The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-18
HIS NEW CLOTHES.
DY ROSE TERRY COOKE.

= Dear mel what more could do2 1t
was just impossible to buy new ones,
and I had done all 1 could to these; it is
so hard to mend up mans outside
clothes. I can-I did-patch fannels
till they are real crazy quilt. am
quite proud of my patching, and Fred's
fannels were all over tiny squares and
triangIes; in fact, all sorts Of shapes,
nut on with such fine cat-stitching, he
said it was real work of art; and as
for his stockings, they were as good as
new, with those beautiful German darns
that dear Mrs. Watson taught me to
make; but when you come to patching
pantalooDs, and then darning down the
outside, it will show; and the buttons
fairly pull out of the fabric before the
thread gives way, so there are more
patches; and the lining all rags, and the
pockets worn Throughout! The coat
gets so shiny, too, and I'd like to know
what will help thata I did put on lit
tile shoe -blacking in one spot, but it only
made smudge; so I was glad it was put
on the under part of the sleeve, where it
would never show. Then those coat but
:tonsl f hate to put them Oh, for you
must either rip the coat to pieces or sew
through where it shows so. I was afraid
TO rip his, lest the stuff should fall to
pieces if once it came off the stiffening
and the lining. The vest was all rags
behind, but I put new back in some
how, nobody could see how, and I was
glad of that, for I had no machine to
stitch the seams.
80 did not know what to do. We are
SO poor; yet Fred was clerk in bank
and must look decent, and it was be-
cause of nay long illness We were behind
HAND. Doctor and nurse and medicine
do cost so! But Fred did not care if
he only had me back, he said, and it was
just chance-nc, good Providence
that he did. And Isuppose I should
have felt just so about him. Still you
. can see how we have to be SO very
economical now.
.: Well, I went over one day to Mrs.
Arkwright's to cut out some work for the
Goodwill Society. We work altogether
for home missions, and there's always
clothing of all kinds wanted. Just now
we were going to fill barrel for mis-
sionary out in Oregon, who had six chill
dren and the rheumatism. His wife had
sciatica, and had to stay in bed most Of
the time. Poor things! they must be
kept warm, and wewere goingtc &c cut over
:fannels for all the children.
While 1 was cutting and contriving,
Mrs. Arkwright, who had gone out of
the room few minutes before, came
back with large buudle in her arms.
81 want to consult you about some
thing, my DEAR" she said. in her kindest
way. "You know We were going to
send Mr.. Peters Q suit of clothes; now
here is suit of the Colonels that is
nearly new. He sent to his New York
tailor to make him a good thick suit of
mixed goods as quick as possible, for he
was going on Mr.. Alezander's yacht for
q weeks sail, and be trusted Jacobs to
to choose the cloth, for there was such
haste. When it came you ought to have
!. seen the Colonel's facel He had to wear
it, but he never will again. He has
made 1t ovei to me to give away. Now
how do you think it would do for our
6arrel9 1t is very good cloth"
So it was. Colonel Arkwright was so
rich he did not need to wear common
or cheap things. But goodness! the
ground of the stuff was dark gray, and
it was closely plaidcd with a hair-line
stripe, bright scarlet one way and white
the other. No wonder the Colonel
never put it on in Foxcroft!
"But, Mrs. Arkwright," said, ''yol
we're not at the last Goodwill meeting,
and so you did not hear Mrs. Pe,ers's
letter. Miss Black wrote out for meas
,ures for the minister's clothes, and it is
well she did, for it seems he's large
man-tall and stout. Now Colonel Ark
wright is just about my husbands size. u
" As I said that, an idea came into my
head just as quick as fash.
''That is too bad," said Mrs. Ark
wright, thoughtfully.
81 put my idea aside for minute anc
.zaid, II should think they would sell a
n second hand store"
Mrs. Arkwright laughed. "Th
Colonel would not hear of that. No
Imust wait till somebody needs them"
Then my idea got the better of me
"Why," I said, very slowly, eff yo'
don't know of any one, 1 think I know
of poor man who would be very glat
of them"
. "Who is hel" she said.
swell, I don't think I can tell you
because he is very respectable person
.-Mnd it would shock him to wear clothe
e. ivcn him in charity. But I know hi
life, and I think she could get him tt
wear them if gave them to her. The!
could be dyed, you know"
Was that lie2 Of course you know
meant Fred, but she never thought o
it. Oh, how 1 did Wish afterwacd hac
told her all about it'll
i.Its no matter at all," she said; I"
really ought not to have asked you. 1
was only a passing impulse. Do TAX
dnem, Gear Mrs. Tarher, W tue poo
fellows wife. I am so sorry for people
who are poor aud proud. I'll send then
round to your house this evening. I Dc
hope she'll have them dyed, for then tn
Colonel will never see them again.
tell him he is just like a turkcy-tha
red exaspcrates him so"
BY this time was breathlcss. What hat
I done2 Could ever make Fread veal
them if they were dycd' Woolen goods