The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-05-11
MISS BIARY's BLUE HAT.

My friend Kelly was walking down
Main street, Milwaukee, last autumn, in
brown study upon some abstruse subject,
his vision horizontal md vacant, his step
rapid and careless, when, just aS he had
forded one Of the cross streets, aud lifted
one foot 10 place It upon the curb stone,
a big but cownrdly yellow dog came sweep.
ing along, followed by black animal Of
the same species. The specimen, ObliviOus
of all things but the object of pursuit, as
every dog should be on such On occasion,
and possibly somewhat under the control
OF his own momentum, struck Kelly's per-
pendicular leg while the other was walk
ing, and knocked il out from under him.
My friend went down instantcr. His
glossy beaver bounced upon the pavement
and continued its journey, wtile his shawl
struck against ShOpman'S window like
paper pellet on wall.
Kelly gathered himself together, picked
himself up and looked after the dog that
had done the mischief, expecting To find
him shove to" in canine dsmay at the ac-
cident he had caused but to his utter
astonishment, the animal seemed as re.
gardless Of his equilibrium MS Of any other
trivial matter, and was making after the
aforesaid yellow dog at as great speed MS
though he had not tipped over the best
fellow in Wisconsin.
While my friend was down, q clear,
musical, girlish laugh had rung out upon
the open air; it was so evidently sponta.
neous, so charmingly musical, was 50 sud
denly checked and had withal so good u
cause, that Kelly could hardly BE- angry
or disconnected. .-..--..
When the gentleman had recovered
from his surprise at the hcc'llcsSness Of
the quadrupcd, he bcthought himself Of
the music. There were half dozen In.
dies in view; but by trigonometrical cal.
-culation, ho reached the conclusion that
the laugh must have come from either
dainty little blue hat, with delicate straw
cOlOred trimmings, or decided sober and
ancient brown onc-thc two being in con-
junction. OF course he fastened upon the
blue hat for never since the food did
q grave, questionable bonnet give out
such gushing music as that.
Kelly was not city gentleman NOT he.
He was squire in q rural town-a leader
VI INV " ~ WI T6uhS " WLbOul
the village politicians looked for the keen.
est counscls OH whom abused people call.
cd for advice and redress; into whose
hands friendlcss widows put the manage.
ment of their Scanty estates, sure that all
would be done for them and their little
ones that tact. fidelity and warm heart
could accomplish.
The blue hat was q city hat, and the
brown hair It covered, together with the
hazel eyes that sparkled in front oft, were
Of city growth. But the sober brown
bonnet was on rural aunt Of good dimcn.
sions, both in person and in heart
Before the catastrophe which brought
out the laughter, the aunt was listening
very attcntively to the little lady's eager
request. that she would try and procure
her school near her country home; after
the accident, tho brown bonnet gave
very appropriate and impressive lecture on
the impropriety of laughing out that way
"when the street was full of folks"
"Why, who could help it, auntic -
Did you ever see anything SO funny?
Laughl Tdidn't laugh-it laughed itself
Oh dear!" and then the little figure trem.
bled from hat to slipper under the shaking
Of suppressed merrilnent. Indeed, to es.
cape another lecture, she had to cover lips,
nose and eyes almost, in scented linen
cambric.
"Well, you see, auntie," said the little
blue hat, recurring to the former topic,
"iather isn't rich-indeed, don't think
he is as well off as he seems to be; and
the family is largc-all girls, too, just a
bill Of expense, you know; and don't
like to have father furnish me music les
SONS any longer, for know he cant af-
ford it. But wouldn't give up my music
for the world; only | want to pay part Of
the expense myself Father isn't able
he looks more and more carcworn every
day. am really afraid" and the voice
fell, and became very serious, am real.
ly afraid things are going wrong with him.
Besides, I want to be doing something
I'm better girl when l feel that am not
a drOne and dependent. Yes, aunty,
must and will have a schoOl-therc
Will you help me ?"
The brown bonnet caught the girls en-
thusiasm, and promised.
You must have known. reader, from the
brief description Of my friend Kelly, that
he was the town superintendent. Vino
else was so well qualified to look after tho
interests Of the public schools! One morn
ing Mt six o'clock=my friend rises Mt five,
and has a good fire in his office and an
appetite 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 morn
ing" with dignity; the blue hat pronounced
the same timidly and both passed in.
my niece would like to be examined
to take the school in our district"
Certainly" said the town superinten'
dent, laying the poker on the table
Certainly, your aunt-beg pardon
your niece shall be examined, madam
Warm morning, ma'am, wiping the per
spiration from his face with q sheet o
writing paper.
| "Bless you! it's the coolest morning
we've had this Fall, said the astonishcC
aunt "Why, Mary's face Inns been lik,
q peOny, all the way ridin' in the wind
+ Jest look at it."
There was no need, for my friend ha'
seen something more than the blue hat
} some minutes before.
, Certainly, madam, ccrtainly-very
red-I mean very cold, indeed, ma'am
, very"
, The town superintendent was not long
! however, In getting better possession o
I his faculties; and at length the exalnina
ton commenced.
) "YOur residence. il you please" sal
! Kelly, blandly.
Milwaukee" timidly.
"May l ask where you were educated
: continued the qOestiOner. looking for ono
into the eyes, which were sparkling. de
spite the blushing, embarrassed features
n "In the public schools, SIR"
!. "Did you graduatcr"
J. "Yes, sir"
= "May look at your diplomat"
{ The lady handed him q roll tied with