Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-24
The Bluebnd Dress

Ill BlAU nave pAcISy OloS0 W
wear to my party!" Hilda's eyes and
feet danced together Mothers en-
broidery needle had put tiny bluebirds
into the collar and cuffs, and Hilda's
whole face shone with happiness to
match.
I'm Just about sure they all can
come, mother. There'll be Betty and
Madge and Frances and Lucy, that's
four; and Lena and Rebecca and Mad
cline. that makes seven, and I'll make
eight" Mother smiled assent.
"All the girls will have pretty dres-
SEES to wear except Madge," Hilda said
thoughtfully after a minute. mo,
mother. course I haven't really invited
them yet. Just sort of-sort OF let
them know they're going to be fnvit-
ed"
"How about Madge's dress?"
oh, I know what her best dress Is,
because she always wears 1t to Sun.
day school. It's white. but 1t shows
where the tucks are let out. and the
elbows have big darns in 'em. Madge
tries to keep her arms down out OF
sight"
"Madge is such dear little girl"
said mother, "and her face is 50 sweet,
/ think it doesn't really make much
difference what she wears" But moth
er's face was sober, thinking how
much difference It couldn't help max
ing to Madge herself.
Just before Hilda's seven little notes
OF invitations were written, an idea
came to mother. Hilda's face was q
bit sober for moment as she listened.
But, oh mother, my bluebird dress!"
she said.
Eyes, darling, perhaps you wouldn't
want to give that up"
"But perhaps-perhaps this time 1t
wouldn't be all happiness to wear II"
Hilda added softly, because Of Madge.
Yes. mother believe I'd rather do
this other way" She smiled happily
to herself as she sat down to her lit
tie desk and carefully wrote the notes
to the seven little girls.
IT'S my invitation to Hilda's party"
Madge said to her mother, when the
postman put the little square envelope
into her hand
This is what she read
Dear Madge-Please come to my
house next Saturday afternoon at 8
O'Clock. and come dressed up''-Madge
flushed before she turned the page.
How could Hilda ask them to come
dressed up" That meant she would
have to stay home; for what had she
to wear but that old white dress? The
thoughts rushed through her mind In
a whirl Then, as she turned the
page her face cleared. for she read
on" in something old fashioned.
something your mother or your grand.
mother wore when she was a little
girl. if you have tor just anything
that will look old fashioned"
ooh, what fun that will be-" Madge
said to her happily, and her mothers
face frightened just as much. too.
It was one OF the happiest little
parties the girls had ever attended,
and many were the smiles OF passers-
by at the eight little figures playing
on the lawn. Hilda wore high-waist-
ed, very full, sprigged lawn and car
ried a beaded bag that her great
grandmother had carried with pride
seventy years before Some of the
girls wore quaint little bonnets tied
under their chins, and 1T was eurpris-
ing how many pretty little old gowns
had been found in attic trunks in the
different homes; but all agreed that
Madge's was the most interesting OF
ALL for history went with 1t.
at was my great grandmother's
dress when she was eight years DID,"
Madge told them. "She lived with her
father and mother In Minnesota
they We're the first white family In
that part Of the state. One day when
her mother was making bread, she saw
through the cracks OF their long house
a whole row of black eyes looking in
at her 1t was the Indians watching
her. When they knew she saw them
they walked in, and asked for some
thing to eat. She was dreadfully
scared, but she got 1t for them.
They didn't try to hurt her, and one
of them, big chief. picked my~little
great grandmother up on his lap. and
said. She nice girl-she lit'C blue
bird! You see this dress has blue
birds On IT, Madge said. "Tm glad
they kept the dress, so could have
1t to wear today"
I'm glad. too" Hilda said. throwing
her arms around Modge. Its such a
pretty dress and-you know it's blue
birds for happiness"