Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-04-21
LOVE AND HAIR DYE.

Kcturah was leaning over the pair of
bars which divided the back garden from
the meadow which wound past the ma
pie swamp, up to the lonely sheep pas
turc. Apparently, she was watching a
motherly hcn-turkey conduct her downy
brood through the high timothy-grass;
but inrealty she was wrestling with fate
'It's perfectly ridiculous!" said Kctu
rah. "Thcrc never was in all this world
girl with half as ugly hair as mine. If
it hadn't been for that hair, might have
had the chance of being married half a
dozen times, instead of drudging on here,
with my father scolding because don't
accomplish more housework, and my
stcpmothcr dcmging me with good ad-
vice. Oh, dear, oh, dear l would
pluck it out by the roots, if it would do
any good!"
And she seized the luckless red gold
trcsscs, handful in each grasp, rs if she
fain would have twiched them out of
her head.
"But what very silly thing that
would bc!' said Barbara Decilcr, who
sat on stump of a tree, hulling the rich
garden Strawberries, which she had just
gathered from the sunny beds under the
stone wall. "Why on earth don't you
dye it?'
"Why don't I-whal2' said Keturah,
turning around in sheer amazcmcnt.
"Dyc it," repeated Barbara, popping u
particularly bright ripe sphere of scarlet
into her mouth. "Its what Mrs. PelIcr's
city boardcr did when | was help there
last summer. She was as gray as q bad
ger, Miss Perkins was; and yet her hair
shonc like crows tal-lcathcrs. seen
her putin on the dye once, through the
crack of the door, when | was a-scrub-
bin the hall oil-cloths, and it was as easy
as you please. OF course black dye
won't suit you, but there's plenty Of col
ors would
Kcturah's eyes glistcncd.
ooh, Barbara" said she, edo you think
/ could"
"Think? | don't think nothin' about
it," said Barbara, flinging mildcwcd
berry at squirrel on the fence. '1'm sure
of it. You can get the stuff at Mil &
Twcczcr's. I've seen it many time
in their glass showcases, and
Just at this moment, however, Mrs.
lIitchings, Kcturah's stepmothcr, was
heard shrilly inquiring from the back
door, "whcthcr she was to be KEEP wait
ing all day long, with the preserving
kettle over the fire for them strawber-
riesm
Barbara jumped up and fled. Kcturah
stood still, mcditating over the disclos-
ure that she had just heard.
She went down the path to certain
crystal-clcar spring, into whose depths
she had often gazcd to look for the ira
ditional rings displayed by the fairies to
those who are about to find their true
lovers.
1t was her favoritc mirror, and just at
this period of the sunny, summer day it
was clearer than any sheet of looking
glass.
"lIorrid !" said Kcturah, grimacing at
the coppcr-rcd burnish of her halr re-
hcctcd below.
But just then some languid movement
of the deep, still waters focused the suns
rays in a sort of circle; for q second il
seemed as if ring of gold shone far
down, and then disappeared.
Keturah's eyes sparklcd, and her heart
beat rapidly.
"The fairies wcdding-ring," she
gasped. 81 saw it with my own eyes.
But, of course, nothing will ever come Of
it as long as my hair is such hdcous =
hideous color. l will get it dyedw
And, in her mental consciousness, she
remembered that Harry Boycc, who went
to college with her brother Simeon,
would be there that very week, and that
Harry had once said, "Whot pretty
girl that little Kitty was"
"But, of course, he couldn't have no.
ticcd my hair" thought Keturah, mourn.
fully. at doesn't show so awGully bad
when sit in a corner where it's pretty
dark IT'S thn sunshine that brinrS il