mbine with good results.

"Your daughter Diantha is one woman in a thousand," said Grandmother
Wheeler, diplomatically, one day, "but she never did care much for
clothes."

"Diantha," returned Grandmother Stark, with a suspicious glance, "always
realized that clothes were not the things that mattered."

"And, of course, she is right," said Grandmother Wheeler, piously.
"Your Diantha is one woman in a thousand. If she cared as much for fine
clothes as some women, I don't know where we should all be. It would
spoil poor little Amelia."

"Yes, it would," assented Grandmother Stark. "Nothing spoils a little
girl more than always to be thinking about her clothes."

"Yes, I was looking at Amelia the other day, and thinking how much more
sensible she appeared in her plain gingham than Lily Jennings in all her
ruffles and ribbons. Even if people were all noticing Lily, and praising
her, thinks I to myself, 'How little difference such things really make.
Even if our dear Amelia does stand to one side, and nobody notices her,
what real matter is it?'" Grandmother Wheeler was inwardly chuckling as
she spoke.

Grandmother Stark was at once alert. "Do you mean to say that Amelia is
really not taken so much notice of because she dresses plainly?" said
she.

"You don't mean that you don't know it, as observant as you are?"
replied Grandmother Wheeler.

"Diantha ought not to let it go as far as that," said Grandmother Stark.
Grandmother Wheeler looked at her queerly. "Why do you look at me like
that?"

"Well, I did something I feared I ought not to have done. And I didn't
know what to do, but your speaking so makes me wonder--"

"Wonder what?"

Then Grandmother Wheeler went to her little storeroom and emerged
bearing a box. She displayed the contents--three charming little white
frocks fluffy with lace and embroidery.

"Did you make them?"

"Yes, I did. I couldn't help it. I thought if the dear child never wore
them, it would be some comfort to know they were in the house."

"That one needs a broad blue sash," said Grandmother Stark.

Grandmother Wheeler laughed. She took her impecuniosity easily. "I had
to use what I had," said she.

"I will get a blue sash for that one," said Grandmother Stark, "and a
pink sash for that, and a flowered one for that."

"Of course they will make all the difference," said Grandmother Wheeler.
"Those beautiful sashes will really make the dresses."

"I will get them," said Grandmot