The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-06-26
A UNIQUE CHARACTER.
BY MARIAN BRICK.

sey coast. The place originally was mere.
ly fishing hamlet, the inhabitants being
almost exclusively 'longshore men and
their families; but party of summer
tourists CHANGED one day to stumble
upon it, and finding the air salubrious
and the location inviting, they pitched
their tents there for the remainder of the
season. The next year three or four cottages
sprung up as if by magic, and it was our
good fortune to secure one of them for
the summer
The rusticity and seclusion of the place
delighted us. John, whose pen had to
earn our daily bread, was in state of
perpetual self-congratulation. To us
both it was genuine 'find," this snug
harbor, so quaint and primitive, with
nothing to break the stiffness but an &C.
casional toot from fishing steamer But
our paradise had one drawback; there
was no church--services, when there was
anyone to officiate, being held in the
schoolhouse: and in less than fortnight
after we took possession of the cottage
our cook packed her trunk and departed,
declaring that the place was "too hay
tenish for any respectable person to live
in"
In this emergency Ann Dorner was re-
commended to us. Her father, long
shoreman-"honest as the day and pow
erful religious, the neighbors told US
had brought up his family in q small
cabin on the outskirts of the village, and
Ann had never been ten miles from home
She had clean looking sensible face,
with somewhat interpretive eyes. Her
hair, which was pale brown, was brushed
smoothly back from her low, straight
forehead, and hung in loose mass down
her shoulders; while her gown--it was
literally gown, a sort of pre- Mother
Hubbard affair-was dark blue calico,
hanging unbelted from the yoke, and
neither shoe nor stocking graccd her sub
stantial feet.
In every way she was so unlike the
type of servant girl to which we had been
accustomed that hesitated to engage
her. But her honest, sensible face de-
cided me. In time, no doubt, she could
be persuaded to adopt more civilized
toilet.
But Anr, who had been brought up a
Methodist OF the Methodists of the sold
school," had the courage of her convic-
tons, and her ideas on dress were as
fixed as the laws of the Modes and Per-
slams. Like the Goddess of Liberty, she
had but one style of costume, and she
wore it on all occasions. Even on Sun
day she refused to put on shoes and stock
ings. In vain we argued with her on
the improperly of going barefootcd to
church. AIMS firmness remained un-
shaken. At first l thought it was down
right obstinacy, but that was before |
knew Ann. In time found that her
rigid views concerning dress were rooted
in a religious conscientiousness as sensi-
tive and as narrow as that of John
Ward.
'I've got shoes and stockin's, ma am, :
she said, in answer to my offer to advance
the money for the purchase of these arti-
Giles; "but maybe some other folks havn't,
an don't think I've got a right to dress
any better than the poorest person il
the place can afford to, cause if I did
ma'am-don't you see9-they might BE-
discouraged, and say they wouldn't go tc
meetin' unless they could dress as GOOD
as Ann Dorner."
But having learned on careful inquiry
that there was no one in the village sc
poor as to be obliged to go barefooted
we at last persuaded her to put on shoes
After time she consented too, to gathel
her flowing name into braid, and en-
couraged by these concessions, l venturet
to suggest a change in her head gear.
Ann took off her calico sun bonnet anC
surveyed it critically.
''It amt handsome, that's a fact" sh,
admitted; but if amt too proud tt
wear it, ma'am, don't think you ough,
to mind. It's clean and whole, an it
as good as anything ole Mis- Carson cal
afford to wear"
At last, however, she promised that i
l would make her perfectly plan
black bonnet she would wear i. OF
Sundays.
Ruching was being worn for face trim
ming at the time, and having covered
close-fitting frame with black silk, an,
added few loops of black ribbon, I ven
tured to put here and there in the ruche
tiny knot of narrow lavender velvet. An
looked really pleased when she tried
on, and the next morning, catching
glimpse of her as she went out of the gat
wearing the new bonnet, l quite con
graduated myself on my success; but
few moments later, having occasion to g
to the kitchen party, found, laid care
fully together, not only the knots of Law
ender velvet, but every loop and boz
that had decorated the outside of tn
bonnet. Plain as had thought it, sh
had Invested it of everything except tn
ribbons that served for strings
''It looked very nice, ma'am," sh
said, when demonstrated with her, ssbu
it was most too gay for professor.
And no amount of persuasion could in
duce her to have the trimmings put o
again.
Her zeal for plainncss did not confn
itself to her own apparel.
81 rather think, ma am, I'll have to &c
somebody else to do the 1ne ironin',n sh
said to me on Monday.
''But why, Ann9" l asked in surprise
"There are very few starched pieces"
"Yes'm, know it, said Ann; "bu
they're trimmed, an l don't believe i
folks wearin' trimmed things; l don
think it would be right for me to do 'er
up for EN-"
''But don't you think, Ann" said
''that little trimming makes q prctt
finish to ga-mentl"
ooh, it's nice caough to look al
ma'am; I don't deny that, but it's a