NEW CLOTHES FOR BOBBY AND BETTY
Sunday afternoon Father said, “Bobby must have a new suit.”
“Will the tailor make it?” asked Bobby.
“No, Bobby. Mother will take you to the dry-goods store. She will buy you a ready-made suit.”
“That will be fine,” said Bobby. “Let’s go now, Mother.”
“Today is Sunday, Bobby.”
“Tomorrow will be Monday,” said Bobby. “May we go Monday, Mother?”
“Yes, we will go tomorrow afternoon.”
Just then Betty came in from play.
“Where are you going Monday afternoon, Bobby?” she asked.
“Mother and I are going somewhere. You can’t go.”
“Betty may go with us,” said Mother. “She needs a new dress.”
“Good!” cried Betty, “I’m going to have a new dress. Shall we buy it of the dressmaker, Mother?”
“No, dear. We don’t buy dresses at the dressmaker’s. The dressmaker makes dresses.”
“She made a pretty dress for you, Mother,” said Betty. “I think she will make one for me.”
“I can find a nice dress for you at the dry-goods store,” said Mother.
“Is that the place where there are pretty dresses in the window?” asked Betty.
“Yes, dear.”
Monday afternoon Mother and the children went to the dry-goods store.
A saleswoman came up to Mother and said, “Madam, what can I show you?”
“Boys’ suits, please,” answered Mother.
The saleswoman led the way to the place where boys’ suits were kept.
“I want one that will wear well,” said Mother.
“I think you will like this,” said the saleswoman. Bobby tried on the coat.
He liked it and Mother liked it.
“I will take it,” said Mother.
Mother then paid for the suit and asked the saleswoman to send it.
“Would you like to see little girls’ dresses?” asked the saleswoman. “We have some pretty ones.”
“If you please,” said Mother.
The saleswoman led the way.
They soon came to the place where little girls’ dresses were kept in the store.
Betty saw a dress with ruffles on the skirt and a pretty sash.
“I like that,” said Betty.
“It’s a pretty dress,” said Mother. “May she try it on?”
“Yes,” said the saleswoman.
The saleswoman slipped the dress over the one Betty had on.
Mother liked it and Betty liked it.
So Mother bought the dress for Betty. And she bought cloth for an everyday dress and for two everyday aprons.
For study and play:
Name things you buy by the yard.
How many feet in a yard?
How many inches in a foot? How many inches in a yard?
How many inches in a quarter of a yard? In half a yard?
Tom Trot, a man of law,
Sold his bed and lay on straw,
Sold his straw and lay on grass,
To buy his wife a looking-glass.
Hector Protector was dressed all in green;
Hector Protector was sent to the Queen.
The Queen did not like him,
No more did the King;
So Hector Protector was sent back again.
There was a young lady in blue
Who said, “Is it you? Is it you?”
When they said, “Yes, it is,”
She replied only, “Whizz!”
That ungracious young lady in blue.
—Edward Lear
Trit, trot to market, to buy a penny doll.
Trit, trot home again, market’s sold them all.
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.
Handsome is as handsome does.
Dancy-diddlety-poppity-pin!
Have a new dress when summer comes in;
When summer goes out,
’Tis all worn out,
Dancy-diddlety-poppity-pin!
Riddle:
Four fingers and a thumb,
Yet flesh and bone have I none.
A glove
