only elders,
anyhow."

"But there is no religion in these things!"

"I should rather think not," says I, a-walking resolutely toward the
door. "Now it's of no use explaining and apologizing to me. Dancing
ministers ain't of my sort. I'm going right straight home."

Sisters, I went.

LVI.

GOOD CLOTHES.

Dear sisters:--I told you in my last Report that there were three or
four invitations that I had made up my mind to accept, for I have got so
now, that it is my privilege to pick and choose who I will honor and who
I will not.

Well, the person I distinguished this time was just one of the
handsomest and nicest ladies that you ever sot eyes on. Everybody that
knows her says that. No bird pluming itself on an apple-tree limb full
of blossoms was ever more graceful; no church member could be more
kind-hearted. She is just a sumptuous young woman who worshipped a
true-hearted, high-minded father with all her might and honored him in
all her acts. It is a great pity she wasn't born in Vermont, but that
cannot be helped now. I wish it could.

Of course I felt it a privilege to represent your Society before a lady
like this; for it seems to me as if she were born to be an ornament to
this great nation. I say this because I really think she is good as good
can be. Miss Kate Chase, though she did marry a United States Senator,
will always be best known to the country as Chief Justice Chase's
daughter, and a compliment to her is a compliment to him, which I, as a
distinguished wom--I beg pardon, young girl--could pay, and still
preserve that reputation for correct deportment which, I am proud to
say, follows me wherever I go.

Well, not wanting to keep Mrs. Sprague in suspense, and feeling that she
might be pining for my autograph to lie uppermost in the great dish, all
gold and stone pictures, which she keeps full of letters and cards and
things, I wrote her a sweet little letter, in my finest hand, with a
green and red "P. F." twisted together on the straw-colored envelope,
saying that I would come.

After that I felt calm and content, knowing how much happiness I had
given.

Cousin Dempster and E. E. had an invite too. I really hope they have
sense enough to know the source from which all these attentions come,
but sometimes I doubt it. Still, they do look up to me.

The night came, and found me ready. E. E. had told me that when Mrs.
Sprague gave a party, her guests almost always came out in span-new