The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-08
THE EVENING STOR Y
Old Clothes and New.
(By Frank H. Sweet.)

room, packing the box. when jessie
Boyd came in at o'clock to ask
Carrie what she was going to wear
that evening to the musicale jessie
went upstairs without ceremony. Sne
was Carries most intimate friend.
"Oh, there you are" said Carrie,
who was sitting on the foot of the pea
with a pile of clothing on her lap.
1--WE been wondering all afternoon
what had become of you. We're pack
ing the box to go to mothers cousin
in West Holden. Aunt Clara wants
where's the bottle of benzine 2"
it last. Carrie"
Look on the shelf in my closet"
said Carrie. What are you going to
do with the benzine? ''
'Clean the spots off that tan cloth
cape of mine. I'm ashamed to send
it as it is now"
"Oh, you needn't be ashamed to
send anything" said Aunt Clara, who
was on her knees before the box.
sprea ding some newspapers over the
bottom. 'They are so poor they'll be
glad of everything, no matter how
old. You haven't time to clean off
spots"
"They can do it for themselves"
said Carrie. Here, auntie. hadn't
you better put these old white skirts
IN frst?'
Seems to me. Carrie. you could
wear that white skirt with the ruff1es
=
who was pulling over the contents Of
trunk she had dragged in from the
hall. ut doesn't look at all worm
mo; but it doesn't hang right" re-
Joined Carrie, land it's too short. Be
sides, I despise ruff1ed petticoat."
Very WE'LL said her mother, in
resigned tone. Put it in. You and
Agnes are dreadfully extravagant. I
don't wonder your father complains
about expenses"
Here are some old night dresses"
said Mrs. Brandon. st Intended to
tear them up for window clothes but
Rachel might patch them up"
or course she WILL" said Aunt
cara. selling upon the night dresses
eagerly
She thoroughly enjoyed the pack
ing OF this box. She always declared
that no matter what her faults were,
generous.
The trunk yielded. in addition to the
night dresses, an old black alpaca skirt
which had been spoiled by paint when
the front porch had been given a fresh
coat the previous fall: a much-worn
pair of shoes; a black straw bonnet
which had been lying in the tray for
ages; several pairs of hose in sad need
OF earning; a gray wrapper damaged
py moths, and a black silk petticoat
the ruff1es of which were whipped out
You could use that silk for lining a
grenadine, Frances" said Aunt Clara.
But l don't expect to have a grena-
dine this summer" rejoined her sister
and it seems a pity not to put in some
thing decent"
We'll, if you had been to Cousin
RacheIs, and seen how poor they are"
said Clara, you'd know that ANYTHING
would be acceptable. Rachel has a real
gift for turning and patching, too"
For my part, I'm glad to get rid of
my old Clothes said Carrie, land
vote we send Cousin Rachel a box ev-
making bundles for the Associated
Charities to distribute. We know Just
where the things refgoing." She tossed
her aunt green surah waist, the seams
of which were frayed. II can wear
the skirt around mornings with a per-
Gale shirtwaist," she added.
All this time Jessie Boyd had stood
quietly at the foot of the bed, looking
on.
Has your cousin any girls about my
age?" she asked, regarding attentively
the two faded waists which Aunt Clara
was folding together.
Alice is just your age, and Stella a
year or SO younger. Then there are
two little girls of 10 and 12-Amy and
Ruth. I stopped over in West Holden
from Florida. and saw them ALL They're
pretty girls, too, particularly Alice
felt SO sorry for them. 1 don't sup
pose Alice ever had a pretty gown or
Then would you mind ff-could I
send something's" stammered Jessie. II
want them to know, of course
but have several little things. and
"Oh, my dear, child. yes" Aunt
you choose; I'll pack it. No matter
how old it is, they can make use Of
it,
Jessie went home at once In about
20 minutes she returned with a good
sized pasteboard box, with a narrow
pink ribbon tied around it. On the
cover was written For Alice"
You're just in time; I'm ready to
oh, I'm not to see what you're send
ing. Now, my dear child, you needn't
be ashamed of it. whatever it is. for
they have so little that anything I
only hope Rachel will appreciate tn
trouble I've TAKEN" and she followed
Jessie into Carries room.
There, on the bed, lay the gown her
younger niece was to wear to The
musicale. 1t was a cream China silk, !
trimmed with lace and white ribbon,
and beside, it was d pair of high-heeled |
slippers of French kid.
you'll wear your new China silk
waist, of course. JESSIE said Carrie |
IS her friend glanced toward the bed |
Jessie shook her head. mo, I've de- |
,ided on my blue organdie,' she an
,wered quietly, and then began to talk
If something else.
They were opening the box in the
sitting room at West Holden when
Alice Brent came in, breathless. She
vas a slender girl, with soft eyes.
HAS it conner" she cried. ''TIow
ylad I am 1 got here in time
Yes, but we weren't going to I'M
back it until you came" said Stella.
We just wanted to have it all ready
It's a family treat, to be enjoyed to-
,ether."
Jessie's pasteboard box came out
irst, as it was on top.
Something especially for me-" cried
Alice HEIIow lovely! But won't
pen it until the last. Take out The
'ther things, mother dear"
The other things were taken out One