Morris tribune., 1895-06-19
Philury, an / shall be turrible glad Of

|
dress So Philury said she would, an
father settled up with old Hopkins
Twas wall he did, for, as ]. was saying
it was the aidge of the hard times, anC
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 a 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, 1 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 1 was silly if
bought me black silk? Silly ST,
no, | 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 Ed buy
one if you didn't think it would be silly,
an me an old maid
81 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, I
s'pose it was. But she didn't git it. I
didn't see her for most a week, and
when l went over who should see
setting in the corner Of the kitchen
knitting, as big as life, but old Granny
Lucas, knitting and nodding to me,
and a-saying: I've come to live here
with Philury.' What dooz this mean?'
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 /, kinder
short. Wall, come over to see Your
black silk. 1 didn't see it laying
round nowhere, so s'pose it's cut and
made up an hanging in the closet
: Lily says Philury, looking as
'shamed as could be, I don't b'lieve I
shall git one jest yit; I had to buy
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 I 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 wonder her
feet didn't drop off sometimes. a
when she died, says to Philury,
81: Now, if 1 was you, I'd git me
good rich black silk; I'd trim it with
ace and I'd have it NICE why don't |
you have one?' says she. I don't want |
t. 81. "A good wool is all I ever
wanted; I could "a had one dozens of
,imes,' ST, if I'd felt so; but you al
ways wanted a black silk Yes
says Philury, I alwuz did, and I be-
ieve l will have one.' Now don't
change your mind ST; and l went
home thinking of nothing else but
ohilury's silk. Thinks /, something |
will happen to prevent her Citing of |
t., jest as they alwuz have, and so
What did I do that very afternoon but
)ut Nathan's supper ON the table and go
'ver to Philury and stay right by her till
ID put her up to buying it that very
lay. But never, in all my born days,
zee anyone so nervous as she was. Her
lands trembled when she tied on her
,unnit, and more'n once she said, on the
way to the store: 1t don't seem right
o spend so much money jest on my
elf. Jest think, it would feed poor
amily over month, and there's SO
much misery in the world but I lar
upped right along, pretending didn't
lear, and when we got to Harmon's Il
avs to Mr.. Harmon, ST: My sister
lere wants to look at your black silk
A good piece?' he says. Yes ST, the
'est you've got.
''Wall, twas easy after that. Philury
vas perfectly delighted with the piles
N piles he spread out of the black,
oft, rich, shiny stuff. I'most made up
ny mind to buy me one. Wall, Philury
licked out the thickest, shiniest, soft
st piece they was, and had it done up
With the trimmings and carried it
ONE. When we got most there she
urnt round and says to me: Lily,
GU hain't no notion of how foolish /
e, but never was SO happy in all my
lfe before, and she looked jest as hap
" as she said she felt.
81 went over and helped sew on it.
Iiss Jones cut and fitted it, but Philury
nd made it. 1t set like glove, and
'hilury looked splendid in it. But be-
ore we finished it she began to fail up.
see it, and Miss Jones see; and
'hilury told me the day we finished 1t
hat she didn't b'lieve she should ever
rear it. You will ST, for I'll put it
n to YOU myself, and make you 90 To