The Meridian times., 1917-03-09
CHATTER vI-contInusd.

-~-2--
"oh. had her dressed warmly un
derneath. very warmly indeed" de
clared Prudence. "Isut no matter how
warm you are underneath, you look
cold II you aren't yisIbly prepared FOR
winter weather. kept hoping enough
money would come Ia to buy her a
coat for once In her llfe."
"She has been looking forward to
one long enough" put Ia Fairy. '@This
will be a bitter blow TO her. And yet
II Is not such bad-loolSing coat, after
ALL" And she quickly ran up seam
on the machine.
Here comes Conniel" Prudence
hastily swept pile OF scraps out Of
sight. .sand turned to greet her little
sister with CHEEKY smile.
"Come on IN, Connie" she cried,
with brightness she did not feel.
Fairy and / are making you new
csst. Isn't II pretty7 And so warm
See the nice velvet collar and cuffs.
We want TO flt 1t on you right away,
dear"
Connie picked up piece OF the
goods and examined IL intently.
"Don't you want some fudge. Con-
nlef" exclaimed Fairy, showing the
dish toward her hurriedly.
Connie took piece from the plate,
and thrust II between her teeth. Her
eyes were stIll fastened upon the brown
furry CLOTH
"Where did you get this stuffT" she
inquired. as soon as she was able to
speak.
"out OF the trunk In the garret, Con-
ME. Don't you want some more fudge2
1 put lot OF nuts In, especially on
your account"
"It's good said Connie, taking an
other piece. She examined the cloth
very closely. "Say. Prudence, isn't this
that old brown coat of fathers2'
Fairy showed her chair back from the
machine, and ran to the window.
Look, Prue," she cried. 'Isn't that
Mrs Adams coming this way2 l won
der"
mo 1t isn't" answered Connie
grayely. "It's Just Miss Avery getting
home from school--lsn't II, Prudence?
Fathers coat, meant"
"Yes, Connie, Il Is" said Prudence,
very, very gently. "But no one here
has seen Il, and 1t is such nice cloth
just exactly what girls are wearing
now
"But wanted new coat = Connie
did not cry. She stood looking at Pru-
dence with her wide hurt eyes.
"Oh. Connie, I'm Just as sorry as
you are" cried Prudence, with stnrting
tears. II know just how you feel about
Il dearestl But the people didn't pay
father up last month. Maybe after
Christmas we can get you cont. They
pay up better then"
Il think I'd rather wear my summer
coat until then" said Connie soberly.
"0h. but you can't, dearest. II is too
cold. Won't you be a good girl now.
and not make sister feel badly about
itf II really is becoming to you, and il
Is nice and warm. Take some more
fudge, dear, and run out-of-doors d
while. fou'll feel better about 1t pres.
entity, I'm sure"
Connie stood solemnly beside the
table. her eyes still fastened ON the
coat. cut down from her fathers. "Can
/ go and take walk2" she asked
finally.
May !, you mean," suggested Fairy.
"Yes, may /? Maybe / can reconcile
myself to It."
Eyes, go and take a walk" urged
Prudence promptly. eager to get the
small sober face beyond her range of
vision.
"n ! am not back when the twins
get home. go right on and eat without
me. I'll come back when / get things
Strengthened out in my mind.n
When Connie was quite beyond hear
ing. Prudence dropped her head on the
table and wept. "Oh, Fairy, If the men,
bers just knew how such things hurt.
maybe they'd pay up a little better.
How do they expect parsonage people
to keep up appearances when they
haven't any money?','
"Oh, now, Prue, you're worse than
Connie! There's no use to cry about
1t. Parsonage people have to find hap
piness in spite of fins nciaI misery.
Money isn't the first thing with folks
like u.s."
-Poor little Conniei If she had