The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-02-19
THN aLnYE SHOE AND COUsIN M

THE GLOVE SHOP AND COUSIN AMY
"Why, Anna Marshall, what in thu
world are you doing?"
"Just what you see, Maud. I'm taking
my books home"
''But why are you doing it? Vacation
is long way Off"
mot for me-" was Annals laughing
response.
"Oh, Anna, you're the W rst girl fol
surprises that ever knew. What's "
now? Are you going awayP'
Eyes, as far as the shop"
mot honestly?" said Maud.
Eyes, honestly. I'm tired Of school; |
want to earn some money"
but your father. Did he say you
might?" knowing well Mr.. Marshall
ambition for his only daughter.
',Oh, papa wants me to be line
scholar, but like pretty clothes better
| than geometry and Latin. He'll send
me to any school or college | choose;
but, dear me! the money would all so
for school bills, and | should have to
wear dowdy clothes like Harriet Latimer,
and rm not going to. I've been teasing
papa for silk dress, and he says I'm too
young, so now I'm going to earn one for
IA don't see what you want of silk
dress, Anna, You always have pretty
Clothes"
"Oh, i should love to rustic into church
in silk. And then may visit in New YORK
this winter. Cousin Amy is at home
now.n
The girls had left the school-house and
were walking up the shady street OF
little village, whose one industry was
the making of gloves and mittens. As
they separated at Maud's gate, she said,
Good by, Anna. can't help thinking
you're awfully silly"
Much obliged for yOnr opinion"
shouted Anna, and she went on alone.
1t was the dream of Maud's life to
have a college education, but her mother
was poor widow, and after this year,
Maud would have to work in the shop.
What wouldn't she give for Annie's
chance?'
1t must have been the law of contraries
which gave Anna such an inordinate love
of dress. 1t was great trial to her
parents, and, as they saw this love be-
coming passion in their only daughter.
they resolved to send her away to school,
trusting that broader views of life would
come to her with q complete change OF
surroundings.
When Anna declared herself wholly
unwilling to go. saying that she would
rather work in the shop, they wisely
concluded to let her have her own way
70 time, and await results. Perhaps in
me school of experience she would learn
some useful lessons.
1t was not that the thought of having
their daughter Join the army of wage
arners hurt their pride, for they con
SlGered no honest work ignoble; but to
ave her deliberately choose triiies, in
, cad of high opportunities, revealed II
,rrinus weakness of character.
Working in the shop in Gloyetown
did ot mean the social Ostracism that 1t
lncs in many places; and although
Annals appearance in Van Aliens &. Owe
snop caused quite stir and good deal
Jl gossip, she was neither pretticr nor
more ladyhke than many of her cOmpan-
ions at the sewing machines.
In spite of the fact that the machines
were run by steam power, Anna found
vnc work hard enough, and, as the days
ind weeks went by, she more than once
egretted her folly and would have been
dad to 90 back to her books, but she
said nothing.
With her first earning she bought the
| ,ilk dI eSs; but rustliug into church dld
,ot give hor all the enjoyment she had
xpected. Indeed, after working SO
hard, she began to think there might bt
some wiser WY of spending mo e..
She was relieved when, at the end of
he month, the shop was closed for the
annual inventory; and. without confess
ing her mistake, she bid goodbye to
he noi work-room.
Just at that time letter came from
er cousin Amy, saying that she mao
ucen visiting friends in the West, and
planned to spend day or two III Glove
town on her way home. She added that
she should expect Anna to 60 to New
York with her and sta at least month.
Anna was delighted and began to plan
| or some new dresses.
When Amy came, she brought with
| Ier trunkful of beautiful clothes. She
| vas several years older older than
| Anna, her parents were wealthy,
nd she had been away from home sew
.ral weeks.
Anna thought the dresses so lovely
lat she wanted to have her friends sec
the display.
But AMY would not listen to this. In
| Iced, she apologizcd for having so many
| hings. II had to have tlem,' she said,
"hecause | was visiting so long; and
| With only one trunk, of course ! had to
bring them here"
| Anna remembered her own vanity in
.lways calling IN "the girls whenever
he had anOthing new, and parading
lbout till they had admired it to hel
satisfaction. She wondered how 50
prety girl as Amy could care so little
about clothes, and concluded it was be
.ause she had graduated at Vassar
She thought it a shame that the girls
couldn't have even glimpse OF the
hings. perhaps she'll go TO churcl
twice ON Sunday, then they can SET
wO nf the prettiest," was her menta
comment.
But when church-time came Sunday
morning, Amy appeared in dark clotl
suit
"Oh, Amy exclaimed Anna, you arC
not going to wear that, are your
"Why not, Anna? It's what I've worn
to church everywhere else"
'Oh, wanted the girls to see some OF
your lovely clothes, and this is their only
Nance"
sorry" said Amy, smiling, ''bu
mamma always has me dress plainly fol
;hurch She says poor people are some
times kept away just because they fee
,habby by the sides of silks and velvets
know | should feel so if | were poor
and want people to go to church.
don't want to keep them away"
For the first time in her life Anna fel
.idiculously overdressed. Amys words
<ept running through her head. Sh'
could think of people even in Glovetowl
who stayed from church because the!
aid they could not dress well enough t.
20; but she had never cared before. She
cased to wonder what the girls wer'
linking of Amy's quiet gown, and won
dered instead what Amy must think o
her gaudy attire. 90,
Whatever Amy thought, she did no
show that she noticed 1t, and nothing
more was said on the subject.
But Anna had learned lesson whicl
do one else had been able 20 teach her
and her months visit to Amy's beautiful
home served to enforce it. She saw tina
girls could have handsome clothes with
nut caring very much about them. Sh'
/ .,,,l A nv aud lar. ftinttIg t1llgpl