The Little River news., 1919-09-13
JUlIA'S GOWN By CHARLOTTE T. SMITH.

It was in her junior year q. high school that the question of her conl- mencement gown first began to trou ble Julia King.
 Fine gowns were not plentiful in the King family. Possibly the fact that Julia was the oldest of eighi chil- dren may explain why her clothing had always been of inferior quality. Often Mrs. King sat up late d. night finishing off some garment; while the best clothes were usually adorned with touch of embroidery done wonder fully well by Julia herself.
 On the juniors devofved the tas., of decorating the town hall for ;ne great occasion.
 Then, too, who but the juniors were to be escort for the graduates Ard this meant much talk of gowns, shoes, ribbons and gloves.
 Julia knew very well there could De no costly tinery for her and sOmetirue eS she went to sleep with wet handk ar- chief under her pillow, after spen l. ing the evening helping her mother make the little pink gown of l5-cent muslin
 It was during one of these evenings when Julia had been telling her moth CT of the wonderful gowns the seniors were having made that she suddenly asked wistfully:
 Do you suppose I can have silk dress when 1 graduate mother?"
 'Dearie," said Mrs King sharply, as though something had hurt her-in fact, Julia thought she must have pricked her f1nger-~I only wish might promise it to you, but I can't
 Julia was silent, Her mother sewes steadily for little while, then threw her work aside and impulsively drew the girls dark head to her shoulder
 Do you think 1 don't realize how much you want it? Why, girlie the dream of my foolish old head for years has been to possess lustrous dar'i blue taffeta. You didn't know you, mother was such goose, did you There run along to bed
 A few days later she went into the kitchen where Mrs King, her tiret face flushed with heat, was busil! canning rhubarb. A sudden though popped into Julia's mind.
 Mother! '" she exclaimed "Yol know Aunt Bee said yesterday v' might have all the wild berries w' were willing to pick. There are strs " berries, blueberries and blackberr;e' a in those old pastures. Oh, moth9r do You suppose you could spare m' part of the time to go out there t' pick some to sell? Seems to me might get enough to buy-that is, t' have-oh, I do want to have a nic' dress when I gradustss" .1.:ss--Ia. .s::ssss-I
 Mrs King snapped a cover onto an other can. "Spare you? Yes, maam she said briefly. And Julia. l hesr Doctor pustin's wife sss vesstefda: i, she would pay 3 girl well to stay witt the children evening", for she likes t ride with the doctor"
 That very afternoon Julia saw Mrs Dustin and made arrangements to b. her helper four evenings weel through July and August.
 Then began a busy time for thu girl.
 So the months sped by until it wa: really time to purchase the fnateria for the dreamed-of gown.
 q wish you were going to have [ new dress, marmee" said J1lia i'm pulsively one day, as Mrs. Iing wa' mending little rent in the wtll-worr but spotless gray dress.
 "Oh, well, dear" responded he1 mother brightly. this old gown wits fresh collar will do very nicely"
 But to JuIias horror as she passed her mothers door quietly a half-houi later. she saw Mrs. King hold the olt gray dress at arms length for sec ond then fling it on the bed and wipe the running tears from her face.
 Two hours later Julia bounced into the house laden with several mySter ous bundles and ran lightly up to hel room.
 AIDIIltI. Silt tulltu Ill quNCi voice. 'I wish you would come up 2 minute. I've just bought my dreS> and I never was so happy over any thing in my life.'
 A rather displeased lady walked up stairs at thiS bidding.
 "Julia," she remonstrated, '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 voile, sheer and dain- ty. to be sure, but plain white yoile.
 Isn't it pretty eooed Julia, her dark eyes beamins with mischief,
 T don't understand,' began Mrs Kin. in q lnZed MAX