Year: 1878

Quite an interested and anxious
group had gathered in Mrs. Wilson S
dressing room one pleasant morning in
June. It consisted of Mrs. Wilson
and her three unmarrie / daughtersand
the subject under such animated and
anxious discussion was how and where
they should open their usual summer
campaign.


1t had always been an interesting z
subject, and, to the maternal element,
attended with considerable anxiety,
but never such matter Of perpleXity
almost amounting to despair as now.


The contents Of the various ward.
robes had been laid out and examined;
silks and musIins, cambrics and lawns
sufficient, it would seem, for dozen
and the two elder Misses Wilson de.
clared with tears in their eyes, that
they had nothing, absolutely nothing,
fit TO wear.


1t is noteworthy with what sur
prising unanmty the two sstersagreed
on this point, who so seldom agreed
on any other.


Mrs. Wilson looked with d.smay
unon the tinery spread out before her
after listening to the above assertion.


I'm sure, my dear, she venturea
to say, some Of them are hardly worn
and with a lite alteration


Now, mamma !! interrupted Belle.
Why will you talk so rilicnlously
Wien you know that there is not a
Ting here but what is wretchealy out
Of style And as to altering anything
it always gives Inc pain in the side
to sew and LIN not going to Saratoga
Ill tagged out, if never 60.


OF course, this settled that. 1t is
little curious what amount Of work
will rag a girl all out, who can dan nee
all night without the slightest incon.
venien.e.


There's one thing certain, said
Lucy, the second daughter, we've got
to have at least one new dress.


4 don't know where its coming
from then, responded Mrs Wilson,
sinking down YEARLY into a chair
1t was as much as | could do to get
your pa to consent to your going at
all. 1t Was two o'clock at night be-
fore lie gave in, and then I verify be-
live it was from pure WEAKNESS and
ability to keep awake any longer.


Mrs. Wilson said this with the air
of a woman determined to perform her
duty at all hazards. and anxious to
obtain credit for the same.


But it seemed to have quite the
contrary effect upon Josie, the young
est daughter, who had not before
spoken, but who now burst forth


I declare, if it isn't sin and a
shame mamma, for you to worry pa
so


Mrs. Wilson cast reproachful look
upon the speaker.


I will say, Josie, that you are the
most ungrateful child l ever saw I'd
like to know how much money I'd get
out of your pa if didn't worry him.
But that's all the thanks get for ly.
ing awake at nights scheming and
planning how to give you a chance to
get settled in life.


I'D thank you for not doing so. |
not going to Saratoga or Long Branch
In the first place know that pa cant
afford it. And then I promised Mary
Crofton that l would visit her this
summer.


Though Mrs. Wilson affected to be
displeased at this announcement, she
was secretly relieved.


Belle and Lucy were very well
suited with this arrangement too
Josie was very handy at furnishing up
and making over, and if she was de-
termined to bury herself in coun-
try farm house she would not need
to do so much OF that for herself and
could therefore devote more time to
them. And so busy did they keep
her during the two weeks that fol-