The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-05-19
SARAH'S ROMANCE.


ted-with the curtain yet undrawn, so
that the tender yellow light of the
February sunset shone in. and the
angles of the room were filled with
shadows. ....
A pretty little room it seemed now.
although it would hardly have borne
the brilliant uncompromising light
OF monday for the carpet was darned
and mended in many a place. and neatly
fashioned rag rugs had been laid skill
fully down to hide the spots which
were past all redemption. The table
cover was faded by many a washing;
the curtains were arranged in folds
which should not betray the rags and
the very mantel ornaments were men,
ded with cement.
10 keep up the outward show and
dignity OF lady upon an income
which would have been insufficient for
a servant is trying to the most cour-
ageous nature; yet this had been Mrs
Aubreys task ever since her husband
died, leaving her with little Sara, a
little child of nine summers. She
had economical in the most painful
degree; she had worn her shabby
dresses until they were ready to drop
off, she had patched her clothes until
There was scarcely shred left of the
original material; she had cut Oft this
luxury and that conaiment from her
poor table until her diet became liter
ally bread and water: and even then
debts grew upon her life like hideous
fungi. Her husband had left her a
tribe but this was carefully reserved
Ter the expenses of her little Sara
However she might pinch and save
and starve, Sara was always comfort
ably clad, and had plenty of good,
wholesome food to eat. But there are
ascore OF shabby-genteel devices by
which reduced ladies can earn q few
dollars and Mrs. Aubrey solicited
copying from the village lawyer. sat
up long after Sara's pretty eyes we're
sealed in slulnber to embroider fine
work for the stores. and even rejoiced
TO get plain sewing to do. at a rate
which was pitifully meager!
1t had been seven years of famine,
but the end Of the long ordeal was APP
preaching at last. Sara was being
trained for teacher and the gradu :
alton day was near at hand-Sara.
who had grown into a tall, lovely girl,
like white lily; with deep violet
eyes reddish brown hair, all inter-
woven with threads of gold. and
cheeks of velvety pink; and MI
Mitchell. the principal, had promised
to use his very best efforts to obtain a
situation for Sarah when she had
graduated; and all seemed couleur de
rose.
And in the winter twilight Sara
had rushed into the ROOM bringing
with her breath of frozen, pine
scented air. and told her mother how
the graduating class were all to be
dressed in white merino and white
silk shirred overskirts and broad
white ribbon sashes.
Not bit OF color about US. nam
ma the girl breathlessly added .ex-
cept the little knots of blue violets we
are to wear at our belts'
Mrs. Aubrey looked aghast.
white merino. dear! With white
silk shirred overskirts! Indeed in
deed Sara as far as you are con.
cerned 1t is quite out of the question:
Mammal" cried out the girl.
MY darling. it would cost TWENTY
five dollars at the very least" urged
Mrs. Aubrey.
No, mamma "pleaded Sara; 'only
twenty. Helen Hazleton says we can
buy the material all in one piece and
get considerable reduction on it;
and you know. mamma, darling. that
you are such a skillful needlewoman
that my dress makers bill will be
nothing.''
but even then, dearest" said Mrs.
Aubrey, where are we to get the
twenty dollarsp'
Pretty Sara burst into tears.
my darling. don't!' pleaded the
mother in whose heart every sparkling
drop fell like the acute prick of a
dagger: Don't break my heart
Sara!. Ishould like to see you as ele-
gantly dressed as any girl in the
school, but you know how poor we
are
And then with her tear vet face hid
Aen on ner mothers shoulder, Sara
sobbed OUT Couldn't I have it,
mamma? Oh. darling mamma couldn'
r" ~, -.-.-
If will do up your old muslin,
dear. sobped the mother. land !
think we can afford some fresh blonde
and the new ribbon sash and" *
''Oh, mamma Interrupted Door
Sara. must wear that old, battered,
shrunken thing. when all the other
girls are in merino and white shirred
.siIk?" @
Dearest what else can we dop''
Mrs. Aubrey could almost have cried
with Sara had she dared to give way
to her feelings
''How wretched it is to be poor!"
sobbed Sara. sitting down on the
hearth rug, with her face in her moth
ser's lap. Mamma, what have we
done that we should be so cramped
and ground down, 80 fettered with
lpoverty?"
1t will not be so always. dear. .
encouraged her mother
NO.. =" said Sara. sadly; Il shall be
q teacher soon. And then, mamma,
Won Sha11 have xu;,,a oo1oroI ,.nS1,