Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-09-20
WHICH WAS RIGHT?
Two Ways Of Putting Old Things
to Use.
BY FLORENCE II. EALLowELL.

When Mrs. Arden, after an absence
Of ten years, found herself again in the
town in which her girlhood had been
passed, she experienced a delight so
Keen as to be almost pain. Family
cares had kept her in her own home,
many miles distant, and year after year
had rolled by, and she had not been
able to pay that visit to her sister Esther
tor which Esther was always entreating
III her letters.
But she was in the old home at last,
and, though the place had changed
greatly since she had left it as bride,
Tom and Esther, her brother and sister,
were unchanged-in manner, at least,
though both had married, Toms we'd
ding having taken place only two years
previous.
You are to stay with me for your
whole visit, Lizzie-understand that"
Esther said, as Tom having gone, she
showed her sister to the well-ordered
s're,' eh"n'her o' her trim, cosy house.
You won't want to stay with Grace. for
you don't know her, and would find it
dull enough with Tom away nearly all
the time. You know he can afford to
keep only one clerk, and so he almost
lives at the store"
Il hope will like Grace" said Mrs.
Arden. "You have never said much
aboat her in your letters"
"N-no," answered Mrs. Fame, hest
tatingly. II don't say that I approve of
her altogether. Still, we get on we'll
enough"
But in what way do you disapprove
of her?"
We'll, I think she ought to help
Tom more than she does. But we can't
talk it over now. Wait till tomorrow
and I'll tell you oil about it, and I
know you'll feel just as do"
So the subject was dropped for the
present, and not referred to until the
following morning, when, having made
tour Of inspection over the house, the
sisters were comfortably seated in the
cosy sitting groom, each with piece of
work. Mrs. Arden. having been fur
nished by Esther with yarn, was cro-
cheting an edge for flannel skirt, and
Mrs. Fame was ripping up an old coat.
What a pretty girl Toms wife isl"
said Mrs. Arden, breaking a long
silence. "And Tom seems SO proud OF
her? Did you notice last night how at
tentively he listened whenever she
spole?"
yes: lie is very fond of her." an
sM-cred Mrs. Fame, in reluctant tone.
wish, for his sake. she were not so ex-
5ravagant. y
You said yesterday you would tell
me in what you disapproved of her,
Esther. Does she run Tom into debt ?''
No, no. l don't mean that she is
extravagant in the wovs she spends his
money; but she doesn't know how to
save. She gives away so much that
might be put to good use in her owp
home, and she calls it charity"
And charity should begin at home,
certainly" said Mrs. Arden.
Eyes; but she refuses to be convinced
chat she is wro; G. Now, in telling you
about her, I CAM explain myself better
than 10y taki-g up my own case, ego
tistical as 1t may appear. You know
when l married Mr.. Fame he was in
very narrow circumstances, and [ made
up my mind to make the most of every
thing. 1 learned how to turn I'LL sorts
OF old things to account, and I have
not left off doing it now that our cir
eumstances have improved. Every rug
III this house, except the large one in
the parlor, is made of old clothes past
respectable wearing. I have cut,
braided, and sewed them myself, and it
was often very hard work. That
wcrsted stool your feet are resting on
was hood I wore three winters ago.
1t was perfectly good, not moth-hole
in it, but old-fashioned, SO, as Grace
gave me a new one for Christmas
present, 1 used this to cover little
salt box. 1t is pretty, isn't it? Do you
see the cushions on that rocker in the
corner? They were made of an old al
paca dress which was in fair condition,
but hardly worth making over. There
was enough to make cushions for both
The back and seat Of the rocker, and
lined them with a piece of cardinal
canton flannel that did duty for several
years as curtain. That comfortable