The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-15
WHITE AND YELLOW PAN
TALETS.

was not in the affair myself, but friend
Of mine wac; and she told me all about it.
There was school for little girls kept
by Miss Madison on Cont street. They
paid by the week, twelve cents wee K;
and there was an extra charge for fuel in
the winter. Kate Ames went there, and
jamie Lovett, Lofty Cole, Mary Barry,
and ever SO many more. ALI the little
girls at that time wore pantalets. don't
know what they would have said to see
little girl dressed as they now dress their
own little daughters. Pantalets were the
fashion. They nigh. be fine and white
or they might be strong and serviceable,
made of yellow nankeen, as the taste or
convenience of the mothers indicated.
But the children all played together
happily till one unfortunate day, when
Kate Ames "got mad" at jamie Lovett
because jamie did not help her in the
spelling class. Kate Ames had curls
and blue eyes, was an only child and
rather spoiled at home.
sTm not going to play with girl that
wears yellow pantaletsl' she declared,
pouting, at recess.
"Nor eitherl" exclaimed Addie Page,
who delighted in dissensions.
It was new idea. All the little girls
began to look at each others pantalets.
Those who wore white began to feel q lit
tie nicer and more choice, while those
who wore yellow felt hurt and on their
dignity. A spirit of faction sprang up,
and the whites drew together on one side
of the yard, while the yellows reiterated
proudly to the other. This distinction
separated friends. Mary Barry, who had
always come and gone with Libby Dart,
now felt that, with principle to stand
up for, che must turn her back on her;
and little Nellie Cole shed tears when
her sister pulled her away from Lulu
Waters, and told her she shouldn't think
he'd ssooS TO hang around girls who
ida't want herl
81 don't care" said jamie Lovett, with
q merry laugh. sit don't brighten me
any. 1 guess nankeen's as good as CAM
brio any day"
So she rallied her comrades; and they
got up some games among themselves,
and pretended they were perfectly happy.
The whites got up games, too, or walked
up and down arm in arm, and pretended
that they also were perfectly happy. Miss
Madison, who always set copies in recess,
knew nothing at all Of what was going on.
The feeling grew and grew. 1t was
like the Wars of the Roses on small
scale. At last, the girls who wore white
psntalets and the girls who wore yellow
pantalets would not speak to each other
on the street, even if their mothers were
own cousins.
"Mother," said little Nelly Cole plain
lively, enc day, 81 do wish you'd make
me some white pantalets! I don't like
nankeen."
you'll wear nankeen as long as you
fall down twenty times a day, and have
the washing 20 do" said her mother de.
ciaively.
The little girls who wore yellow psnta.
let's were just as bright and just as nice
as the ones who wore white, and some of
them were even more loveable. But they
we're made to feel shut out and looked
down upon by the others.
"Ifs Just because the whites started
it, said sensible jamie -Lovett. "It had
stood up first, and said, 81 won't play
with single girl who wears white PAN
talets,' then we should be ahead, and
look down upon them
II wish you had" said Lofty Cole.
Il don't care,' said jamie. I'VE are a
nicer number now for games. There
were too many Of us before. Gomez make
ring, and we'll play oats, peas, beans. ;"
sit did seem too bad that scorp, resent
ment, and dislike should creep in among
what had been before such happy band
OF plsymates. Those who had been
friends now passed each other with avert
cd heads. Each felt little pang within,
and each thought the other Hateful"
How long it would have gone on do
not know, bat one day it was rumored
that there was to be new scholar. Mrs.
Noble, who had just moved into the
town from distant city, came in her
carriage to see Miss Madison and arrange
about her little Flossie. There was a
good deal of excitement among the girls
at recess. The "whites" were perfectly
sure she would belong to their party at
once; and the ''nankeens" were independ-
emit, and didn't care if she did.
II saw her at meeting Sunday" said
Kate Ames; "and she had on beautiful
white pantslets, new pattern, and all
embroidered. My mother knows her
mother"
The girls we're properly impressed by
this, and Addie Page said.-
ut isn't likely she's going 10 play with
girls who7 = Here she lowered her voice,
and her mates pressed closer to hear her
whisper. Then the worst hammered one
called out:-