MOTHER AND BETTY GO TO THE DRESSMAKER’S SHOP
“Mother is going to the dressmaker’s today,” said Bobby. “I heard her say so.”
“I wish I could go with her,” said Betty. “I am going to ask Mother if I can go.”
“She won’t let you go,” said Bobby. “Little girls don’t go to the dressmaker’s.”
“Yes, they do,” said Betty.
Betty ran to the house. “Mother, Mother!” she cried. “Please may I go with you to the dressmaker’s?”
“Don’t you want to stay with Bobby and play with baby?” asked Mother.
“No,” said Betty. “I want to go with you.”
“I will see,” answered Mother.
Mother then called Bobby.
“Play with baby, Bobby,” said Mother. “Betty wants to go with me to the dressmaker’s.”
“Don’t let Betty go,” said Bobby. “Make her stay and take care of baby.”
“Betty will stay when you go with Father to the tailor’s shop,” said Mother. “You may go with Father when he goes to the tailor’s.”
“All right,” said Bobby. “I’ll stay if I may go with Daddy.”
Mother and Betty went to the dressmaker’s.
The dressmaker fitted Mother’s new dress.
Betty thought Mother stood very still while the dressmaker put pins in her dress.
The dressmaker pinned and pinned and pinned.
Betty thought she would never stop putting pins in Mother’s new dress.
Betty sat very still.
She looked at the dresses in the shop.
She was glad when Mother’s dress was fitted.
“When may I have it?” asked Mother.
“I will send it Saturday,” said the dressmaker.
“Thank you,” said Mother. “Be sure to send the bill. I am glad you can let me have the dress before Sunday.”
For study and play:
Pin it here, pin it there,
Pin it, pin it, everywhere.
I put my needle in,
I pull my needle out;
I draw it close, and draw it smooth,
And turn my work about.
—A Sewing Song
Little Polly Flinders
Sat among the cinders,
Warming her pretty little toes.
Her mother came and caught her,
Whipped her little daughter,
For spoiling her nice new clothes.
Hark, hark!
The dogs do bark,
The beggars are coming to town;
Some in tags,
Some in rags,
And some in velvet gowns.
—Selected
