The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-10-22
From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.
THE r HAT,
Or, The Belle Bride.
BY. j. II. INGRAHAM.

about, attentive, submissive, admlrlng. Lac.
of the fair apprentices had charge Of q band
box, which had been sent from three Of thu
most stylish merchdndeS DIES modes in town.-
The band-boXes were open upon chairs, tw'
Of them containing elegant velvet hats thu
third box was empty-thc hat which 1t ha(
held ut this moment adjoining the head Of the
lady. She had Just taken it fresh from it
case, and was now adjusting it and admiring
it with the most accurate and jealous inSpec
ton. 1t was a rich imperial blue velvet o
an exquisite shape, and became her face
charmingly. She evidently thought so her
self, from the smiling appreciation which shonc
in her cou~ntenance.
81 think this is beautiful, Mariana" she
said, turning to her maid.
1T is, ma'am | never saw anything be-
come you so - answered the maid enthusiast
cally, surveying the last reflected from the
mirror, with its waving white plume, which
floated like a snowy cloud about her head.
"Do you think so ?" responded her mis-
tress, with delight.
"Oh it is erftc,c-charmante y cxclaim-
ed intensely one of the pretty apprentices,
with a French accent. 1t was she who had
been the bearer of the perfect hat" and as
she spoke she clasped her little fingers to9eth-
or, and raised her blue eyes from the hat to
heaven and then upon the hat, as if she would
worship it.
cit looks divincly, ma'am," reiterated the
maid, emulatlng tho fervor of the animated
grisctte,
Mrs. Howard was charmed at these express
sions of praise. Yet she did not look quite
decided. She surveyed her handsome tea-
lures once more beaming from within the
magic bow Of the oval front, and then turned
aJ-.J. ra.- A. ell 1o-uLl. ,,.,o, +o +1n ,tl
er band-boXes, which stood tcmptingly open
at her feet.
81 will try TIE one from Madame eau
bort's," she said to the young girl in charge
of it. And a sweet drab hat, of the ~costliest
velvet, shaded by a cherry colored plume lip
ped with maroon, and trimmed with cherry
and maroon velvet, was handed to her by a
little black-eyed Miss.
"This is from Madame Gaubert y observ-
ed Mrs. Howard, as she surveyed it with an
eye of taste. cit is a beauty! But drab is
so trying" she added, as she placed it upon
her head and turned to the mirror to see the
effect. | LON think it is so becoming as the
other, Mariana"
a hardly think it makes you look so pref
ty, ma'am."
"No; drab is a very trying shade /! 1t re-
quires a most brilliant cheek to harmonic
with it, and to be in keeping with the cher
ry."
"Your complexion, ma'am," said Marian
ma, dis SO perfect that any thing becomes
you"
"You hattcr, girl answered Mrs How
ard, laughing. "But truly this is too grave.
It is a lively shapc--if any thing prettier than
the other. Are you sure that Madame eau
bert has not let any person see this :"
eyes, Madame" answered the brunette,
impressiyely. "The hats were first opened
an hour ago, and you are the only one who
has seen the style-Madame Gaubert knows
to you first, and she said you could not fail
to fall in love with the hat"
"She is very kind-but really, drab is too
grave"
1t is fashionable " pleaded the appren-
tee.
81 know it is, but
"'Whatever you wear, ma'am, is fashiona-
bic, for every body copies from you" said Ma
%risnna, with the p~ractised adulation OF an ac-
complishcd waiting-woman
"Well, | will look at the other"
1t was gently placed upon her hand, and
she held it up with a graceful air to inspect
its beauties. 1t was black velvet, elegantly
embroidered, and adorned with a magnificent
sable plume, and altogether superbly rich in
appearance. She regarded it with a smile of
appreciation, and turning to the mirror, pl0c-
cd it upon her head. 1t seemed to throw
new charms about her lovely co%untenance
for, although her complexion was dazzlingly
fair, she wanted color. The black velvet gave
her face q look of intellectual beauty that
fattercd her.
Mariana, what is your opinion Of this ?"
she said, speaking to her maid, but still re-
garding herself in the glass.
1T makes You look very noble, like a Span
ish Donna" answered Mariana. Il don't
quite like it so well as the first one"
"The blue 2"
"Yes, ma'am"
The French girl held up the blue hat in
"What is the price of the blue, Mademoi-
sclle o. she demanded of the griSettc.
"Thirty dollars, Madame"
"And the drab 2"
"Twenty-eight, ma'am," replied the bru-
nete, displaying the hat upon the tips Of her
fingers, in ambitious rivalry Of the coquettiSh
grisette.
And what is the price of this black vel
vet ?"
Forty dollars, madame" answered the
apprentice.
"Did l not say it was superb" cried Mrs.
Howard, turning round to her maid. 1t is
most becoming. l will take it, you may tell
your mistress"
The bearer of the chosen hat looked round
with an air of triumph upon her two rivals in
millinery,and making a low courtesy ofthanks,
retired with quite an air. The selection Of
the hat by Mrs. Howard had made her mis-
tress' leader of the beau monde for the season.
The other maidens slowly restored the reject
ed bonnets to their boxes and retired, the
one with an air of regret, the other with a
manner at once pettish and disappointed.
"Now, Mariana" said the lovely lady, as
she once more resumed her admiration Of the
oo.+lr bo,llo 6 T +b,;uly T sbolJ NOW no tbo op-