The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-10

| pain WnltO uiCoc, Will lit1iO JULIUS dt
neck and sleeves, white sailor hat,
shining shoes. 1t had looked very
pretty before, but now, beside Flora's
embroidered dress, thin and fine, with
rose colored ribbons on the shoulders
and at the waist, and rose-colored
mitts, it looked very common and
plain indeed.
Flora was an only child. Her
father was able to give her pretty
clothes to her hearts content, while
Jessie's father worked very hard to
keep his family of growing children
neatly clothed and we'll schooled.
Jessie thought of this when she COM
pared the two dresses, for she was a
sensible girl; but the difference
struck her very keenly.
Mamma" she said, while helping
her mother prepare breakfast-"mam-
ma, Flora's dress is lovely. How
shall 1 look beside her, speaking my
piece7 I'll feel so poor and plain"
Il wish, daughter, l could have
given you prettier dress, if you feel
that way. You know it is not the
gown that will be judged. You must
try TO speak SO well that no one will
think of the difference"
"Oh, | never can! I'll be thinking
of that. Flora has such lovely rib
bons! If | only had sash ribbon
for my plain dress!"
al wish you had," was all Mrs.
Halsted said, but she looked very
grave and thoughtful.
Flora is a Kings Daughter. She
might have been more-more consid-
crate, and worn palmer gown. She
knew just what was going to wear"
Perhaps she has not once thought
of it"
"And she has SO many pretty
things, and SO many chances to wear
| them, she could afford to be gener-
Gus. Why
"Dont, daughter. l am sorry. Let
us not talk about what we can't help.
Try to do your best today, and every
| thing will come out right"
Flora dressed after breakfast, and
went down into the sitting room,
where Mrs. Halsted was helping the
younger children dress. She looked
very pretty and dainty in her thin
gown with its rose-colored ribbons
She wore slippers and silk stockings
with rose-colored feather-stitchings.
Even her white sunshade had a rose
colored bow on the curved handle.
"I'm not half through" Jessie said,
buttening her own boots, and glanc
ing at her cousin. ri had to help
mamma"
The baby insisted on taking Flo
ra's white sunshade, SO Mrs. Halsted
advised her to wait in the front room
until the wagon was ready, to keep
peace.
Flora went out on the veranda,
where the warm spring sunshine
twinkled through the honeysuckle
vines, and the air was full of fra
GRANGE. The sitting-room window
was open. Quite accidentally Flora
heard her name spoken in half-angry,
halftearful tones, by Jessie.
II did not think my daughter was
such foolish GIRL" Mrs. Halsted an
swered, gravely. "You make me feel
very sorry, jessie"
"How can | help it," Jessie an
swered. Il do want pretty things.
just like other girls. If l saw two
girls speaking a dialogue, and one
was SO pretty, and the other SO home
ly and poorly dressed, I'd notice it
quick enough-so will everybody
else"
Flora's face under the wide Leg
horn hat grew red. She looked re-
fectively at her slippers and the bow
on her parasol, then suddenly re-
membered her Cousins plain attire.
"The worst of it is" Jessie went on,
modify, "I'll likely be so silly as to
forget my piece, or speak it badly.
But l can't help it, really" she added
in fearful voice.
Mrs Halsted made answer in very
low voice and Flora remembered that
she should not be listening. Tom
came running it at the gate just then.
THE harness strap broke!" he
cried. "That will have to be fixed be-
fore we can get off,"
How long will that take9" Flora
asked.
"Oh, quarter of an hour. "WeI
have to oil it, too, father says. It's
rough road over" he called, disap-