The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-04-30
Sabbath Clothes.

her aunt, Mrs. North, who Was Vlsltlug
her. "My bonnet did not come home
last night, as the nilliner promised, and
I have nothing to wear"
"Why not wear your old one, one more
Sabbath am sure it is not shabby"
said her aunt.
"My old velvet on this hot Sabbath !
How it would look. couldn't think of
it. Besides, I would't put you to shame
by wearing it beside you in your immac-
ulate spring suit. No, Pm sorry, but I
shall have to let you go to-day with Mr..
Howe and May for escort"
"I'm sorry, too. But, really among
old neighbors and friends, who will
notice, or care if they should notice, that
your milliner has disappointed you7"
"Who, indeed 7; exclaimed Mr.. Howe.
"The fuss you women make over bonnet
or agown is incomprehensible and-ridic.
ulous. What matter is it anyway?
"Come, get on your bonnet, Helen, and
let us co."
"Oh, no! I really can't. 1t is too late
to get ready, too"
/ So the party started without her.
Left at home, Mrs. Howe had sometime
for thinking. She was Christian wo-
man. She really wanted to go to church.
She felt that she needed the strength and
uplift she got at church on Sabbath to
carry her through the week. But she
had been late in getting her spring suit.
The warm days had come before she was
ready for them. For two or three weeks
it had been somewhat of a cross for her
to don the winter garments when she
went out. All nature was in its fresh
attire, and she liked to be in accord.
Her new outfit was now ready except the
bonnet, which mad failed to arrive. This
Sabbath was warm and sunny. Her
winter gear would be out OF place, besides
being decidedly uncomfortable; and how
could she wear the fresh dress and wrap,
and crown them with the old velvet bon.
nett Sne said to herself that she could
not. And then, too, what would Mrs.
Macy and Mrs. True and Mrs. Lewis and
all the rest of them think? Oh, she
couldn't do it.
Nevertheless, her conscience was not
quite at ease as she sat alone and thought.
| A verse which she had read in her morn.
ing chapter, "And why take ye thought
for raiment?" would thrust itself in as
refrain to all her meditations. She had
to admit that she had taken 80 much
thought for her raiment this morning
that she was losing all the blessedness of
the Sabbath's service. After all, what
did it matter to herself or any one else,
if she should wear her old clothes anoth-
er Sabbath? Had she not soul 'that
could rise above clothes7 Suppose Mrs.
Macy or Mrs. True did comment upon it,
would they be likely to remember the
circumstance the next day, or even think
of it again If they should think of it
again, what then? Who would be hurt?
Besides, what would be the influence on
her young daughter, who was already
developing more Of taste for pretty
clothes than for some better things?
Thus she mused until the family return
ed.
At the dinner table the church goers
talked over the service, and Mrs. Howe
could only sit and listen. 1t seeroea to
have been wonderfully suggestive and
stimulating sermon.
II wish you had been there, mamma,
even if you did have to wear your old
bonnet" exclaimed May, who seemed to
have been particularly impressed.
"I wish I had DEAR" replied her moth.
er. "The discomfort of wearing my old
bonnet would have been nothing to the
discomfort of my meditations at home, to
say nothing of the service lost"
That afternoon as the two ladies we're
sitting in the quiet room, Mrs. Howe
said:
"I see, aunt Mary, how inconsistent
my practice was with my profession this
rnornino don't think il will happen
again"
II hope not, dear, for Mays sake as
we'll as your own. I believe in Sunday
clothes;' : in appearing in the Lords
house neatly and suitably clad; still, in
an emergency, if my garments are only
clean and whole and respectable, I should
never think OF staying at home because l
had nothing to wear. remember once
when was q young girl, Mrs. Brown, a
valued friend of mothers, who lived fVe.
or six miles in the country, came into
town one Saturday with her little daugh.
ter to do some shopping, which included,
among other things, the getting of spring
bonnets. It was in the days of sunbon-
nets, and as the sun was warm and the
ride long, both mother and daughter wore
their gingham pasteboard bonnets. They
came to our houses for dinner; but soon
after a terrific storm came up, which
made it impossible for them to do their
errands or to go home, and they remain
ed over night. The next morning moth
or said to me, 4 don't know what 10 do.
Mrs. Browne gets to church so seldom
that she mast 60 to-day, and my old win.
ter bonnet is so shabby that I dislike to
offer it to her. However, she added
after pause, I will do it, for she mast
} co. The offer was made, but Mrs. Brown
I quietly replied, T couldn't think Of
wearing your bonnet and compelling you
| to stay at home, so if you will not mind,
Ellie and will wear our sunbonnets and
, be very thankful for the storm which has
, given US the privilege of going to church
> to-day
tsTba1 want mother and danphter in