A Shawl Story

What I am about to tellyou happencd wiiile Cliarlie, that's my husband, was so feeble. He had, for two years, been unable to attend to business, and we were getting well-nigh discouraged. The little money we had laid by was fast disappearing, and yet our only hope was to go abroad in tlie the spring ; nothing else could save Charlie, Doctor said. IIow I did work that winter! I liad dismissed my only girl and with the childrens' help, managed to get along. No easy task with a sick husband, and three children, Eva only ten, Vinnie eight and Ned not out of dresses. If it had not been for sister Sue who came to spend her vacation with us, I don't know how I should have got through with it. Before that, I had remodelled some of my old dresses for the girls, so that they were quite presentable ; my cloak had descended te Eva and poor Vin was groaning over her little plaid shawl with its ragged fringe, which with Eva's ought to havo been ttarown aside. Little Ned still wore his white sumrner dresses, tlms greatly adding tomy work. Then, too, I did long for an afghan to throw over Charlie as he lay on the lounge, but an unsightly quilt was the best I had for him. After Sue's arrival, things began to look brighter. She had not been long with us, before she said to me. "Come Nell Iets go up-stairs and see what we can flnd," I threw an old brown shawl over my head and started to go when she exclaimed, "Why, Keil! is that old shawl still in existence ï you had tliat before you were married." "Oh, yes !" I replied, 'and I shall take it for an ironing blanket soon, I guess." "No, indeed, you won't! it wi)l make Ned aeaae 'ovely warm dresses, seo, it is doublé %d neither f aded nor worn very badly. i. agreed to the plan, though I should never have thought of such a thing.but for her. Up-stairs we found some scraps of blue and white plaid which we cut crosswise and used to trim one dress with, while the other was brightened with scarlet braid. They were little gems of dresses. Kilt backs, with fancy cuffs, collars and pockets. Ned looked so weet in them too. Therewas a large piece of the shawl left and Sue said, looking up from her cutting, "Now, Nell, l've been thinking what we can do with this, and I'll teil you: I saw such a pretty bretón jacket, the other day, of red flannel trimmed with black velvet. Now, why can't we take this, trim it with blue, and make you a pretty aftemoon rig with your old skirts." I joyfully assented to the proposal and inquired when wonders were to cease. "Not yet, I hope," answered she. Hun girls and bringr both your old shawls, I am in business now, with old shawls for capital and I expectto make a good thing of it too. The plaid shawls washed and pressed, she cut them into a neat little circular for Vin, which, with its pretty pointed hood ornamented with a bright ribbon, made the little woman dance with delight. That plaid, too, proved more than suffïcient, and out of the remnants we fasliioned another little dress for Ned, which we trimmed with srilt-braid and buttons, and when he trudeed up to the lounge to show it, "Little soldier," papa called him. Sue had brought down from my woollen chest two old-fashioned cashmere shawls, and I wondered what marvelous thing she would manufacture from them. "You wait and see," was all I could learn, however, until at last she said: "You see, Nell, my boarding mistress in town has the nicest wrap, which she calis her 'nap-robe.' It is made of two old shawls, like these, which must have belonged to our great grandmother," "Ko indeed! mother herself wore these," I said ; "they are not so very old, only the style has changed so mach." "Well, never mind! we want some wool-wadding and red worsted." These obtained, wre tacked the shawls with red, making little rosettes in each place ind then feather-stitched the edges above the fringe. Charlie was delighted with his naprobe - so light and soft and warm ; and its dull colors set off with scarlet made it quite pretty as well. We somehow struggled through the winter and when spring came went to Europe where Charlie gained health and strength and also a lucrativo position as foreign correspondent to a home paper. I was greatly pleased to be able to send home to Susie a fine India shawl as a bit of return for lier help that dreary winter. Here is the rest of my story in her own words : Dear Sister Nell: I cannot wait any longer though it is now past midnight but must teil you the sequel to our shawl works. Do you remember John Somers. whom you used to cali my boy lover when we lived athoineV Well, he has been to California, got rich and - But I will teil the story as it happened. I went down town shopping the other day, and as it was warm, carried my shawl, (my dear Indian, I cali it) over my arm. After doing a few errands I missed it and a more wretched girl you never saw than I was that evening. Guess my surprise when a gentleman called for me and handing me a bundie said, "That, Miss Susie, is yours I believe." 1 could scarcely believe my eyes when I saw my dear Indian in that bundie, and John, (for it was John Somers) said, "I wish you were as glad to see me, as you are to get your shawl back, Susie, you used to like me years ago, 1 thought ; if I hand't, I shouldn't have come East to iincl you. "But do teil me about the shawl John," said I, einbarrassed enough. "Well," returned he, I was on my w;iy to take the train for your old home, wlien I saw an old applewoman snatch a shawl from a lady's arm, and make off with it. I followed her and took charge of it, finding for my reward your name and address on a bit of tape in the corner. ('Wasn't I glad l marked it T) So here I am, shawl and all, and how will you thank me, little Sue?" said he. Well, I need not say any more only to teil you to come home to an early wedding, at whicli John declares I shall wear that blessed Indian. I am almost blind, having corrected my school exercises and enteitained John, and scribbled this all to-night, so I'll finish witli love to Cfasriie, youiself and the chicks. Your happy Nell. Young ladies, behold how economy and ingenuity meets its reward.