New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-29
A sCANDALoUy SHAWL.


from the Osweg0 Palladium.
In one Of the most fourishing villages Of
this county, there was recent occurrence
Which meritcd chronicling. A dry goods
merchant went to New York, and,
among the articles purchased, brought home
three shawls of a most remarkable pattern
and unlike anything ever before seen in the
village. The consequence was decided
sensation among the ladies. The shawas
were wonderful, perfectly lovely, Of fine
material, elegantly wrought and costly.
They were Of one pattern, but each q
peculiar color. One was Of broad stripes Of
blue and white, another of scarlet and white,
and the third of purple and white.
For the purpose Of telling the singular yet
truthful story Of shawls, We shall imprOvise
names instead Of using real ones.
Mr.. McGlural, the merchant, opened out
his stock ON Tuesday, and the fame Of the
shawls Immediately spread: al! the ladies
in the village called at McGlurals to see and
to admire them. Mrs. Fiskin, the bankers
wife, went into ecstacies, and besieged Els
kin, my dear" SO vigorously, that on Thurs
day morning he capitulated. and Mrs. Fiskin
had the purple and white shawl sent home.
The news spread, and on Friday Miss Poun-
Ger, the lawyers daughter, carried of tri-
umphantly the blue and white shawl.
Now, between Miss POuncer, the lawyers
daughter, and Miss Grit, the miller's daugh-
ter, there was a long standing jealousy,
The papas Of both these young ladies were
well off," but POuncer was liberal, and
''rigged up" his daughter in the latest style,
while Grit, an austere, close-fsted man,
severe upon dress and eloquent upon the
ruin it had brought ON the ''sex, made Miss
Grit's attempts to rival Miss POuncer very
labOrious.
When Miss Grit and her mamma heard
that Miss Peuncer had CARRIED off the second
shawl, they were consumed with jealousy,
and Immediately set to work to devise ways
and means to secure the scarlet and white
shawl. 1t was decided to beseech Grit after
breakfast on Saturday morning but their
courage failed them, and Mr.. Grit having
said grace after meat-departed uncOaxed.
At dinner the attempt was to be made sure,
but Grit flor some unaccOuntable reasOnl
did not come home to dinner. The good
Mrs. Grit, moved by her daughters tears
and pleadings during the afternoon, at last
consented to allow Angelina to buy the last
Of the coveted shawls without the consent of
papa. Angelina Immediately called upon
MEG hnral and asked to see the shawl. To
her dismay she learned that it was "sold this
morning."
Who had bought it! was the nextquestiOn.
McGlural was disposed to be reticent, but
finally told Miss Grit that her father had
bought the shawl, and undoubtedly intended
to surprise her.
Angelina was happy. She ran right home
and told her mother. "Pa" came home to
tea, but said nothing about the shawl.
"He thinks he's keeping it awful secret, y
said Angelina. He don't intend to let me
know it until I'm dressed for church tO-mor-
row."
Sunday morning came, but. to Angeline's
surprise, no shawl was forthcoming. She
went to church detected. Mrs. Fiskin was
there in her purple and white shawl, and
Miss Pouncer was there in her blue and
white shawl, and the eyes of the whole con
gregation we're upon them. This was bad
enough, but worse was to come.
Immediately after the first prayer who
should come up the broad aisle but a buxom
young California widow, the village mill
ner, and incased in all the glory Of the scar
let and white shawl.
1t is said that Mr.. Grit experienced some
difficulty in satisfactorily explaining the
little circumstance to his family.