The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-01-12
CHAPTER l-continued.

?
But to return to the Ladies--the par
sonage girls always capitalized the La
dies of their fathers church-"One OF
us should so and help the dear child,
said Mrs. Scott, the president of the
Aids, when they assembled for their
business meeting, help her, and wei
come her, and advise her"
II was thinking of going over" said
one, and another, and several others
"Oh, that will not do at all" said the
president. II think in a case like this
sthe president herself should represent
the society. Therefore, will under
take this duty for you"
But this called forth a storm of pro-
test and it became so clamorOus that it
was unoficially decided to draw cuts
Which was done, and in consequence
of that drawing of cuts, Mrs. Adams
now sat on the front porch of the old
gray parsonage, Cheered by the lnowl-
edge that every other Lady of the Aid
was envying her
"Now, just be real sociable and tell
re all about yourself and the Others
too" urged Mrs. Adams. 81 want to
know all about every one of you. Tell
me everything"
"There isn't much to tell" said Pru-
.dence, smiling. "There are five of us;
I am the oldest-I am nineteen. Then
comes Fairy, then the twins, and then
the baby"
"Are the twins boys, or a boy and
.glrl?"
: Neither" said Prudence, "they are
both girls"
"More girls!' gasped Mrs. Adams.
sand the baby?"
"She is a girl, too" And Prudence
laughed. "In short, we are all girls
except father. He couldn't be, of
scourse-or suppose he would, for our
family does seem to run to girls"
prudence is a very nice name for
a minister's daughter" said Mrs. Ad-
iams suggestively.
''Yes-fOr some ministers daugh-
tiers" assented Prudence. "But is sad
ly unsuitable for me-"
Mrs. Adams looked critically at this
young daughter of the parsonage.
Then her eyes wandered down to her
clothes, and fingered, in silent ques-
tlOning, on Prudence's dress. 1t was
a very peculiar color. In fact, it was
no color at all-no named color. Pru-
dence's eyes had followed Mrs. Ad-
ans glance, and she spoke frankly.
Il suppose you're wondering if this |
dress is any color! Well, l think 1t |
really Is, but it isn't any of the regu-
lar shades: 1t is my own invention, |
but I've never named it. Fairy grew |
up and out and around, and one day |
when was so nearly out of clothes l
hardly felt / could attend church any
more, she suggested that cut an old
one of hers down for me At first
laughed, and then was insulted. Fairy
is three years younger than l. and
before then she had got my handed
downs. But now the tables were
turned. From that time on Fairys
clothes were cut down for me. l still
feel bitter about it. Fairy is dark, and
dark blues are becoming to her. She
handed down this dress-it was dark
blue then. But l was not wanting a
dark blue, and thought it would be
less recognizable If gave it a con- {
trastlng color. l chose lavender. /
dyed 1t four times, and this was the re-
suit" {
do the twins dress alike?" inquired
Mrs. Adams, when she could control
ler voice. S
eyes - unfortunately for Connie.
they do it on purpose to escape the t
They won't even have +
hair ribbons different. And the result y
$ that poor Connie never gets one 4
lew thing except shoes. She says she 4
annot help thanking the Lord in her \
'rayers that all Of us outwear our p
hoes before we can outgrow them.- il
)onnie is only nine. Fairy is sixteen, Il
nd the twins are thirteen. They are
very clever lot Of girls" Il
"And what are you going to dor" in tt
uired Mrs. Adams, looking with real O
Election at the bright, sweet face. ii
You ought to go to school. You're W
1st girl yourself" pI
Il don't want to go to school," w
Iughed Prudence. "Not any more. In
Ike it, just taking care of father and W
le girls-with Fairy to keep me bal O,
need / read, but do not like to &C
you'll have to get along o,
18th me just the way / am, Mrs. Ad- "C
ms. It's all can do to keep things at
ping now, without spending half the
me dreaming Of big things to do In tn
Ie future" m
Don't you have dreams" gasped
rs. Adams. "Don't you have dreams sh
the future2 Girls in books nova
lys dream" no
Eyes, 1 dream" interrupted Pru- fa
nce,, II dream lots--but it's mostly Of on
hat Fairy and others win do when / sci
t them properly raised. You'n like no