Kitty's Class Day and Other Stories , livre ebook

Pub One Info - Alcott Louisa May

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117 pages

English

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Being forbidden to write anything at present I have collected various waifs and strays to appease the young people who clamor for more, forgetting that mortal brains need rest.

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Short story

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	23 octobre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819900184
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0100€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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PREFACE
B eing forbiddento write anything at present I have collected various waifs andstrays to appease the young people who clamor for more, forgettingthat mortal brains need rest.
As many girls have asked to see what sort of talesJo March wrote at the beginning of her career, I have added "TheBaron's Gloves," as a sample of the romantic rubbish which paid sowell once upon a time. If it shows them what not to write itwill not have been rescued from oblivion in vain.
L. M. ALCOTT.
KITTY'S CLASS DAY
"A stitch in time saves nine." "O Pris, Pris, I'mreally going! Here's the invitation – rough paper – Chapel –spreads – Lyceum Hall – everything splendid; and Jack to take careof me!"
As Kitty burst into the room and performed arapturous pas seul , waving the cards over her head, sisterPriscilla looked up from her work with a smile of satisfaction onher quiet face. "Who invites you, dear?" "Why, Jack, of course, –dear old cousin Jack. Nobody else ever thinks of me, or careswhether I have a bit of pleasure now and then. Isn't he kind?Mayn't I go? and, O Pris, what shall I wear?"
Kitty paused suddenly, as if the last all-importantquestion had a solemnizing effect upon both mind and body. "Why,your white muslin, silk sacque, and new hat, of course," began Priswith an air of surprise. But Kitty broke in impetuously, – "I'llnever wear that old muslin again; it's full of darns, up to myknees, and all out of fashion. So is my sacque; and as for my hat,though it does well enough here, it would be absurd for Class Day.""You don't expect an entirely new suit for this occasion, – doyou?" asked Pris, anxiously. "Yes, I do, and I'll tell you how Imean to get it. I've planned everything; for, though I hardlydreamed of going, I amused myself by thinking how I could manage ifI did get invited." "Let us hear." And Pris took up her workwith an air of resignation. "First, my dress," began Kitty,perching herself on the arm of the sofa, and entering into thesubject with enthusiasm. "I've got the ten dollars grandpa sent me,and with eight of it I'm going to buy Lizzie King's organdiemuslin. She got it in Paris; but her aunt providentially – no,unfortunately – died; so she can't wear it, and wants to get rid ofit. She is bigger than I am, you know; so there is enough for alittle mantle or sacque, for it isn't made up. The skirt is cut offand gored, with a splendid train – " "My dear, you don't mean youare going to wear one of those absurd, new-fashioned dresses?"exclaimed Pris, lifting hands and eyes. "I do! Nothing would induceme to go to Class Day without a train. It's been the desire of myheart to have one, and now I will , if I never have anothergown to my back!" returned Kitty, with immense decision.
Pris shook her head, and said, "Go on!" as ifprepared for any extravagance after that. "We can make itourselves," continued Kitty, "and trim it with the same. It's whitewith blue stripes and daisies in the stripes; the loveliest thingyou ever saw, and can't be got here. So simple, yet distingué, Iknow you'll like it. Next, my bonnet," – here the solemnity ofKitty's face and manner was charming to behold. "I shall make itout of one of my new illusion undersleeves. I've never worn them;and the puffed part will be a plenty for a little fly-away bonnetof the latest style. I've got blue ribbons to tie it with, and haveonly to look up some daisies for the inside. With my extra twodollars I shall buy my gloves, and pay my fares, – and there I am,all complete."
She looked so happy, so pretty, and full of girlishsatisfaction, that sister Pris couldn't bear to disturb the littleplan, much as she disapproved of it. They were poor, and everypenny had to be counted. There were plenty of neighbors to gossipand criticise, and plenty of friends to make disagreeable remarkson any unusual extravagance. Pris saw things with the prudent eyesof thirty, but Kitty with the romantic eyes of seventeen; and theelder sister, in the kindness of her heart, had no wish to saddenlife to those bright young eyes, or deny the child a harmlesspleasure. She sewed thoughtfully for a minute, then looked up,saying, with the smile that always assured Kitty the day was won, –"Get your things together, and we will see what can be done. Butremember, dear, that it is both bad taste and bad economy for poorpeople to try to ape the rich." "You're a perfect angel, Pris; sodon't moralize. I'll run and get the dress, and we'll begin atonce, for there is much to do, and only two days to do it in." AndKitty skipped away, singing "Lauriger Horatius," at the top of hervoice.
Priscilla soon found that the girl's head wascompletely turned by the advice and example of certain fashionableyoung neighbors. It was in vain for Pris to remonstrate and warn."Just this once let me do as others do, and thoroughly enjoymyself." pleaded Kitty; and Pris yielded, saying to herself, "Sheshall have her wish, and if she learns a lesson, neither time normoney will be lost."
So they snipped and sewed, and planned and pieced,going through all the alternations of despair and triumph, worryand satisfaction, which women undergo when a new suit is under way.Company kept coming, for news of Kitty's expedition had flownabroad, and her young friends must just run in to hear about it,and ask what she was going to wear; while Kitty was so glad andproud to tell, and show, and enjoy her little triumph that manyhalf hours were wasted, and the second day found much still todo.
The lovely muslin didn't hold out, and Kittysacrificed the waist to the train, for a train she must have or thewhole thing would be an utter failure. A little sacque was ekedout, however, and when the frills were on, it was "ravishing," asKitty said, with a sigh of mingled delight and fatigue. The goredskirt was a fearful job, as any one who has ever plunged into themysteries will testify; and before the facing, even experiencedPris quailed.
The bonnet also was a trial, for when the lace wason, it was discovered that the ribbons didn't match the dress. Herewas a catastrophe! Kitty frantically rummaged the house, the shops,the stores of her friends, and rummaged in vain. There was no timeto send to the city, and despair was about to fall on Kitty, whenPris rescued her by quietly making one of the small sacrificeswhich were easy to her because her life was spent for others. Someone suggested a strip of blue illusion, – and that could be got;but, alas! Kitty had no money, for the gloves were already bought.Pris heard the lamentations, and giving up fresh ribbons forherself, pulled her sister out of a slough of despond with twoyards of "heavenly tulle." "Now the daisies; and oh, dear me, notone can I find in this poverty-stricken town," sighed Kitty,prinking at the glass, and fervently hoping that nothing wouldhappen to her complexion over night. "I see plenty just like thoseon your dress," answered Pris, nodding toward the meadow full ofyoung whiteweed. "Pris, you're a treasure! I'll wear real ones;they keep well, I know, and are so common I can refresh my bonnetanywhere. It's a splendid idea."
Away rushed Kitty to return with an apron full ofAmerican daisies. A pretty cluster was soon fastened just over theleft-hand frizzle of bright hair, and the little bonnet wascomplete. "Now, Pris, tell me how I look," cried Kitty, as sheswept into the room late that afternoon in full gala costume.
It would have been impossible for the primmest, thesourest, or the most sensible creature in the world to say that itwasn't a pretty sight. The long train, the big chignon, the apologyfor a bonnet, were all ridiculous, – no one could deny that, – butyouth, beauty, and a happy heart made even those absurditiescharming. The erect young figure gave an air to the crisp folds ofthe delicate dress; the bright eyes and fresh cheeks under the lacerosette made one forget its size; and the rippling brown hair wonadmiration in spite of the ugly bunch which disfigured the girl'shead. The little jacket set "divinely," the new gloves were asimmaculate as white kids could be, and to crown all, Lizzie King,in a burst of generosity, lent Kitty the blue and white Parissunshade which she couldn't use herself. "Now I could die content;I'm perfect in all respects, and I know Jack won't be ashamed ofme. I really owe it to him to look my best, you know, and that'swhy I'm so particular," said Kitty, in an apologetic tone, as shebegan to lay away her finery. "I hope you will enjoy every minuteof the time, deary. Don't forget to finish running up the facing;I've basted it carefully, and would do it if my head didn't acheso, I really can't hold it up any longer," answered Pris, who hadworked like a disinterested bee, while Kitty had flown about like adistracted butterfly. "Go and lie down, you dear, kind soul, anddon't think of my nonsense again," said Kitty, feeling remorseful,till Pris was comfortably asleep, when she went to her room andrevelled in her finery till bedtime. So absorbed was she inlearning to manage her train gracefully, that she forgot the facingtill very late. Then, being worn out with work and worry, she did,what girls are too apt to do, stuck a pin here and there, and,trusting to Priscilla's careful bastings, left it as it was,retiring to dream of a certain Horace Fletcher, whose aristocraticelegance had made a deep impression upon her during the fewevenings she had seen him.
Nothing could have been lovelier than the morning,and few hearts happier than Kitty's, as she arrayed herself withthe utmost care, and waited in solemn state for the carriage; formuslin trains and dewy roads were incompatible, and one luxurybrought another. "My goodness, where did she get that stylishsuit?" whispered Miss Smith to Miss Jones, as Kitty floated intothe station with all sail set, finding it impossible to resist thetemptation to astonish certain young ladies who had snubbed her intimes past, which snubs had rankled, and were now avenged. "Ilooked everywhere for a