Prairie Lotus

Hanna finds Bess in town. Bess is loading the wagon with her mother’s purchases and Hanna lends a hand. Hanna asks Bess if she would like to earn 50 cents a day helping to sew at the shop. Bess is interested, but when her mother comes out of the store, she ushers Bess away quickly, ignores Hanna, and drives off. Hanna sees that Mrs. Harris is not like her husband. She sadly goes home but determines to sew all the faster. She chooses a pleasant green lawn fabric for the dress and works out a pattern of design for it inspired by a one in the Godey’s book but with changes of her own. She also chooses glass buttons for the front. Hanna is pleased with her design decisions and cannot wait to see the finished product, which she hopes will be done by the opening.

In the morning, Bess arrives, surprising Hanna. Bess explains that she and her father talked Mrs. Harris into allowing Bess to try working there. Hanna is thrilled and gives Bess a chair and cabinet. She is eager to have the sewing help, and even more eager to chat as friends with Bess.