-do, IN he was reckoned good
match for Annie. For a while folks
thought ..she'd marry him but he
warn't a professor, 'n' Annie set deal
by her church. She allowed lie she mar
ried man who never went aside of
one she'd be false to her principles, for
the Bible says the righteous shall not
be yoked to the unrighteous, you know.
"Tom took 1t real hard at first, but
he didn't bear Annie no i'll will, m
when she married Luther Beldon he
sent her handsome present.
s'Luther, he was really steady
young man, but somehow or other he
didn't have no luck. He had good
farm, but. work as he might, he never
made nothin' off it more'n bare ljviu'
IN Annie had to pinch m screw to
keep clothes to their backs. She was a
master hand at managln,' 'n'she work.
ed like horse. but year after year went
by 'n' they didn't get no better off.
Drought m early frost, 'n' too much
rain KEEP 'em alters behindhand, 'n' jest
when they was goin' TO do better there
would come somethin' that would put
'em bach again.
Luther he got discouraged, but An
ME she never lost heart. Leastways
she never seemed to. When they'd
come over here 'n' Luther he'd get to
tellin'h 'how crossways things alters went
for him, she'd always have somethin'
cheerful to say. She'd tell about it
was long lane that had noturnin,' m
it was alters darkest jest before the day,
m there was always silver linin' to
every cloud, till Luther he'd get pleas
ant again m ready to laugh with her
over their troubles.
'"Ain't / got treasure in my
wife p he'd say. ''Long as frosts 'n'
nildew 'n' foods don't take her away
from me, / guess can get along'"
| "They were over here to take dinner
the day I was thirty. I was .wearin
for the first time new black silk dres:
which John had. given me for birth
day present. 1t was thick m soft IN
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