Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-05
From the Springfield Republican
MISS MARY,S BLUE HAT.

MISS MARY's BLUE HAT.
MY Trend Kelly was walking duwn Main
street, milwaukee, last autumn, in a brown
etuuy upon some abstruse subject, his Wis
ron horiz 'ntal and vacant, his step rapid
and Careless. when just as he had forded
] ohe OF the crossing streets aud lifted one
/ loot to place it upon the curbstune, big.
but cowardly. yellow dog came sweeping
along, inllnwed by black animal of the
same species. The yellow dog whizzed past
him, but the black specimen, oblivious to
all things but the object of pursuit, as
every dog should be ON such an occasion.
and, possibly, somewhat under the control
pt MS own momentum. struck Kelly's per-
pendicular leg, while the other was walk
ing, and knocked it out from under him.
My friend went down instanter. His CLOS
~ beaver bounced upon the pavement, and
continued its journey. Spectacles danced
4 Jipgiing into the gutter, while his shawl
stuck against shopman's window like
I faper peiies on wall.
Kelly gathered himself together. picked
himself up, and looked after the dog that
bad done the mischief, expecting TO find
! him "hore to" in canine dismay at the ac-
cident he had caused but, to his utter as
constituent, the animal seemed as regard
less of his equilibrium as of any other
trivial matter, and was making after the
aforesaid yellow dog at as great speed as
though he had not tipped over the best iel
low in Wisconsin.
While my friend was down, clear. mu.
steal, girlish laugh had rung out upon the
air. 1t was SO evidently spontaneous, so
charmingIy musical, was SO suddenly
| checked, and withal sc good cause, that
Kelly could scarcely be angry or even dis
concerted.
When the gentleman had recovered
from his surprise at the heedlessnes of the
| quadruped, he bethought him of the music
! IEere were hall q dozen ladies 10 view but
10y trigonometrical calculation he reached
the conclusion that the laugh must have
come from either dainty little blue hat
with delicate, straw colored trimmings. or
u decidedly sober ard ancient brown one
the two being in conjunction. Ofcourse
he fastened upon the blue hat for never
since the food did grave, questionable
| bonnet give out such gushing laughter as
that.
Kelly was not city gertleman-not he.
He was squire in rural town, leader
of town affairs A man of mark to whom
the village politicians looked for shrewdest
| counsels. on whom abused people called
for advice and redress, and in whose hands
friendless widows put the management of
their scanty estates, sure that all would be
doEe for them and the little orphans, that
tact. fidelity, and a warm heart could &C
complish
The blue hat was city hat; and the
brown hair it covered, together with the
hazel eyes that sparkled in front of it,were
of city growth. But the sober, brown bon
net was a rural affair and the lady under
1t was rural aunt of good dimensions,
both person and heart. Before the eatas
trophe which brought out the laughter, the
aunt was listening atteutivey to the lady's
very eager request that she would try and
procure her a school near her country
home; after the accident the brown bonnet
gave very appropriate and impressive
lecture on the Improperly of laughing
out that way, when the street was full of
folks"
why, who could help it, auntie? Did
you ever see anything so funny? Laugh
L didn't laugh-it laughed itself o, dear"
| and then the little figure trembleG from hat
to slipper under the shaking Of suppressed
merriment. Indeed, to escape another
lecture, she had to cover lips, nose, and
| eyes almost, in scented linen cambria.
well, you see, auntie." said the little
blue hat, recurring to the former tonic,
father isn't rich, indeed ] don't think he
Is as well OH as he seems to he; family is
large-all girls, too, just bill of expense
you know, and / don't like to have father
furnish me music lessons any longer, for
| know he can't afford it. But | wouldn't
give up my music for the world only /
want to pay part the expense myself
| Father isn't able, he looks more and more
care worn every day. ! am really afraid"
and here the the voice fell and became
very serious, 81 am really afraid things are
going wrong with him. Besides, want
to be doing something, I'm better girl
when am not a drone, and Dependent
Yes, auntie, / must and will have a school
-therel Will you help me?
The brown bonnet caught the girls en-
tbusiasm and promised.
You must have known, reader. from the
brief description OF my friend Kelly, that
he was the town school superintendent
Who else was SO well qualified to look
after the interest of the public schools?
One morning at six O'clock my friend
rises at five, and has good fire in his
Office and an appetite for breakfast at SIX
a 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 blessing timidly both walked in.
My niece would like to be examined to
take the school in our district"
Certainly" said the town superintend-
ent, laying the poker on the tabie,-"Cer-
tainly your aunt-beg pardon-your niece
shall be examined, madam. Warm morn
ing, marin, "-wiping the perspiration
from his face with a sheet of blotting pa
per.
BLESS you! it's the coolest morning
we've had this fall" said the astonished
aunt-"Why, Mary's face has been like
peony, all the way, ridin' in the wind
Jest 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 mean very cold indeed, ma'am,
very"
The town superintendent was not long,
however, in getting better possession Of his
faculties; and at length the examination
commenced.
Your residence. if you please" said
Kelly blandIy.
Milwaukee" timidly.
May ! ask where you were educated ?"
continued the questioner. looking for once
into the eyes which were sparkling
despite tho blushing embarrassed features.
I'm the public schools, SIR"
did you graduaie?"
Eyes, sir"
May look at your diplomat"
The lady handed a roll tied with blue
ribbon. Kelly tried hard TO unite it. hut
soon got the knot in very bad FIX The
pretty fingers of the blue hat were called
INTO requisitinn, and the knot was conquered
close before him under his eyes. Opening
the roll -
Mary Denver! Is that your name?"
" -.