A Little Girl in Old Boston

cked then when you said Sunday, and quite forgot the beautiful significance of the Lord's Day. Aunt Priscilla still believed in the words of the Creation: that the evening and the mor

s came between. Then Mr. Leverett grew "lax" and s

or the poor and all those in trouble. Elizabeth

"While we have time let us do good unto all men; and es

"the household of faith isn'

t, skipping about for the sweetness of it. And she fo

t was best to set Doris at it; but Doris knew her own catechism, and Cousin Winthrop w

works. Betty had strayed off into history. Doris sat beside Uncle Leverett with her arms on his knee, and looked into the fire. What were they doing back in Old Boston? Aunt Elizabeth had already condemned the fairy stories as untrue, and therefore falsehoods, so Doris never mentioned them

t old Miss Arabella with her great high cap and her snowy little curls. Why did Aunt Priscilla think curls wrong? She had a feeling Aunt Elizabeth did not quite approve of hers, but Betty said the Lord curled them in the beginning. How sweet Miss Arabella must have been i

her. How queer to have a secret from Betty that concerned her so much. Of course people did not talk about clothes on Sunday, so there would be no temptation to tell, even if she had a desire, w

thinking of,

one and looked down at the face, which gr

ith a sudden

aid, "and to new Boston. And I h

rned up your face sitting so close by the fire. I

ith ready

y with a yawn. The history of th

rs, and was climbing into bed

some day," she said. "And I just couldn't le

Leverett accompanied them in the morning. He generally went out in the

unt Elizabeth handed her a package addressed t

. "And it is very choice. I can tell by the way it

don't cut it," inter

rapper inside, and this had on it "Miss Betty

tty's exclamation and l

te from Uncle Win that is for you. Oh! o

s a lovely rather dullish blue, such as you see in old china, and sprays of flowers w

nd with him. I was clear amazed. But it's Doris' gift, and bought out of her own money. We looked over ever

l and clasped Do

d let it fall again until she took it out of his hands. "And do come to dinner! There's a potpie made of the cold meat, and it wil

There were tears in Betty's

joined her mother tartly. "And your father won't

-cold meat and warmed-over vegetables. She felt undeniably cross. She had not cordially acquiesced in Betty's going to the party. The best gown she had to wear was her gray cloth, new in the spring. It had been let down in the skirt and trimmed with some wine-colored bands Aunt Priscilla had brought her. It would be a

here was something not quite

And I hope you like our choice. Betty had a blue and white cambric, I think they called it, last summer, and she

lk and laid it on a chair. The dinner came in just

little lull,-"Uncle Winthrop says h

ery devoted

little stranger in his charge, if she isn'

n her-wondering eyes, asking the meaning of this unusual mood. It was unreasonable as well. Elizabeth had a kind

ou and Uncle Win shopping," she

aring and the storm blowing over. But, oh

have been a better judge than ei

ould have chosen the very best there was, fine enough for a wedding gown. But

he chair that held her treasure an admiring glance. "I shall have to s

. If they were all pl

ry often," said Uncle Leverett, "or you will have nothing le

ver ask me to a part

e see-in seven years you will be sixteen. I will save up

suit?" in a pe

enty-one. That wi

gown as well," said his father wi

strike for h

e will see what that brings about. T

And the pie was delicious. Any woman who could make a pie like that, an

with his foot. But the three young people were so enthusiastic about the new

il the little girl's good time

dn't have one until they were married. If I had con

dn't the heart t

efore she is fairly grown. She's too young to understand and she has been brou

was bright and shrewd, smart at his books and good at a barter. He had a little money out at interest alr

ometimes think. He could calculat

little forethought," w

ood head for it. And he will look out for Doris. He is mightily interested in her too. Bu

such a

their affection spoke oftener in deeds than words. In fact, they thought the words betrayed a strand of weakness. "There, I must

Now she folded it again decorously, and began to pile up the cups and plates, half afraid

nd clothed them. And what of the hungry longing soul? All her life she had had a good tender husband. And now, when he had strayed from the faith a little, he seemed dearer and nearer than ever before. God had given her a great deal to be thankful for. Five fin

nt Doris in as

spoons, and I'll follow

h looked up a

not wholly believe what she was saying. "I shall save my scolding for him, and I think Betty

you know," she cried in sweet eagern

n't know as Betty needed a silk gown, for many a girl doesn't have one until sh

re washed and the kitchen set to rights,

etty. "I see some of the clothes are dry. Didn't

does it so well, and she's so needy I thought I would give her all the work. Your father said I had better.

. The dyeing tub was her utter abomination-it too

ed to the ironing. "I don't kno

time," suggested Betty. For a horrible fear had entered her mind that

until I

, n

y were just right to iron. She arranged her tabl

o you think I shall ever be smart like other girls? I feel ashamed sometimes. My figures are just dreadful. Rober

ol three years. Wait unt

able to write a letter to Miss Arabella?

ty loud, and then it wouldn't go a mile.

s the ocean, though no one really dreamed of it

deal, but it is awful hard to lea

rn French. And when you rattle it off

s that,

. "Surprised or anything

as you do English. And then papa being Englis

rseverance will

worked a sampler. Mary Green has a beautiful one, with a border of strawberries arou

atter so much. Begin

od and used one way you have to fly around some other way. I

in," sai

like roses and she was all out of breath. At last

this week. And five is easy enough. Now,

and did quite wel

re worth while, I am to have a book to put them

y worth doing well. I don't know eve

re learned. Doris thought ironing was easier. It fini

s mending," s

rn. I shall not h

darn beau

Betty had a pan of biscuits rising in the warmth of the fire. Then she was allowed to go over to the Morses' and tell Jane the wonderful

" he asked as he took both

ed, and so surprised! Uncle Winthrop, isn

thought much of making anyone happy latterly. Indeed, he believed he had laid all the real joys of life in his wife'

s make one for their father. And he gave her a silver half-dollar with a hole in it, and she put a blue ribbon through it and means to keep it always. But I haven't any father. And I began to read the Bib

everal times through the day h

hard, but she thought Uncle Win might better be careful of the small fortune coming to Doris, since she had

men. And fashions were as eagerly sought for and discussed among the younger people as in more modern times. The old Puritan attire was still in vogue. Not so many years before the Revolution the Royalists' fashions, both English and French, had been adopted. But the cocked hats and scarlet coats, the flowing wigs and embroidered waistcoats, had been swept awa

d to understand what they meant by the Embargo and the Non-Intercourse Act, and she learned they were going to have a new President in March. She did not think politics very interesting-she liked better to hear about the war that had begun more than

and how much cheer there seemed around the Leverett fireside! Warren was a fine young fellow, too, older by two years than his own son. He missed a certain

e short and full, and with a square neck and a flat band, over which

this winter, and she will want it for a bes

o long ends. You can make that any time. And a scant ruffle not more than an inch wide when it is finished. A ruffle round the skirt about two in

te stuff that way," d

d I might have that fine sprigged muslin of hers to make over, and I'm sure I have enough for another gown. Mrs.

e for a new waist and sleeves

ut before another summer. I would save

about them, but they were full of gay promise. Jane cut and basted and fitted. There were the bodice and the sleeves. "You can easil

better. And if you get in the drag I'll come over to-morrow. I'm to help mother with the nut cak

n't know what I should

etty will ever repay yo

r. I am going to quilt my 'Young Man's Ramble' this winter, and mother's said I m

a most intricate design, in which it seeme

of your getting even," said t

n off home. Warren went a short distan

r is rather set against it. But Sister Electa gives dancing parties, an

t letting the ca

work the next morning. Everything went smoothly, and Mrs. Leverett was more interested than she would have believed. And she was qui

f foolishness, and Winthrop Adams at his time of life ought to have had more sense, but what could you expect of a man always browsing over books! And if she had thought Betty was dying for a silk frock, she had two la

the neck and sleeves?

lace," answered Betty. "The other g

ways wanted me to dress well when we were first married. We went out

some beautiful English thread lace about four inches wide, just as it had lain away for years

ck," said her mother. "Somethin

law. Mrs. Manning's little daughter had been born at eight that morning, and Mary wan

that before she went; and if Betty couldn't get along she must ask Aunt Priscilla to come, just as if Betty had not kept house a whole week last summer. There

er," said Mr. Leverett; "I will