Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-12-30
Of All The Glad NeW-Year.

"l've just finished the last page.
JAMIE. And, oh, it's so interesting!
Here it is! Pm sure you'll like it!'
jamie Penfeld, with her blue quilted
hood, and striped shawl, had tapped
at the west window Of the farm house
where Sarah Winwood sat sewing. Sa-
rah had raised the sash instantaneous
ly, and their blooming young faces al
most touched. Sarah was a brunette
with large dark eyes, silky tresses in
clined to curl up at the ends without
any adventitious aid from crimping
pins, and a skin of creamy softness.
Jane, on the contrary, was delicately
fair, with redbrown locks, laughing
blue eyes, and complexion rather in
clined to freckles.
Here they were, two blooming
American girls, ready for anything in
the vast calendar of the future, one of
them factory maid, the other a
dress maker! For in that obscure
corner of the country where nobody
is born with a ready made fortune,
everybody has to work for a living!
II love to read novels" said jamie,
leaning her elbows on the windows sill
her round chin on her hands ooh,
novel;"
Sally's dark eyes lightened into a
sudden radiance,-she held her needle
uplifted in the air.
"Wouldn't it be nice?n cried she,
"Do you know jamie, I've often
dreamed of that. To be an elegant
young lady, and wear silk gowns
every day and have lover who would
die for you if need were, and"
She paused with sigh. Evidently
the thoughts came too fast for her
words to clothe them in verbal shape.
"But it's no use," said jamie. 1--WE
are only grubs, you and 1, Sally. Low
ers don't come to the factory to look
for their sweethearts, and girl who
makes dresses never has any chance.
If we were rich, now-why there's
Miss Monteith, the mill owners eldest
daughter, you know, horrid, stumpy
small eyed little thing not half as de-
cent looking, Sally, as either you or
u, with little laugh of not unpleased
consciousness.
'Well, she's going up to Davenport
to receive New years calls with Mrs.
John Bird and six young ladies, ali to
be in full evening dress, with flowers
in their hair and gaslights overhead!
NJ 10 Il oh
Sally's magnetic eyes glittered once
more.
"Mrs. John Bird!' said she. ooh,
know Della Bird. We sung togeth
er in the church choir that winter L
learned my trade in Davenport. She
is the sweetest girl in the world. She
was just as courteous to me as if [ was
the queens daughter, and"
GA letter for you, Sally Winwood,"
said Bill Fowler, pausing with his
heavy basket of winter apples on his
arm, to sort one epistle out of a mis-
cellaneous drift OF letters, papers, and
circulars-for Bill's route had led him
past the post office that particular day,
and it was a point of honor among
Nibbettstowners to do all they could
in assisting distant neighbors ''to get
the mail" And then he went mis- way
whistling, and Sally eagerly broke
open her letter.
ssIsn't it stranger" she cried out.
"Why, jamie, this letter is from Della
Bird herself-and-an asks me
to go there and pass New Years day
with her. There are to be five other
girls, she says, and they have sent
out cards, and-oh, Janie!"
"Well, after that, I'll never say a
word about living novels" exclaimed
Jane. do believe your chance has
come at last, and if ever girl deserv-
ed it, Sally, you do. But when are
you to go? What are you to wear?
Whereof, goodness gracious, there
is the factory bell! Pm late already.
Good bye, you dear little Miss Hero
ine-don't I wish I was you'll"
And away she scampered down the
snowy road with "Molly Bawn" clasp
ed closely under her arm.
Sarah Winwood rose at once, and
hurried into her back room to look
over her scanty wardrobe.
cts no use?'' she sighed. 81 have
nothing newer or fresher than the dy
ed silk that Miss Myrvia gave me,
made up over an underskirt of dark
blue velveteen that cost so cents per
yard. How on earth am to compete
with Miss Monteith and all those rich
city beauties? For as for asking poor
father to spare any Of the money that
is so hardly earned and so sorely