Monday
was the first day of the new household routine brought about by Shirley Anne’s
presence. While the oatmeal cooked on the old wood range, Shirley Anne pulled
on heavy socks and a well-worn dress, an obvious hand-me-down. Still, she was
neat and clean, and Ina decided she didn’t look different from the other
students at the little country school.
Ina
and Miss Johnson had agreed that it would be best for Shirley Anne to continue
to attend school. We don’t need to know how she got there, do we? Students
always get to school by whatever means.
It
was laundry day, and as important as it was to stick to her schedule, Ina made
quick work of the washing, wringing, and hanging. Jack, changing the water, was
hard pressed to keep up with her, remarking that she had never done the laundry
so fast. Then she dove head-first into her box of fabric remnants, searching
for just the right piece to make a nice nightgown for “her girl.” Yes! This worn
out pillowcase would do nicely.
Ina
set to work, quickly cutting the pattern shapes from the pillowcase. Then away
she flew to the corner of the dining room where her treadle machine sat – you
know, where the wall furnace is today – and commenced to sew in double time. Pocketa
whir, pocketa whir, pocketa whir. Again Jack was startled to see Ina working so
fast and insisted she stop while he oiled the machine. All went well – no
ripping necessary (a miracle in itself) – and the nightgown was hanging in the
closet at 3:00 just as little Shirley Anne dashed into the house.
As
promised, Shirley Anne was now allowed to open the closet door. Ina crept along
behind to watch. Timidly, the child opened the door and peered in. The closet
was like a narrow hallway – not at all like a clothes closet. A high window on
this end provided daylight, now beginning to fade. At the other end and on the
opposite wall was another door, which was closed. The closet was mostly empty,
but hanging on an old-fashioned hook was the nightgown. “Oh, is it for me?”
asked Shirley Anne.
“Yes,
indeed,” answered Ina. “One of Santa’s helpers left it for you.”
“Oh,
thank you!” said Shirley Anne, who couldn’t remember ever having a nightgown
made just for her. KW
2 comments:
Loving this. And Shirley Anne, the doll, is wearing an adorable new nightgown much like little Shirley Anne's, I'm sure. Well done!
Let's just say the nightgown won't be entered in the fair next year. Of the two worn out pillowcases I chose the best one, and even so it was threadbare.
This pair of hand-embroidered pillowcases was given to me by Myrtle Bell, whose husband Elmer farmed near us and also harvested our wheat in the '60s. When I first noticed they were worn out, I was devastated -- sorry that I didn't take better care of them. But I'm over it now. I used them -- and I used them up -- and that's what should happen.
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