The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-03-08


.oAsSp SpISyZMES jacket, Miss Flor
NSSAZNlFZNNSS ence; there, right
&7M>/ZWE%EgSS by the windowl
q " 0UV0 W. That barrel-chair
amt so uncomfortable as it looks. I'm
real mortified you should have to wait
when 1 promised it the first thing, but
you see, little Benny Holden is very
low and sat up with him most of the
night, and / suppose 1 slept too long
when lay down in the morning"
''It's q shame for you to do a
stitch" exclaimed Florence, impul-
sively, as she noticed the red, tired
eyes and the pale face. ''Ted doesn't
really need the jacket to-day"
''It's good in you to say that, but
if ii amt the jacket it's something
else; 1 can't afford to lose whole
day" Miss Ferry's needle flew in
and ont of the fine, blue cloth. "Your
little brother'll look real nice in this
suit; he's handsome boy, anyway"
she said.
""How do you like my new gown,
Miss Ferry?" asked Florence.
Miss Ferry looked at the girl. The
brown hair waved about the soft face
the dark eyes sparkled with happy
young life, and the cheeks glowed
with healthfil color. The new dress
was simple, dainty and perfectly
: adapted to the girlish figure.
Its sweet" said Miss Ferry. "It
looks iuselike you"
Florence laughed. edo you know
that's very pretty compliment she
said.
~ suppose, now, it's new-all new
mot made over or anything?" asked
the little seamstress.
"Why, yes," replied Florence,
amused at the question. "Why do
you ask?"
Nothing; only 1 was thinking how
nice that must be. l never had q new
dress in my life."
Florence stared at the small, thin
figure. "What do you mean?' she
said.
"Just tb r, dear. I never had a
whole new dress in my life."
~ never heard of such a thingl"
gasped the girl.
Every likely not, Miss Florence.
Your pa is a rich man and you're his
only daughter. There were eleven of
us, counting the boys, and little
enough to feed and clothe us on. Six
girls, and l the youngest. Dresses
were handed down from one to another
till they were all worn out. My gowns
were mostly made of two or three put
together. The children used to call
me Patchwork Quilt
Il remember one dress in particu-
lar" she went on smilingly. II can
see just how it looked. The skirt was
stripes, the waist was in spots and the
sleeves were kind of lowered all over.
You see, it was made out OF Ellen's
and James and Sarah's. Mother was
real proud Of having made me so neat
and comfortable, but was just mean
enough to be ashamed. It makes me
feel sorry when 1 think how hard
mother worked for us, and we not half
appreciating it,.
Didn't they ever buy you anything
new?" exclaimed Florence. ~ think
they were unkind."
''No, no, dear child! You don't un-
derstand. There wasn't much money
to spend on clothes, can tell you. 1
remember one tires we
called them-that was bought on pur-
pose for me, and 1 was proud as
Pnnch, till it was made up. 1t was
real pretty, white with narrow blue
stripe, but being remnant there was
MT enough to get it all out. So mother
put it on yoke made of piece of
an old dress of hers-dark brown cal
leo with yellow figure. Somehow
they didn't go together very welll'
"But since you've grown up, Miss
Ferry, you must have had new
dresses.
''No, Miss Florence, never. I'm
forty years old, and I've never had q
new dress. You see, Jane got mar
ried and 80 did Sarah. Well, Sarah
died and left me oil her clothes. Her
husband was pretty well off there was
some real good things amongst them.
Then the other three died here at
home, and OF course 1 got all their
things, except what 1 gave to Jane.
Jana has hard time; her husbands
dreadful ailing man. Well, I've been
wearing out the clothes ever since,
and they amt oil worn out yet.
TITS been lucky for me getting all
those clothes-me having so much
sickness and not being able to earn
right along. But once in time I get
real ungrateful, and think it would be
kind Of nice TO have something new
all over-not any scraps or piecinQs.
There, you must think I'm awful com
plainingi"
Complaining, Miss Ferry! But
why don't you buy yourself real
pretty dress without waiting to use up
all those old things?"
mo, dear" said Miss Ferry, gen
tly. II need the money ior-other
things. There's bonnets, too" re-
sumed the little woman, biting OF |
needleiul of twist az guess there are |