The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-30
OLD CLOTHES AND NEW
BY FRANK H. SWEET.

BY FRANK
They were all up in Aunt Clara's room,
packing the box, when Jessie Boyd came
in at 1 o'clock to ask Carrie what she was
going TO wear that evening 20 the music
ale. Jessie went upstairs without cere-
mony. She was Carries most intimate
friend
"Oh. there you are" said Carrie, who
was sitting on the foot Of the bed with a
pile Of clothing on her lap. I've been
wondering all afternoon what had be-
come Of you. We're packing the box 10
go TO mothers cousin in West Holden.
Aunt Clara wants"
Where's the bottle of benzlne?' asked
Agnes. interrupting. You had it last
Carrie"
Look on the shelf in my closet" said
Carrie. What are you going 10 do with
the benzine?'
Clean the spots of that tan cloth cape
of mine. I'm ashamed 70 send it as it is
now"
"Oh. you needn't be ashamed 10 send
anything" said Aunt Clara. who was on
her knees before the box, spreading 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 il for themselves" said
Carrie. Here. auntie. hadn't you better
put these old white skirts tn first?'
Seems 10 me. Carrie. you could wear
that white skirt with the rufiies yourself %
remarked Mrs. Brandon, who was pulling
over the contents of a trunk she had
dragged In from the haIl. 1t doesn't look
at all worn"
mo- but it doesn't hang right" re-
joined Carrie, and it's too short Be
Sides l despise a ruffied petticoat"
every we'll" said her mother. in a re-
signed tone. Put 1t in. You and Agnes
are dreadfully eXtravagant / don't won
der that your father complains about ex-
penses."
Here are some old night dresses" said
Mrs. Brandon I intended 10 tear them
up for window clothes, but Rachel might
patch them up
of course she WILL said Aunt Clara,
selling upon the night dresses eagerly.
She thoroughly enjoyed the packing Of
this box. She always declared that no
matter what her faults were, no one
! could accuse her of not being generous.
The trunk yielded. in addition to the
night dress, an old black alpaca skirt
d ]
the front porch had been given a fresh
coat the previous fall; much~worn pair
of shoes, a black straw bonnet which
I had been lying in the tray for ages. %
several pairs OF hose IN sad need of darn
I ing, a gray wrapper damaged By moths.
and a black silk pettieoat the ruffies Of
which were whipped out
You could use that silk for lining d
grenadine, Frances" said Aunt Clara
but I don't expect TO have n grena-
dine this summer" rejoined her sister
"and it seems pity not to put in some
thing decent"
well. if you had been 10 Cousin
Rachels 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, "and 7 vote
we send Cousin Rachel a box every year
It's a good deal better than making bun
dies for the Associated Charities to dis
I tribute. We know just where the things
are going She tossed her aunt a green
suTah waist the seams OF which were
frayed. Il can wear the skirt around
mornings with a percaIe shirtwaist," she
added.
All this time Jessie Boyd had stood
444tA4N ~ 4i4E 4Dpt VI Al4t Dtits lDDh4lE on.
Has your cousin any girls about my
age?' she asked, regarding attentiveIy
the two faced waists which Aunt Clara
was folding together.
Dear me, yes" answered the lady
Alice is just your age, and Stella
year or so younger. Then there are two
little girls of ten and twelve-Amy and
Ruth 1 stopped over in West Holden
for a day in March, on my way home
from Florida, and saw them all. They're
pretty girls, too. particularly Alice !
felt so sorry for them, I don't suppose
Alice ever had pretty gown or bunch
of ribbons in her life"
Then would you mind f-could I
send something?' stammered Jessie. 7
wouldn't want them TO know. of course.
but I have several little things, and"
'Oh. my dear child, yes" Aunt Clara
I'll pack it, No matter how old il is.
they can make use Of it..
Jesse went home at once. In about
twenty minutes she returned with good
sized pasteboard box. with narrow pink
ribbon tied around II. On the cover was
written For Alice"
You re Just IN time: I'm ready to
have Peter nail It up" said Aunt Clara
"Oh. I'm not to see what you're sending.
Now, my dear child, you needn't be
ashamed of it. whatever it is, for they
have so little that anything only hope
Rachel viii appreciate the trouble I've
taken, and she followed Jesse into Car
rie's room.
There, on the bed. lay the gown her
younger niece was to wear to the
musicale. 1t was cream China silk.
trimmed with lace and white ribbon. and
beside i was pair of high-heeled slip
pers Of French kid
You'll wear your new China silk
waist. of course, Jesse. said Carrie, as
her friend glanced toward the bed.
Jesse shook her head. NO. I've de-
cided on my blue organdie. she answered
quietly, and then began to talk Of some
thing else.
They We're opening the box In the
sitting room ar West Holden when Alice
Brent came in, GREATNESS. She was a
slender girl. with soft eyes
Has it Gomez" she cried. How glad
I am ] got here IN time"
Yes, but We weren't going to unpack