In another week Tom and Nellie arrived in the city on a visit and were
astonished at their reception. They had intended seeing their old
friends and enjoying a quiet time, but instead were rushed from one
place to another and were constantly told that “of course you must see
so-and-so, for they are such good workers in the cause, don’t you know,
and will be encouraged if you will only see them.”
They went everywhere and enjoyed the occasion, being pleased that they
were so well received.
“But, Tom,” Nellie said one morning, “we must see more of Scoris. I am
getting impatient to see the effect those presents will have upon her
and the surprise they will be. Do you know, Tom, what Scoris Vivian is
like? A beautiful diamond—a continual surprise; the setting is so
simple, so unobtrusive, but the gem is always seen. To me her life is
one continual sparkling ray of love that is never hidden. Just think of
it! Here we have been feted and given receptions by members who were so
glad to honor us for what you have done, and she had as much to do with
this movement in the beginning as you had and a great deal more than I,
yet no one seems to realize it. We are receiving all the presents from
the manufacturers, and I am glad I found out her taste in regard to
dress. Now we can give her her choice, for she certainly deserves the
best. I never was dressed so well before and it helps the cause that
much more. I am glad it pays them to send them to us.”
“Pays them!” laughed Tom. “Well, I should think it did. Do you know how
many cases our members have already taken from that firm that was the
first to send these samples?”
“No; how many?”
“I forget the exact figure, but it was more than any of the old firms
they have been dealing with, I was told, and we are only in our infancy
as a society. It has paid them well to become members and will start
others to do so, for of course we secure them a market in a way that
helps the society and makes them no expense for advertising and the
returns are large. It will be only a matter of time when they will
manufacture under the name of the society.”
“So you have gotten away from them all at last!” exclaimed Scoris, as
she met them at the door the next evening. “We were afraid they were
going to monopolize you during the whole visit, you are so popular. I
have felt so gratified. And your beautiful gowns! Why, Nellie, you are
bewitching! Come, now, stand up for inspection. That dress is lovely and
fits like a glove. From your hat to your shoes all is perfection. I am
going out to that colony, for I see you have a fairy godmother out
there. Why, my dear, you look like a girl of sixteen.”
Tom drew the two women to him who had been so much to him, while all
laughed at the demonstration of affection.
“A bright group worthy of a larger audience,” said Helen, as she breaks
in on their meeting.
“But the fine clothes,” said Scoris.
Nellie laughed and struck an attitude that the girls might see all the
beauty of the costume, while all were convulsed with laughter at the
faces she made.
“Has that colony struck a gold mine?” Helen asked, “or from whence
cometh all this grandeur?”
“Yes and no,” continued Tom. “We have struck a mine of wealth and it
produces gold when that metal is desired. So it amounts to the same
thing and it is the greatest mine on earth, too, for it is producing
what gold cannot buy, and that is the kindly interest and affection of
our members. We all stand by each other.”
“We have something here for you, Scoris, so you can take your choice.
You come first then. Helen, then we will send the rest to other workers
in the cause. We want you to help us select and sort them.”
“Why, Nellie,” said Scoris, “these are beautiful. I never had anything
like this silk, and when can I wear it?”
“The occasion will be marked by well dressed members of the Colony,” Tom
said, “and it is just as it should be. Our coronation days should be so
distinguished by well dressed people that they will always be remembered
and the picture will make a decided impression upon the minds of every
one.”
“Oh,” exclaimed Scoris, “here is something I have wanted for years. It
is so light, cool and beautiful, these dainty lawns, these woolens,
silks and cloths. Why, they will last me for years. Everything I need is
here in the way of clothing.”
Helen was given her choice, then amid the exclamations of joy and
satisfaction of being the first to appear in all these samples sent out
from the manufacturers, the conversation soon turned to the discussion
of dress-makers. They abounded in the Colony, but the one who made
Nellie’s dresses was preferred. It was apparent that her style was
superior and the work of the best.
“Now, girls, all you have to do is to look lovely as becomes a thriving
and wealthy community. These presents make it possible, and remember you
are producing wealth and should be making use of the best of everything.
In this exchanging of interests and materials we must make a good
appearance. We owe it to ourselves as leaders and it will have a great
effect on the people at large.”
“Nothing succeeds like success,” continued Tom. “The appearance of it
stimulates the ones who are afraid to venture. A nicely dressed person
always lives in our memory.”
The girls laughed.
“Well, if you don’t believe this, try the effect of walking down the
dreary, dirty streets in any of our large cities and see if it doesn’t
have a depressing effect. Then cross over to the ones that are bright
with all that prosperity gives to enhance the general appearance of both
the houses and the people and see if the memory of the latter will not
be stimulating in comparison, especially when you have it in your power
to improve your own surroundings, as this society gives you. The main
thing is to fix your aim high. To build a grand house it is necessary to
dig and make lots of dirt in laying the foundation and so it has been in
achieving the end we had in view, but when we meet together to enjoy the
well-earned recreation, we must see to it that our bodies are properly
clothed, for they will show the amount of our ability and will prove how
much we know of the power of concentration, or the law of attraction. No
one should be ignorant of these things.”
“Well, Tom, I believe you have studied human nature from every
standpoint,” said Scoris. “I will certainly profit by all these lovely
things, for I was beginning to be ashamed to go out anywhere. I have
saved so much of my salary to secure shares that I have hated to spend
anything for clothes, but I believe you are right. My whole life is
before me, and I may as well enjoy it.”
A day or two later, when Tom and Nellie found themselves in their home
again, Tom said, “We have had a pleasant time and I thoroughly enjoyed
it, but I am glad to get home again. These apartments we are using this
year are so superior to anything we ever had in the city. Fresh air is
certainly a luxury, and an atmosphere free from dust is another.”