Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-12-05
JULIA'S GOWN
BY CHARLOTTE 7. SMITH.


Fine gowns were not plentiful IN
the King 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 mp late at night
finishing on some garment; while the
best clothes were usually adorned with
a touch Of embroidery done wonder
fully well by Julia herself
On the juniors deyolved 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 be
no costly inery for her and sometimes
she went TO sleep with a vet handker-
chief under her pillow. after spend
ing the evening helping her mother
make the little pink gown q 15-cent
muslin.
Il was during one Of these evenings
when Julia had been telling her moth
er Of the wonderful gowns the seniors
were having made that she suddenly
asked wistfully:
do you suppose 1 can have q silk
dress When l graduate. mother?'
"Dearie," said Mrs. King sharply, as
though something had hurt her-in
fact. Julia thought she must have
pricked her fnger-''I only wish
might promise It 10 you, but can't
Julia was silent. Her mother sewed
steadily for a little while, then threw
her work aside and impulsively drew
the girls dark head 70 her shoulder.
do you think I don't realize how
much you want it, Why. grille the
dream Of my foolish old head for years
has been 70 possess q lustrous DARK
blue taffeta. You didn't know your
mother was such a goose, did you
There rHn along 10 bed"
A feA days later she went into the
kitchen where Mrs. King her tired
face flushed with heat. was busiiy
canning rhubarb A sudden though.
popped into Julia's mind.
Mother she exclaimed You
know Aunt Bee said yesterday we
might have al the Wild berries We
were willing 10 PICK. There are straw
berries, blueherries and blackberries .
in those old pastures. oh. mother, 1
DO you suppose you could spare me
part Of the time 10 60 out there TO
pick some TO sell? Seems 10 ne
might 70, enough TO buy-ihat Is. 70
have-oh / DO want To have a nice
dress when I graduate"
Mrs.. King snapped q cover onto an
other can. spare you3 Yes. ma am,
she said briefly And Julia. I heard
Doctor Dustins wife sag yesterday
she would pay girl wei to stay with
The children evenings for she likes 20
ride with the doctor
That vary afternoon Julia saw Mrs.
Dustin and made arrangements 10 10
her helper four evenings q week
through july and August
Then began a busy time for the
girl.
So the months sped by until il was
really time 10 purchase the material
for the dreamed-Of gown.
4 wish you were going 10 have =
new dress, marmee,~ said Julia in
pulsively one day. as Mrs. King was
mending a little rent in the well-worn
but spo1less gray dress
oh. well, dear responded her
mother brightly this old gown with
q fresh collar viii do very nicely"
But To Julia's horror a. she passed
her mothers door quietly 4 haif-hour
later. she saw Mrs. King hold The old
gray dress st arms length for a sec
ond. then fling il on the bed and wipe
the running tears from her face
Two hours later Julia bounced into
the house laden with several mysteri-
ous bundles and ran lightly ap TO her
room.
Mother she called ia queer
voice. i wish YOU would come NJ =
minute. I've just bought my dress
and I newer was - happy over any
thing in my life"
\ rather diSpleased lady walked up
stairs aJ this bidding :
Julia" she demonstrated. you 3
ought 10 have had an older person
with you. bnI stopped suddenly when
she saw ihe uiaIeriai Julia was unro'i- =
ns.
Just white veile. sheer and dam
y. To- Dee sure, hur plain white wolfe
ISM if pretty" cooed julia. her
lark ewes beamin~ with mischief.
Il donl understand began M
King i'm q daz,i way.
''lAo yuu understand this. veilet o.