Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1919-10-16
luLlA'S GOWN
BY CHARLOTTE r. SMITH.

the Ming family. Possibly the fact
that julia was the oldest of eight chill
dren may explain why her clothing
had always been of inferior quality.
Often Mrs. King sat up late at night
finishing on som" garment; while the
best clothes were usually adorned with
touch Of embroidery done wonder,
fully well by Julia herself
On the juniors dcvolved the task of
decorating the town hall for the great
occasion
Then. too, who but the juniors were
to be escort for the graduates And
this meant much talk OF gowns. shoes.
ribbons and gloves.
Julia knew very well there could he
no costly finery for her and sometimes
she went to sleep with a wet handker-
chief under her pillow. after spend
ing the evening helping her mother
make the little pink gown OF lucent
muslin.
III was during one OF these evenings
when Julia had been telling her moth
or of the wonderful gowns the seniors
were having made that she suddenly
asked wistfully:
do you suppose can have a silk
dress when | graduate, mothcr?"
"Dearie." said Mrs. King sharply. as
though something had hurt her--in
fact, Julia thought she must have
prickea her -finger-"l only wish !
might promise II TO you. but can't"
Julia was silent. Her mother sewcd
steadily for little while, then threw
her work aside and impulsively drew
the girls dark head to her shoulder.
"Do you think don't realize how
much you want 1t? Why. grille the
dream of my foolish old head for years
has been to possess II lustrous DARK
blue taffeta. You didn't know your
mother was such goose. did YOU
There. run along to bed"
few days later she went into the
kitchen where Mrs. King. her tired
face flushed with heat, was busily
canning rhubarb. A sudden thought
popped into Julias mind
"Mother!' she exclaimed. "Y0u
know Aunt Bee said yesterday We
might have all the wild berries W.
were willing to pick. There are straw.
berries. hlueberries and blackbcrres
In those old pastures. Oh, mother
do you suppose YOU could spare me
part Of the time to go out there tC
pick some to sell? Seems to me
might get enough to buy--that Is, t,
have--oh, I do want TO have u mic,
dress when l GRADUATED"
Mrs King snapped cover onto an
other can. spare you? Yes, ma 'am
she said briefly. And Julia, hcarf
Doctor Dustins wife say yesterda,
she would pay a girl well to stay Will
the children evenings, for she likes Il
ride with the doctor"
That very afternoon Julia saw Mrs
Dustin and made arrangements to b'
her helper four evenings week
through July and August.
Then began busy time for thu
girl.
So the months sped by until II wa!
really time to purchase the materia
for the dreamed-of gown.
II wish you were going to have 9
new dress, marmee," said Julia i'm
pulsively one day. as Mrs. King wa,
mending little rent In the wel-worr
but spotless gray dress.
"Oh. well. DEAR" responded heI
mother brightly, this old gown with
fresh collar will do very nicely"
But to Julia's horror as she passed
her mothers door quietly half-hOn'
later. she saw Mrs. King hold the old
gray dress at arms length for Sec
ond. then fling 1t on the bed and wipe
the running tears from her face.
Two hours later Julia bounced into
the house laden with several mysteri.
Gus bundles and ran lightly up to her
room.
Mother" she called In queer
voice. Il wish you would come up =
minute. I've Just bought my dress
and never was 10 happy over any.
thing in my life!"
A rather dtspleased lady walked up
stairs at this bidding.
Julia" she demonstrated. you
ought TO have had an older person
with you" but stopped suddenly when
she saw the material Julia was unroll-
ing.
Just a white wolfe. sheer and dam
ty, to be sure. but plain white wolfe.
isn't It pretty" cooe' Julia. her
dark eyes beaming with mischief.
II don't understand" began Mrs.
King in a dazed way.
''Do you understand this?" yelled
her daughter suddenly as she threw q
perfect swirl OF lustrous dark blue tat
feta round the slender figure before
her.
"Do you know. you marmee. that
yau~ are going TO have commence
ment gown for your own sweet self.
and that you are going to graduate
from sacrificing everything to q selfish
daughter? And here Is lace to trim II
with" she raced or recklessly. land
sewing silk and hooks and eyes. and
white kid gloves. And my dress IL to
be n dream for I am going to en-
prOider 1t until II will stand alone for
very pride And oh, you blessed wOm-
an" to the dazed mother who had