The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-07
REBELLION OF
LUCINDA BOWERS.
BY JOHN WALKER HARRINGTON.
copyright. 1871
copyright. 1871

littla ;ny;to+;o, 40 ~ ,a ra,,o,1;u
arose in her beart -~2.~
a>-.'. ~~-..n ,,,.e said, "I'm going
All the Ohio village of Valley CITY
knew that afternoon that Lucinda
Bowers was buying a new dress, Mar
garet Elton had seen her purchasing
the orgnndie at Dorchester's that morn
ing. Ben Sturgis met Ruth Ames. on
his way home to dinner and told her
inst what kind of paper pattern he had
sold to Lucinda.
Mrs. Benson, who had issued cards
for a lawn party on the following
Thursday, could hardly have been ex-
pected to know who composed ESQ.,
ciety" in Valley CITY. and who was
beyond the pale-thoueh several well
disposed persons, when they heard that
old Sam Bowers daughter had been
invited, would have nut in word in
the right direction had the list been
submitted to them.
"Mrs. Benson means we'll" remarked
Widow Simpkins. "but she iudpes
more by pretty face and A. lively
tongue than by family"
Il should be very grateful" said
Young Mrs. Benson TO Lucinda. "if Won
would help me with the ice cream and
cake at the party next week"
Wherever Lucinda went. If was ex.
pected that she should IDOL, after +ba
comestibles which Valley CITY called
Refreshments" She disnensed Tho
SLAYER" cake at the strawberry and loo
cream sociable: she filed tho oondv
bags at Christmas time. and attended,
To the conmissarv arra oemerts % ,ha
annual Sunday school picpics. Indeed
Lucinda Bowers had been burden
h.earer from her childhood. She paid
~ rent and clothed her brothers and
sisters from the wages which she
earned as a school teacher. She led the
Christian Endcavor meetings when NO.
body else would do so. She famed the
faint spark which stiIl remained In ~
Women's Missionary society. and kent
the sewing circle from disintegratiop.
1t seemed as though Lucinda Bowers
had always been old. As matter of
fact, she was hardly rs. She might
have been pretty If she had given more
time to sleep and less to care and worry
While the whole town was busv dis.
cussng the addition to Lucinda's word-
robe, the young woman was bnsv at
work upon her first new dress in two
years. The organdie was slipned over
an old skirt of blue silk which had h.
longed to her grandmother. A few bits
of lace, a few lines of tucks. a rirdle
of blue silk ribbon, and the dress was /,
done. I
II suppose" remarked Lucinda on
The evening Of the party, as she looked
atsherself critically in the cracked mir. |
Eor Of the old walnut bureau. "that it's
wicked for me to spend this money an
dress when johnny NAV need a new .
pair of shoes before long. wish I
wasn't so rebellious but can't helm a
it," a
The Benson lawn party is still fa- t
nous in the social history of Valley h
City. The ambitious young ma tron who "
gave the entertainment was not content v
with TIL grass plot which surrounded Fl
her own pink cottage. She took the
lawn belonging to her neighbor as well. "
Showers of wild flowers hung from the a
I'D cherry tree in the center Of the
lawn, Chinese lanterns shone from the II
ir tree, and genuine "Rebecca's Well' S,
rave forth the most wonderful lemon W
fortified with the favor it
1 r