Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-27
THE PORCELAIN BUTTONS.
BY II. T. COMSTOCK.


This is story of grandmother when she
was little girl. 1t turned out just like a
fairy tale where the not-too- good princess
gets her just reward from the hand Of
godmother who had not forgotten that she
was a girl herself once. / am going to tell
the story Just as grandmother told 1t to
me.
THE STORY.
I'm afraid 1 was rather a naughty girl.
but Aunt Priscilla forgave me, and we both
got as much good from the porcelain but
tons that she loved the story as we'll as l.
When my father and mother went out
west to live they left me with my aunt so
thar could 60 to school and be spared the
hardship of the western pioneer days
Aunt Priscilla was a good woman. Out
stern one and she had to learn to under
stand children, because she had almost
forgotten her own childhood. She thought
me proud and too fond OF dress. coliss
plain and took every occasion to comfort
me by quoting that handsome Is as hand,
some does" and that If were good need
not complain for after all beauty was but
skin deep" After such remarks l always
went promptly to my mirror, and the snll-
ing girl there said. What II beauty Is but
skin deep? That's plenty deep enough!
NV best friend at school was Dorothy
Marvin. the saure's daughter. She was as
humble as l was proud. and far. far
Drettier: but we loved each other deeply
and promised by crossing our hearts 10
prove our love until death parted us
one day l ran home from school quite
excited.
AUNT Priscilla" cried. Dorothy is go
ing to have "a party. 1t Is such a Joke her
grandmother is coming home from Europe
She has never seen Dorothy, and she wants
Dorothy's mother to have party or girls
there the day she arrives. and she Is going
to guess which Is Dorothy.
THAT sounds just like her" laughed
Aunt Priscilla.
"Did you know her?' l asked.
I'VE were girls together" the laugh left
my aunt's face. That was her ia.he eio 3
in those days, and she was poor but the
wheel of fortune turned l became poor,
lonely woman; she went away married
a rich man and probably forgot me. Ina aa
WAS long long ago. But when we were
girls we were extremely fond OF each other'
Just like Dorothy and me- ASKED
feeling more loving toward Aunt Priscilla
Il suppose so. Wren the squire came 10
his mothers old home it seemed as II ne
had brought my old-time playmate back
to me His little Dorothy is very much ike
her grandmother. l guess the old lady VIII
not have much trouble in finding her KIN
from among all you girls
"Ohi Aunt Priscilla. 1t sounds just IKE
a story" cried. land auntie. may rave
q new dress? Dorothy is going to have a
IF you think l am going to try and ape
the fashions OF the rich you are very mucn
mistaken Margaret. l Will dress you APP
propr.ately and with that you must be
content, sternly spoke my aunt: Good
manners are more important than fine
clothes" IT,. 49,.
go beautifully together"
DO not be impertinent. my dear. fro"n-
wei. the day of the party arrived. I
knew Aunt Priscilla was making me
dress. but I dared not ask any questions,
and she sewed when I was not around.
We children were all to meet at the
sauire's at o'clock. and Dorothys grand
mother was to arrive at 5. In the mean
time we were, to play games and have
good time generally.
The day Of days was Saturday. and school
at that time held a session Saturday morn
ing. and glad enough were we to get the
half holiday.
I ran home from school that day almost
feverish with excitement
Margaret, your dress is on the spare
room bed" Aunt Priscilla said
Upstairs l ran. flung open the sacredly
closed blinds, and let in flood OF sun
light. There lay the party gown! 1 gasped
in dsmay 1t was only pink muslin!
swallowed the disappointment and bravely
acknowledged that the shade OF pink was