Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-04-28
HIS NEW COAT.

'Is it really true, Max, that you are
going to have dinncr-party at the
Grangc2 OF learned gentlemena And
papa is to be invitedW
Fanny Leslie flung her little crochet
cap into the air, and caught it again
with the dcxtcrity of ht-of-hand
performer.
Max Lynfcld, who was sitting on the
.ow stone stile that separated the we'll
kept grounds of the Grange from the
wecdy wilderness Of the Leslie estate,
with a gun balanced on his shoulder,
and gamc-bag slung over his back, nod
ded emphatically.
"All the scientific lights of the conven-
ton are to be invited" said he. "Spcc-
tacles and baldhcads will be at premi,
UNI. Don't you wish yOu were learned
old fudgc--ch, Fan2 OF course, your
governor is to be invited. Don't he
know the most about Egyptology, and
ancient Roman lcttcrings, of any old gen
tlcman in the land2 Isn't Professor Tol-
maine especially anxious to make his ac,
quaintancc2 And isn't Doctor Lebrur
going to bring, in his waistcoat pocket,
slab Of stone Clipped off from the nose
of some Assyrian statue or other for him
to identify? What are you looking SC
sober about! Jealous because you CAM
make out the company, chl Pm sorry
for you, Fanny; but you had no business
to be woman"
'It isn't that" said Fanny, with ludi
crous solemnity. "What day is the din
ner to be, MAXI"
"Thc seventeenth. Just two wcek'
from to-day. But l say, Fan, what arr
you in such Il hurry for?'
'It's almost sundown," said Miss Les
lie, gathering her scarf about her should
ers in a hurried way. "And hav,
wasted ever so much time here already
Good-by, MaXw
eyes; but say Fanny"
The only response to his appeal wa
the light, quick sound of the girls foot
steps, as she fitted away over the carpet
of autumn leaves that covered the path
into the yellow mist of the October after
noon.
"What pretty girl that s." Max Lyn
field murmured to himself. "IIer eyes arr
exactly the color of a hazclnut, and she ha
got the sweetest little sugar-plum of
mouth that ever bchcld. But | dom
see why she need be in such q hurry"
And he disconsolatcly picked up tn
game-bag which he had unbucklcd from
his shoulder, and strobe away, whistling
Meanwhile, Fanny Leslie had spec
to the dreary, old-fashioncd stone house
blotched with mildcw and full Of spec
tral silence, where old Mr.. Leslie sat
specialized and absorbed, among hi.
books, and Alma, the eldest daughter
was in the kitchen making damson pud
ding for dinner.
She looked up as Fanny came flying in
~ thought you never were coming
Fam" said she. "Did you bring th'
powdered sugarl'
"lIerc it is" Fanny flung little pa
per on the table. "But oh, Alma! tn
dinner-porty at the Grange is to be o.
the seventeenth, and papa Is to be one o
the invited guestsm
Alma Leslie paused in her task 0
sprinkling snowy sugar over the crushed
purple damsons in the plate.
ooh, Fanny" said she. "But o
course he can't go. He has no coat fit t
be seen at dinner-party in Colonel Lyn
fields house."
"Alma, he must 60"
GLOW Can he, Fanny"
SIT will be such treat for him, Alma
to meet those scientific gentlemen, an,
get glimpse Of the world he has so lon
left behind him. pleaded Fanny. 'W
must manage it somehow"
Alma knitted her black brows together
GLOW much money is there in III
drawer, FAM" she asked, abruptly.
"don't quite know fifteen dollars,
think"
"All this proves the impossibility {
our fine dinncr-party, FAM" said Almi
Struggling her shoulders. "Fftccn do
lars would just about purchase the clot
for new coat"
Fanny looked gravely at her sister.
"Well," said she, "that is all | wan
give me the cloth, and I'll make til
coat"
"Wbat nonsense, Fanny"
at isn't nonsense at all"
"You make a broadcloth coatm
"NNhy shouldn't I? Didn't ! make
cloth ulster TO. myself, and make it nic
tool"
"But you are not n tailor"
"l'll be a tailorcss, which is st
good"
"You have no pattern, Fan"
II can rip papas old coat apart nm
get the pattern from that, Alma. Whc
is itl Is he wearing it now?"
'lIe has got on that old dressing gov
Of his, ~ said Alma.
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