Fern Leaves from Fanny's Port-folio. Second SeriesFern, Fanny
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Fern Leaves from Fanny's Port-folio. Second Series
Fern, Fanny
American essays -- 19th century; Short stories, American
“You needn’t make that dress ‘deep mourning,’ Hetty; the lady who
ordered it said it was only her sister for whom she was to ‘mourn.’ A
three-quarter’s length vail will answer; and I should introduce a few
jet bugles round the bonnet trimmings. And, by the way, Hetty, Mrs. La
Fague’s husband has been dead now nearly two months, so that new dress
of hers will admit of a little alleviation in the style of trimming--a
few knots of love-ribbon on the boddice will have a softening effect;
and you must hem a thin net vail for her bonnet;--it’s almost time for
her to be ‘out of mourning.’
--“And, Hetty, run down to Stewart’s, right away, and see if he has
any more of those grief-bordered pocket-handkerchiefs. Mr. Grey’s
servant said the border must be full an inch deep, as his master
wished it for his wife’s funeral, and it is the eighth time within
eight years that the poor afflicted man has suffered a similar
calamity. Remember, Hetty,--an inch deep, with a tomb-stone and a
weeping-willow embroidered on the corner, with this motto: ‘Hope never
dies;’--and, Hetty, be sure you ask him what is the latest style for
‘_half_-mourning’ for grandmothers, mothers-in-law, country cousins,
and poor relations. _Dépèchezvous_, Hetty, for you have six ‘weepers’
(weeds) to take off the six Mr. Smiths’ hats. Yes, I know you ‘only put
them on last week;’ but they are going to Philadelphia, where nobody
knows them, and, of course, it isn’t necessary to ‘mourn’ for their
mother there.
--“What are you staring at, child? You are as primitive as your
fore-mother Eve. This ‘mourning’ is probably an invention of Satan
to divert people’s minds from solemn subjects, but that’s nothing to
me, you know; so long as it fills my pocket, I’m in league with his
Majesty.”
FASHION IN FUNERALS.
“It has become _unfashionable_ in New-York for ladies to attend
funerals to the grave. _Even the mother may not accompany the
little lifeless form of her beloved child beyond the threshold
without violating the dread laws of Fashion._”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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