The New Dress.



MANY years ago, a lady had a beautiful dress made for her little girl. To be sure, it had no extra ruffles and trimmings, 'such as people think they must have now-a-days; but the material was rich, and the color soft and pretty, and little Alice was anxious to array herself in her new dress.

But while she was dressing herself, there came in to see her one of her little playmates; one whose parents could not afford to dress their little girl, except in the plainest of clothes. And what was the surprise of Alice's mother, when her little daughter came into the room, to sec her dressed, not in the new, fine dress, but in one of her older and plainer ones, more like that worn by her visitor.

How beautiful did this little act of self-denial make the little girl appear in the eyes of her mother. No dress, however fine could have made her half so sweet. When the little friend had gone, the mother called her little girl to her side, and asked her why she had not worn the new dress.,

"Oh! I thought," she answered, "perhaps poor little Jennie would like it better if we were more alike."

The new dress became an old one, years ago, and doubtless long ere this has been made into paper, or woven into some rag-carpet; but the owner of the little dress through all her life, possessed "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit," which is in the sight of God of great price.




S. S. Grem.