The Somerset reporter., 1889-03-21
SELECTED.
THE BRocADEp SLIPPER.

great, dim garnet, where the air was
sweet with mingled odors from drying
herbs hung from its ancient raftcrs The
sunset light family penetrated the dusty
space, glancing here aud there upon bit
OF glowing color in some quaint gown
that, Imply pendent, retained not curve
of the form it draped in times gone by.
Beneath the caves, where foor and
rafters all but met, leaned rows of faded
portraits in dull, furnished frames. The
painted eyes rested on quaint old cradle,
tattered books, discarded dolls, a sled, a
battered rocking horse, drum-forgot-
ten things that spoke of many genera
tions that had been born and lived and
died beneath that roof
There was noise upon the stairs, the
click of dainty modern heels. and "A group
of pretty girls invaded the garnet. seeking
amusement from its treasures, The dust
llew from the lids 4. trunks and boxes
whose contents-stiff brocades, clingnu
muslins. homespun gowns and curious
fabrics, still breathing of the Orient,
whence they came-eXcited the amaze
ment and delight of the girls
At last the leader of the party dragged
from dusky corner a small, much-worn
trunk, covered with horse-hlde and stud
ded with brass nails. There was a tan
talzing rustic of wrappngs from within,
but the trunk resisted every effort at
opening it.
at must be locked" cried Dolly, hot
and GREATNESS.
"tIow provoking :" exclaimed Nell II
wonder where's the key
''What key, dear" asked voice from
behind the door, where stood new-com-
er.
"Oh grandma? Do please open this
for US" cried the girls, seizing upon the
little lady, who nothing 10th, produced a
bunch of keys and seated herself before
the old trunk
There was a breathless pause as she
lifted the lid and took from its wrappngs
a marvellous gown of old brocade The
of admiration.
1t was of beautiful rose color, with
tints of tlue and other gorgeous huts that
blended in the harmony only produced by
subtle weavers of the East. Threads of
gold, outlining flower here and there,
glttercd bravery in the lamplight a.
grandma smiled over it.
WAS it yours, grandmamma?" asked
Dolly.
'Yes, dear" she answered, absentlv,
ptHuinS W NJ IL Suidii UON libll blit
trunk.
.'Oh tell us all about when you wore
il" begged Nell "Im sure it has a story"
"Yes, it has, said grandmamma,
thouohtfully, and have cause to remem-
Der it,"
The girls seated themselves on trunks
and boxes, and looked at her in delighted
expectation, for her stories were raie and
much priced. Holding her hands upon
the box she began:
'My life in this old house was quietly |
happy; until | was nineteen years old
there was no story to tell of it. The rail |
road was not then built, aud people trav
elled by stage coach or stayed at home |
Houses were few and scattered. A fam
lily whom will call Burton (lcst you rec
ughize them too SOON were our nearest
neighbors, though half a mile distant. |
Sally and Polly Burton were near my own
age and were my very dear friends.
.On my eighteenth birthday | received
this brocade as present from my god
father. He was a sea-captain, and had
brought this from the East on his last
voyage. 1t was considered wonderfully
beautiful even there, SO you can imagine
what a sensation it caused here.
Mother rightly thought it far too fine
for me, and laid it away in this same lit
tie trunk until should arrive at an age
and dignity to wear it. That time had.
in my opinion, come when, the following
winter, my friend Sally was to he mar
red, and asked me to be one of her four
bridesmaids.
'.Ier hance came of fine old family,
AS she did herself, and scores of relatives
were expected to the wedding, which
promised to be a very grand and brilliant
affair Mother hesitated to have the dress
made, but girls then wore much older
gowns than in these wiser times, so she
finally consented, as | expectation of
her six children | was the only girl, and
was INDUCED accordingly.
"If you would know how | looked,
study Dolly here. | had the same purple
black hair-which could never be kept in
decorous order, so curly was 1.-THE same
pink cheeks and creamy skin But my
ewes were black instead of brown, and
was smaller than She
Eyes, and you had the loveliest hand,
and feet ever seem" cried Fanny, las you
have now"
And I've heard grandpa say that You
were the belle of the county, and there
were many broken heart when you mar
ried him. laughed Nell.
II was a thoughtless girl" sighed
grandmamma, land caused deal of
trouble by ny vanity, as you shall hear,
"Well the dress was made-and very
proud was as, arrayed in it, turned
myself before the great mirror; and when
the dressmaker assured me that no such
face and form had been reflected there
since the DAYS of my great-grsndmother
famous belle and beauty, was almost
content.
"Almost-uot quite. For the gorgeous
gown put to shame any slippers that l
possessed. and nothing would satisfy me
but new pair made of the same material
So next day father rode to T, twenty
miles away, and ordered the slippers of
fashionable shoemaker, my brother
agreeing to call for them the following
week.
but that very night began storm of
snow and sleet which lasted for days, and
the roads were not open for travel until
the day before the wedding. Then
brother John started for T, with a
long list of commissions for both fami-
lies.
John said l, standing at the door.
If you let anything happen to my slippers
I'll never forgive you!
I'm be careful, Fairy; run in : he an
swered. They used to call me Fairy be-
cause was so light and small.
"At noon of the next day l was anx-
iously watching the road, for the wedding
was to be at six o'clock and John had not
returned. But soon saw the sleigh
drive up, and rushed to the kitchen,
where Johu was stamping the snow from
his boots.
"Oh! where are my slippers?" | cried,
tossing over the parcels.
They're there, all right said John.