The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-12-31
THE NEW DRESS
BY JULIA A. ROBINSON.

Mamma, I've got to have a new
dress to wear to the lawn party next
week." announced Maude, looking up
from the story she was reading. II
must have a white one. l saw a beauty
at is yesterday-georgette crepe,
with the lovellest lacel l wish you'd
buy 1t for me-"
Her mother hesitated. "Don't you
think you could get along with your
last years dress, dear7"
ooh, mamma I" exclaimed Maude,
"Tve worn that everywhere I've been
this summer. I'm tired of IL; besides,
it's all worn at the sleeves. l couldn't
wear that, and you wouldn't have me,
either"
"But everything costs so much now"
CALCULATED her mother. Couldn't you
manage some way?"
81 don't know how I could get along
without a dress, really, mamma" re-
turned Maude. "You'd want me to look
as well as the other girls. wouldn't
you? Mamie's going to have a new
one, and I'm sure Helen Bates will.
You don't want me to look shabby"
"How much would the new dress
costf" asked Mrs. Pope, weakening.
"Forty dollars-but it's a beauty
It's really worth It,"
The mother sighed. That seemed such
a great price to pay for n dress,
when everything was so dear, and
money was needed to help the soldiers;
but still, she did not like to disappoint
Maude.
Just then Mr.. Pope came in, putting
from the heat, but smiling and good
natured. He was generally in good
humor.
"Dadp exclaimed Maude, mammals
been objecting to my having a new
dress for the lawn party. My old n
is quite shabby. You'd want me to
have a new one, wouldn't you, dad?
You old dearl" She flung her arms
about her fathers neck. She knew he
never could deny her anything when
she coaxed.
"Well, I guess we can raise the
money, grille! but don't choke me-" he
laughed. "We nights well let her have
1t If she wants It," he added. turning to
his wife.
"Oh, you darlingi I" cried Maude, hug
ging him. I'm so happyl I'm going
right over to tell Helen Bates about 1t.
She'll have something beautiful to
wear, / know; but l guess mine'n be
just as pretty as hers. You'll be proud
Of me in my new dress, dad"
Maude, all smiles, ran over to tell
the good news to her friend. She found
Helen sewing on a piece of dotted u
lin. "What are you doing, Helenf" she
asked.
"TTn making nSseif II now dress for
the lawn party" beamed Helen, hold
ing 1t up to view. "SeeI It's nearly
done. I made it all myself; and it cost
just $6.75. Isn't 1t a dear7"
Maude looked at the dress, amazed.
1t was a pretty dress, but so plain, not
a particle of lace, just tiny rufies. 1t
was not like the dresses Helen usually
wore. "Yes, it's very pretty" she fal
tered.
She felt almost ashamed to tell
Helen what her dress was going to
cost. If Helen, one of the richest girls
In town, could wear q dress costing
$6.75. why should she pay $40 for onei
Perhaps mother was right, after all.
"It's really pretty" repeated Maude.
'but-I thought-you'd have some
thing really fine, as you always do.
Papa's going to buy me me-. It's
swell !" she enthused, remembering
the coveted dress. "You usually have
something so much more elaborate
than this"
"Yes." smiled Helen, 'but I'm be-
ginning to think I've been quite fool
ish to spend so much ON dress, espe-
cially now, when so much is needed
for the war. We've been talking 1t
over, m and I. We both wanted
to give all we could to the Red Cross,
and I decided If 1 bought the muslin
and made the dress myself, l should
have almost the entire cost of the
dress to give away-and look just as
well, too. You see, they need so much
for the soldiers over there mamma
and l are saving all we can to help"
This was a new idea to Maude. and
she began to think.
81 suppose 1 could get along with a
cheaper Dress" she admitted. "Papa
would give me the money, and I could
W a part of IT,"
Dol" cried Helen enthusiastically.
Couldn't you make 1t yourself, and
save more7 I'll help you"
"Why, / never made a dress in my
life." confessed Maude. II shouldn't
know how"
"It's quite easy, after you once be-
gin," encouraged Helen. "In show you
how to do 1t. You see, I've got my
hand in," she laughed. "Comel Let's
go downtown and buy the goods and
begin right Off"
For the next week Maude was very
busy, and very happy-happier than
ever before in her life, for she was
doing something to help others. She