Middletown transcript., 1907-03-23

reasonable am bition, but strange
~ enough, it had always failed OF
qualification. At first, the girl
was told that she was much too
small to need a pocket; later,
when she again began to have
hopes, she was informed that
she was too big-that only little
children wore pockets in their
dresses. When skirts were
made full, they told her that 1t
would be pity to cut into the
cloth merely for the purpose
of making anything SO out-of-date
and so superfuous as a pocket;
and when skirts were gored, the
dressmaker held up her hands in
horror at the mere idea OF
a pocket. So Borinda
reached the seventeenth mile
stone of a pocketless existence
with her modest am mbition un'
gratifed ;but the ambition remain,
ed.
Never mind, sweet-tempered
Dorinda would say, consoling
herself, I'm almost old enough
to make my own clothes, and
when / do make them, I shall
fairly bristle with pockets. I'll
have one in every seam.
Dorinda was a country girl, but
she lived within a hundred miles
of the largest city in her State.
She was in the habit of going to
the city with her mother once a
year; usually in December, for
the purpose of doing the Christ
mas shopping. An accommodate,
ing cousin always entertained
them at her house during their
stay in the city; and, to Dorinda,
this shopping expedition was the
event if the year.
Dorinda, said the girls mother,
one day, shortly before the holi-
days. I don't see how We can
both leave home at once, this time.
I shouldn't think of trusting
Mary Ann with the children, for
of all irresponsible mortals, Mary
Ann is the worst. A two year
old baby would be quite depend
able in any sort Of an emer-
gency--and you know how prone
this family is to emergencies.
What gasped Dorinda. Do
you mean that we'r not to go at
all .? Why, we haven't a thing
for anybody for Christmas, and
it's nearly whole year
One of US must go, said Mrs.
Wells. l don't like to send you
alone; but I'm afraid it's a case
of necessity. this time. I'm al
most sure that Andrew is com
ing down with quinsy-he does
it every year, you know-so of
course I can't leave him. l hav-
en't had time to embroider0any
thing for Christmas, and my
other sewing is all at standstill
for lack of material. l think Ill
write to Cousin Sarah and have
her meet you at the station next
Tuesday.
Oh, how nice =! cried Dorinda,
prancing excitedly. Of course
I'm sorry you can't go too, but l
just love to buy Christmas things
and the shops are just lovely at
this time of the year. It'll seem
strange to go alone, but nothing
could possibly happen to me; I've
been there so many times that I
know my way around like an old
nhabltant. Imust begin to pack
ny things at once, so 1 sha'n't
forget any of them. Oh, I'm so
glad I'm going.
First of all, Dorinda went to
jhe attic to find something in
which to pack a few necessary
for the brief journey.
The attic contained two trunks?
/ suitcase belonging to her elder
brother, and several valises of
escorted sizes and a variety of
shapes. Dorinda looked them
Ill over with a critical eye.
This, said Dorinda, brushing
'he dust from one Of the smaller ;
bags, would be large enough, if
only had pocket. Dear me, I
10 feel the need of one so often.
The little snippy affairs they put
n ones jackets are only an ag-
yraVation. One could carry so
many little necessary articles in
nice large pocket. Of course I !
hall send all the large things l /
'uy home by express; but one
'lWays gathers up such a num-
yer CT tiny parcels when one ,
hops at Christmas time, and /
hey're always such a nuisance ,
o carry.
A moment later, Dorinda
aught sight of well-flled piece ]