Weekly Trinity journal., 1861-04-13
Little BIuc Bonnet.

big, but cowardy yellow dog came sweeping
along, followed by black animal of the same
species. The yellow dog whizzed past him, but
the black specimen, oblvous to all things but
the object Of pursuit as every dog should be on
such occasions, possibly somewhat under the
control of his own momentum, struck kelly's
perpendicular leg, while the other was walking,
and knocked it out from under him. My friend
went down instanter. His glossy beaver danced
upon the pavement and continued its journey.
Spectacles danced jnglng into the gutter while
his shawl struck against shOpman's window like
a paper pallet on the wall.
Kelly gathered himself together, picked up his
spectaces, looked after the dog who had done
the mischief, expecting to find him &C hove to' in
canine dismay at the accident he had caused
hut 10 his utter asonishment, the animal seemed
as regardless of his equilibrium as of any other
trivial matter and was making after the aforesaid
yellow dog at as great a speed as though he had
not tipped over the best fellow in Wisconsin.
While my friend was down, a clear, musical,
grlish laugh had rung upon the air. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY spontaneous, so charmngy musical, was
so suddenly checked, and had wtha so good a
cause, that Kelly could scarcely be angry or even
Disconnected.
When the gentleman had recovered from his
surprise at the beedlessness of the quadruped he
bethought him of the music. There were half
dozen young ladies in view !; but by trigono-
metrcal calculation he reached the conclusion
that the laugh must have come from dainty
little blue hat, with delicate, straw colored trim
mings, or a decidedly sober and ancient brown
one-the two being in junction. OF course he
fastened upon the blue hat ; for never since the
flood did grave, questionable bonnet give such
gushing laughter as this.
Kelly was not city gentleman-not he He
was squire in a rural town, leader of town
affairs man of mark ; to whom the village
politicians looked for shrewdest counsels, on
whom abused people called for advice and re-
IN r,,bo hon dc fria vii ,auf
the management of their scanty estates, sure that
all would be done for them and the little orphans
that tact, fidelity, and warm heart could ac
complish.
The blue hat was city hat, and the brown
hair ii covered, together with the hazel eyes that
sparkled in front of it, were Of city growth. But
the sober brown bonnet was rural affair, and
the lady under it was rural aunt of good di-
mensions, both in person and in heart. Before
the catastrophe which brought ont the laughter,
the aunt was listening attenively to the little
lady's very eager request that she would try and
procure her school near her country home
after the accident the brown bonnet gave very |
appropriate and impressive lecture on the impro
prety of laughing out in that way, when the |
street was full of folks"
"Wby, who could help it, auntie? Did you !
ever see anything so funny? Laugh / didn't
laugh-it laughed itself. o DEAR" and then the
little figure trembled from hat to slipper under
TO escape another lecture, she had to cover lips,
nose, and eyes almost in scented linen cambric.
"Well, you see aunte," said the little blue
hat, recurring to the former topic, "father isn't
rich indeed don't believe he is as well off as
he seems to be: and the family is large-all
girls, too, just bill of expense you know, and
] don't like him TO furnish me music lessons, any
longer, for ! know he can't afford it. But |
would not give up my music for the world; only
want to pay part OF the expenses myself Fa-
ther isn't able, he looks more careworn every
day. ! am really afraid, and here the voice
fell and became very serious. d" | am really
afraid things are going wrong with him. Besides,
] want to be doing some thing, I'm a better girl
when feel that am not drone, and dependent.
Yes, auntie, must and will have school
there VIII you help me"
The brown bonnet caught the girls enthusiasm
and promised.
You must have known, reader, from the brief
description of my friend Kelly, that he was the
town school superintendent Who else
well qualified to look after the interests of the
public schools?
One morning at six o'clock-my friend rises at
five, and has good fire in his office and an appe
tte for breakfast at Ska rap fell upon the outer
door Kelly rose and opened it.
GOOD morning, ladies walk in"
The brown bonnet said "good morning." with
dignity the blue hat pronounced the same bles
sing timidly; both walked in.
MY niece would ike 10 De examined 10 take
the school in our district"
"Certainly," said the town superintendent,
laying the poker on the table Certainly yodr
aunt--beg pardon-niece shall be examined,
madam. Warm morning, marm'-wiping the
perspiration from his face with sheet of blottng
paper.
"Bless you its the coolest morning We We had
this fall" )" said the astonished aunt "Why Ma.
rys face has been like pony, all the way, ridin'
in the wind, just look at it.'
There was no need for my friend had seen
something more than the blue hat, some minutes
before.
"Certainly, madam, certainly-very red-I
mean very cold indeed, ma am, very"
The town superintendent was not long howev.
er, in getting better possession of his faculties
aud at length the examination commenced.
Your residence, if you please" said Kelly,
blandy
Milwaukee," timdly.
May ask you where you were educated ~
continued the questioner, looking for once into
the eyes which were sparkling despite the blush
ing embarrassed features
In the public schools, sir"
Did you graduate 2"
ayes, sir"
May look at your diploma ?"
The lady handed roll tied with blue ribbon
Kelly tried hard to unite it, but soon got the
knot into very bad fix. The pretty fingers of
The blue hat were called into requsition, and the
knot was soon conquered close before his eyes
Opening the roll
Mary Denver is that your name?
Yes, sir"
Your fathers name ?"
"Charles"
"Merchant"
Yes, SIR"
"Wby, was clerk in his store when you
were child. lie was the nobIest employer
ever bad-made me all am | mean he made
me upright-for that is all am. any way"
Kelly promised a certilicate-said he would
bring it over the next day, which be did
During the whole term be was very faithful 10
his official visits to the school, and just before
the close of the session my friend said
"Mary, wouldn't teach any more"
"Oh, must, like it besides 1 havnt ac-
complisbed half want to, yet"
" What do you want to accomplish ?"
:" want to continue my music"
I" What else ?"