Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5

it with idle hands for another day," said Clara wit

n suit me so well as you, if you have the spirits to do it," answered her mo

ore necessary, plenty of materials; so I'll to

y Clara fell to work with such good-will that even poo

failure I still have you, dear, and no dishonest banker can rob me of my be

ses; for now the first shock and worry is over, I find a curious sort of excitement in being poor and having to work fo

ough a great deal for a tenderly nurtured girl of three-and-twenty. Leaving a luxurious home for two plainly furnished rooms, and trying to sustain her mother wi

so prepare their children to face poverty bravely. If half the sums spent on my music and dress had been used in giving me a single handicraft, what a blessing it wo

usin John's offer and be quite comfortable,"

g on bread and water. Let us try to help ourselves first, and then, if we fail, we

en to any one long." And Mrs. Barlo

y skilfully turning the poor lady's though

ng to your dear, pale face. Take a good look at it, and

er, for though it's not so becoming as pink, it is more appropriate to our fallen fortune

no one sees her but me, and I'm so glad to know that I can make caps well if

a Frenchwoman," said Mrs. Barlow, adding, as she took her cap off, "Don't you remember how offended Madame Pigat was when she

r thoughts were as busy as her hands. Presently she said, "I must go down to our big box for

and cases belonging to Mrs. Barlow, and left th

opping the last lid with a decided bang, she stood a moment looking about the large drawing-room with such brightening eyes it was evident that they saw some invisible beau

t, mamma, I

e you got,-a letter?" crie

d you shall have as many caps as you like. Now don't laugh, but listen; for it is

finery, you know, and now we can live on it instead of wearing it. Yes, I'll make caps and sell t

mother, half bewildered by the eagernes

boxes. Why not take the room below and lay out all our fine things temp

the room, and I could take it for a month, just to try how my plan works

, what will

and lend me a hand, if the

but after much discussion consented to let the trial be made, though predicting ut

plan; then she sent some notes to a dozen friends, modestly inf

g to seem quite cool and gay, though her heart fluttered with

entle mistress who had tended them so faithfully, even when misfortune's frost had nipped her own bright roses. Overhead swung a pair of canaries in the

or pretty Clara's own adornment. Several dainty ball-dresses, imported for the gay winter she had expected to pass, hung over chairs and couch, also

lorid lady, full of the good-will and the real k

and be made pretty without all the world's knowing how we do it." And greeting Clara even more cordially than of old, the good lady trotted about,

s me so much trouble. Put it up for me, dear, at the price mamma paid for it, not a cent less, b

to the head-gear, and fell into raptures over a

e any one else snaps it up. Try it on, lo

of taste, and insisted on wearing blue, with the complexion of a lobster. On

ul color spoils whatever I put on, so I have things handsome, and give up

help being an elegant woman. See, now, how I'll make even this cap becoming." And Clara laid the delicate flowers among the bl

with her own blooming face so full of

w silver-gray satin. Dear me, what a thing taste is!" And Mrs. Tower

te know how to behave; for, though it seemed perfectly natural to be talking over matters of dress with Clara, there was an air of proud humility abo

uld be best for all parties to laugh, and then go on just as we used to do;" which she

dress, and I was green with envy when this came," cried Nellie, se

rying of colors, and I was rash to order it. You are very good, dear Nell, but I won't let yo

ve this, you must invent me the most becoming thing ever seen; for the most effective dress I had last winter was the

now my style," said another young lady, privately re

fect those pale green dresses produced at Alice's wedding. She looked like a lily among its leaves, some

ndolence, but approbation, and the substantial aid that is so

r springs, Clara folded her weary hands content. But Mrs. Barlow saw with anxiety how pale the girl's cheeks had grown,

for the hard times that may come. I shall do very well, but I can't help rememberi

Barlow to forget her own regrets, inspired her with a desire

a plan by which the seemingly impossible became a fact, and Mrs. Barlow had the pl

r summer in or near Paris. I've got commissions enough to pay our way

get Maud's trousseau, all Mrs. Tower's winter costumes, and a long list of smaller commissions from

utumn, ready to take up her pretty trade again, quite unconscious that, while