The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-08-03

the money eff you'll promise to let me
know when you want to get your
dress So Philury said she would, an
father settled up with old Hopkins.
Twas wallh did, for, as was saying,
it was the aidge of the hard times, and
when them come there want no lux
uries going for anybuddy but the rich.
Father didn't see the time that he had
fifteen dollars by him that want due
somewhere; an You may be sure
Philury never limited of black silk.
An she didn't try TO earn it, either.
We all put our shoulders to the
wheel to live and pay up and buy good,
decent clothes, which was all that we
could do.
wall, got married after awhile,
an Philury stayed with father an
mother till they died. They didn't
leave no great-an' Ephraim come in
for his share an / for mine, an it left
Philury with Jest the house an garding
spot. But after she'd got everything
all Strengthened out, says she to me:
Lily, would you think was silly if
1 bought me black silk? silly ST,
mo, l should think you was silly if
you didn't, seeing you've always want.
ed one.' WALL says she, I've got the
money laid up, an thought I'd buy
one If you didn't think it would be silly,
an me an old maid
II never see her look SO pretty as she
did that minute, when she called her.
self an old maid; her skin was SO
kinder pink and her eyes SO shiny
a-thinking about that silk dress,
s'pose it was. But she didn't git it.
didn't see her for most n week, and
when / went over who should see
setting in the corner of the kitchen
knitting, as big as life, bat old Granny
Lucas, knitting and nodding to me.
and a-saying: I've come to live here
with Philury.' What dooz this meanT
says to Philury, when found her up
chamber; whats old Mis- Lucas here
for? An pom that Philury set down on
the bed and pulled me down beside her
and begun to cry. Don't scold,' says
she, i couldn't help it. The poor soul
come to my door Sunday night, the
sca'test thing you ever see, cos she said
they was going to take her to the
county farm, and she thought mebbe
I'd let her stay with me. She's some
relation of mothers, Lily says PHI
Jury. 'Fiftieth cousin, says l, kinder
short. Wall, come over to see your
black silk. l didn't see it laying
round nowhere, SO s'pose it's cut and
made up an hanging in the closet
'Lizy,' says Philury, looking as
'shamed as could be, i don't b'lieve
shall git one jest yit; had to buy a
few things for granny, her shoes was
all out, and she hadn't on warm fan
nels.' felt jest like giving Philury
good shaking, and telling her, the
same time, that she was saint on
earth. But l didn't do neither. I
went right on home, and Philury never
knew how worked up / was.
THAT was Almost ten years ago.
You know how Philury kept and
done for Granny Lucas long as she
lived. set up with her nights and
tended of 'er days till l wonder her
feet didn't drop off sometimes.
When she died, / says to Philury,
81: Now. if l was you, I'd git me a
good rich black silk; I'd trim it with
lace and I'd have it nice.' why don't
you have one?' says she. Il don't want
it, ST. "A good wool is all / ever
could "a had one dozens of
times ST, If I'd felt SO; but you al
ways wanted black silk Yes
says Philury, 4 alwuz did, and l be-
lieve 1 will have one.' Now don't
change your mind ST; and 1 went
home thinking of nothing else but
silk. Thinks /, something
will happen to prevent her Citing of
It, jest as they alwuz have, and so
what did / do that very afternoon but |
put Nathan's supper on the table and go
over to Philury and stay right by her till |
I'd put her up to buying it that very
lay. But never, in all my born days,
zee anyone SO nervous as she was. Her |
hands trembled when she tied on her |
ounnit, and more'n once she said, on the |
way to the store: 1t don't seem right |
20 spend SO much money jest on my
'elf. Jest think, it would feed poor
family over a month, and there's SO
much misery in the world but lar
'upped right along, pretending didn't |
lear, and when we got to Harmon's l |
'ays to Mr.. Harmon, ST: My sister
,ere wants to look at your black silk
A good piece? he says. Yes ST, the
pest you've got
"Wall, twas easy after that. Philury
vas perfectly delighted with the piles |
IN piles he spread out of the black,
oft, rich, shiny stuff. I'most made up |
ny mind to buy me one. Wall, Philury |
picked out the thickest, shiniest, soft |
st piece they was, and had it done up
With the trimmings and carried it
Tome. When we got most there she |
urnt round and says to me: Lily, |
Tou hain't no notion of how foolish |
,e, but never was SO happy in all my |
life before, and she looked jest as hap
~ as she said she felt.
II went over and helped sew on it. |
lies .J0nes emf nd fitted IL lint phi1,,rv