Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-30

THE SHABBY HAT.

The SHA8Bf NAT.
Snow, John, you must give up this time
to me, like dear boy, and get yourself a
nice thick cvercoMt; ! don't mean you
shall ever wear that one again; 1t is real
~ TOO bad, land 30 saying, Mrs Flake
white took up from the table the coat In
question, which had been warm friend
to me for don't know how many winters
and had been turned and repsfrcd, Gil
what with new liningsand buttons, differ
ebt collars and bindings to the cuffs, very
little Of the original garment re-
MANNED, and the general result was un.
mistakably shabby and hung II MP In
iine CLOSET with very determined air
indeed, that plainly told me her decision
In the case was final
The fact Of the matter was this: Very
Unexpectedly and opportuneiy, l had sold
enc OF my pictures at fair price, and
hsvins paid in full the arrears Of some
household accounts. there still remained
IN our hands, unexpended, the magnificent
sum Of twenty I'VE dollars, the best use 10
make Of which we were arguing and de.
gliding upon, when the reader is introduced
into our snug little sitting room. Ten
dollars Of the amount We both agreed
should GO into the savings bank, while the
remaining fifteen dollars--a very consid
cradle amount 10 an artist with reputation
yet to make, and the best little wife Ia the
world 10 snpport--we were tree 10 use a.
We PLEASED
But, nay dear" Eaid /, "you know
You WAN . mex hst and warm winter
=lSweA, and good thick soled shoes 80
yon get them now, and ] viii pruInise 10
pny neg coat 1hen ! eel another pic
Eure"
Mrh Fiakewhits quietiy came over 10
mr. and puffisg ner arm around my neck,
a. u my face directly Ia front OF her own
ai,ra. he'd piaap cheeks and bright eyes,
w. firm bol5 If nv TAR in her right
ha02 ers mr. Il a pail al tacD word 10 pc
cult gurss was wing attention, and said
ir esaxigt- lorA aud manner, the Ike of
whsrn | never aia ssr III any otntd we-
msn--never - ahnf ven say ptsase,
yea always do wiaal wish now picast
puy yourself new csas
Ofcourss prQmi@edie do ar she asked
] cead Rss aape refused Under the cir
snzaesances II she had expressed wish 10
Anvs me purchase GENITAL Park for
summer Residence, aud build q rose and
scpeyguskie covered cottage in tins Ram
he. Iris impartEnt matter being brought
No satisfactory conclusion. aDd having
beer talk irg abou. 1t long time, we
vent b. bed.
sawoks early next morning the ham
uer If oar little sight-day clock In the
scrnsr bad Just struck five hurried blows
I'm the twanging pieces Of corled wire In
side Of It's gothic porch, while the COR
xcous landscape painted on its glass win
oOw.froni. resplendcnt 10 the earliest
meilow light of summer sun, was the
krys object which greeted my sleepy eyes,
And CONSEQUENCES again broke In upon
nv short forgetfulness Of trouble In sleep,
waking me 10 realize that II was time 70
be No and doing--that every available In
sssnt OF daylight must be coined upon my
pslle4 every ray Of sunlight, % lar - Icy
within my power, be stamped upon my
canvas ia some recognized form or legal
tender, the sum total 10 form the basis Of
"sight draft" upon the public, that, Il
daily "honored when presented, would
furniah my loving, accomplishing, gentle,
Aard. toiling, cheerful wife with such ar.
Nclss Of necessity - she required, and
cd many Q little luxury TO our simple
nseds and fancies, during the long stay Of
winter, who had already heralded IL
scming by sending on his rough night
winds 70 moan among tho tree tops, TO
shAke, Entering down, the rustling
hrown leaves that seemed reluctant, even
IN death, TO quit the boughs that bore
Them, and 70 rudely sing and ffolic about
or chimney TOPS, impudently blowing
aOwn pufis Of smoke into our very hce,
% We sat near our little wood hre, during
fhs Arst chilly evenings Of October, while
sJock Frost "-winter's own clown and
jssisr-was already 1t his prankA Jogging
natures arms - ahe daintily painted our
window panea thus causing the long,
iAnting fines W GO zg-zAgging scroea
thsm . cold night, rOugelng n0se - well
- face Of old maid and young, nipping
sharply q exposed fingers and toes, and
Aeedleesly causing many . groan from
those unsheltered Rom his merciless fun.
lThst1l do 1or one sentence.
Thus 40rAiizing nysslf a.aks, I.qsSse:
y tuf1sd ont u bed, dressed and slipped
Gut d the room, leaving nfA Flake
vhite-poor tired little PROFESSIONALLY
iweSt down into the dtsisg.room 70,
ny shoes, where bad changed them thu
night previous for slippers. and while en-
gaged In putting them ON, some articles
q J0Q08lo 8ttW0 On VIC Cu8U u08I W ~
tracted my attenti N. First, there lay or
1pp Mra FAkewhite'e hat Of brown straw
4 was neatly mended In Z dozen places
the pearl-colored ribbon on II, though bu1
Istle soiled, was creased and perforated
With flne holes, and pricked almost to Z
pattern, In places where II had been sewet
ON in different shapes there were NJ
flowers In 1t, and the strings, from much
tying under her round chin, were lustre
les and ropy. ] felt my eyes moisten and
ny sight grow dim, - looked at 1t held
out Ct arms length. and thought how diff
aren't Il was from the trim bonnet wish.
Cd 70 go cover that wavy brown hair,
ana shade that dear fAce ; but then ! re-.
nembered, with pride and pleasure. that
even IN spite of it, being In last years
style and its other shortcomings, many Q
kind admiriDg glance was directed q its
contents - Mr1 r. and walked out In
the afternoon, when II became too dark to
paint. Then there Wa well worn dreas
6aN ripped up, that my wiles nimblc
1nSsss were dcubslea engaged IN turning