CHAPTER VIII.
USES OF AN OLD-FASHIONED WARDROBE.
Shortly after Mary's advent at the farm she one day said: "Aunt Sarah, the contents of this old trunk are absolutely worthless to me; perhaps they may be used by you for carpet rags." "Mary Midleton!" exclaimed Aunt Sarah, in horrified tones, "you extravagant girl.

I see greater possibilities in that trunk of partly-worn clothing than, I suppose, a less economically-inclined woman than I ever would have dreamed of." Mary handed her Aunt two blue seersucker dresses, one plain, the other striped.

"They have both shrunken, and are entirely too small for me," said Mary.
"Well," said her Aunt, considering, "they might be combined in one dress, but you need aprons for kitchen work more useful than those little frilly, embroidered affairs you are wearing.

We should make them into serviceable aprons to protect your dresses.

Mary, neatness is an attribute that every self-respecting housewife should assiduously cultivate, and no one can be neat in a kitchen without a suitable apron to protect one from grime, flour and dust." "What a pretty challis dress; its cream-colored ground sprinkled over with pink rose buds!" Mary sighed.