Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-08-18
seIett Gale,
From Graham's Magazine, for August.
THE OLD BONNET.
BY HARRIET y. BABB.

81 do wish Sallie Curtis would not wear
that old bonnet !" exclaimed q lady as she
entered the parlor of fashionable boarding
house, which some half dozen families mis-
called home-that sweet word, which the
heart can only apply to the place that shell
| ters our own household band
"Why does Miss Curtis bonnet trouble
you p asked her husband laughingly.
"Trouble me indeed it does-it takes
away all my comfort in church 1t looked
badly enough in the early part of the season,
but now that all the ladies in the pews
around them have such elegant new hats,
Sallie and her mother do look most foriorn in
their old straws p
ais Ter mothers MS bad as hers ?"
"Yes /: and hundred times worse. 1t is
shameful for ladies in their position TO dress
so meanly! beg your pardon Mrs. T,
did not see you," said the lastspeaker, with
blush
"Oh, you need not apologize to Ma, she
sees cousin Sallie's hat in the same light in
which you do, and aunts too !" spoke up a
young lady, at the side of the person ad-
dressed
Yes, indeed and l am not surprised at
their being the subject of remark. / told
them 1t would be so, when i saw them fixing
up their bonnets, (for they trimmed them
themselves with ribbon they had in the
house i but hoped then they would only be
worn for few weeks, until cold weather set
in but they are bent on. making them do
service during the entire winter Such q
foolish notion us my sister-n-law has in her
head because this is hard winter and
business men are cramped for money, she is
determined to save dime wherever she can,
without causing elfectual suffering to herself
and family ! am lecturing her continually
on the absurdity of her course, but / cannot
move her. l told her that Sallie could not
possibly do without new bonnet this winter,
even if she did a married lady, You know,
may occasionally enjoy the privilege of being
careless about her own dress; people take it
for granted that in her anxiety about her
family, she has forgotten herself; but it is
absolutely necessary for young lady TO be
always well dressed, and / am sure / am
ashamed Of Salie, this winter! My Julia
wouldn't wear her best hat, even for 70 hack
bonnet"
mo. that would not I" said the young la
dy. Il should be afraid of losing caSte,h
did so ~
But thonght Mr.. Curtis was man of
wealth !" said an intimate friend to Mrs. t,
in lower tone.
"He is considered so but now even the
wealthest men are embarrassed, you know.
My husband says that one dollar, this winter,
Is worth more than ttco were last year !" she
said. laughing.
but you are not obliged to economic ?"
and the speaker glanced at the rich velvet,
costly furs, and the "lovely hat" in which Mrs,
r was arrayed.
| me! oh, can't do it and if l could
where would be the use of Worrying and sla-
wing myself to save little here, and little
there ?-What would it all amoEnt too. in
the end A few hundred dollars, which. If nv
husband is going to fail, could not prevent
him, and which may as well enjoy while /
can My sister-in-law says that if her hus-
band becomes involved, it shall not be through
any extravaganza of hers and that she is
resolved to make no unnecessary purchases
this winter. represented to her that with
all her efforts, she could not save more than
q triae, and that she had better give up the
struggle and take things as they come; but
l-her earnest answer was-"No, Elizabeth. al.
though the sum may be ever SC trifiing. / am
resolved 10 exercise selfdenial, in order that
! may have the satisfaction Of feeling that
have done phat couidi 1t has really become
quite mania with her, and Salie is lust like
her mother. Whenever tell her Of anything
she needs, her reply invariably isl can dc
without it at present, for we wish to econo-
mize," or, I'VE are trying TO retrench."
"What pity She is suth fne-lookine
girl. when well dressed"
II know It and I am so glad you alluded
TO her dress. for mean to tell her IL hal
been remarked upon, and shall do my bes'
to prevent her pretty face being again seer
under that old bonnet
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