The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-06-15
AUNT JEM'S BONNET.

Did you ever watch canary flying
about in its cage, and turning its head
knowingly from side to side, as if it were
in deep meditation upon some subject
through all its restless hurry? Well,
very much after that same fashion, Miss
Jemima Veer went fitting about in the
little drab house under the hill one bright
spring morning. She shook out the
white muslin curtains with tender re-
spect for their old age, and arranged
them so that the darns Aould not show,
placed a cushion carefully over damages
wrought by little feet in the seat of the
old-fashioned rocking-chair, and busted
the tall clock in the corner as faithfully
as if its long hand were not missing.
In truth, that room was sort of hospital
for disabled furniture but then the in
valids all had such cozy, well-cared-for
look that one never thought of noticing
their deficiencies and the little brown
eyed, brown-haired woman who hustled
about among them was as bright and
CHEEKY as need be. But this day there
was an unsolved problem looking out
from the eyes, and nc v and then Miss
Jen.ima would come to momentary
pause in her occupation, and strike an
interrogation-poin attitude at the end
of some mental question. At last she
stopped by one of the windows, and
drew from her pocket a somewhat faded
! green-and-silver purse-a lean, dyspep-
tic-looking purse, that Topped about in
downcast way, as if aware that it
would be called upon to deliver up what
it had not got. Miss Veer's thorough
fingers searched its utmost depth, then
turned it wrong side up and shook it,
that no shirking penny might be hidden
away in its corners. The amount in her
hand was small enough when all was
done. She counted it forward and back
ward, but it didn't grow any either way /;
so she closed her fingers over it, with the
faintest breath of a sigh, and said, with
decided shake of her head:
az can't do it. Teddy wants new
shoes, Rob must have jacket, and bon
net isn't to be thought Of"
Which didn't follow at all for she
thought of it more vigorously than ever
after having ascertained beyond doubt
that there was no money to buy new
one. She did not need to look at the one
she had worn all winter to see how shah
by it was she could feel that, even with
it away up stairs in the bandbox. 1t
had been twisted and turned, made and
remade, from year to year, until it was
"poor but respectable" no longer, besides
being all out of season and so her head,
berett of its ancient shelter, went seeking
a new covering. When the house was
all in order, and Rob and Teddy lauda-
bly, employed in trying to plow up the
back yard with the flour scoop, she went
up stairs, and from among the cast-off
treasures of certain old red chest in the
attic tished up q straw bonnet-immense
in size, yellow in color, and of shape in
describable. She laughed at the effect
as she tried it on before her tiny mirror I;
but, after all, it was not laughing
matter; indeed, it seemed more like a
crying one as she turned the antique
affair on her hand and wondered soberly
what it would be possible to make of it.
Upon her meditations there suddenly
broke the slight rustic of stiff dress,
and the sound of d footstep that spoke Of
dignity and one hundred and fifty
pounds, and announced the coming of
Aunt Hester. 1t was the only announce
ment that lady thought it necessary to
make; for she entered without the for
mality of knock, seated herself in the
rocking chair, or attempted to do so,
but immediately resumed her feet again.
Hum! I advise you to put that
chair out of the way, Jemima. One
can't be always remembering that the
bottom is broken out" she remarked,
severely: "unless, indeed, you intend it
as trap to catch your friends in"
If that was the object, I'd set it just
outside the gate, and try to catch them
before they got in," Miss Jemima whis-
pered, rebeliiously, to herself, as she
arose to bring forward another chair-a
sound, substantial wooden one.
Aunt Hester surveyed it doubtfully, as
if she suspected some deception, but
finally settled herself in it, shook her
black alpaca into proper folds, and said
IL thought L would call 10 see how
you were getting on"
1t did occur to Jemima that if she had
known of her coming she would have
got so far on as to be out of sight; but
she only answered, quietly, About as
usual we are, thank you, Aunt Hester"
"Aunt Jem Aunt Jeml" cried Rob
and Teddy, making rush from the
yard, getting terribly mixed up in the
doorway, and each trying to explain
the others remarks before he had made
any. "'Deed, Aunt Jem, we won't hurt
it any-a rumbreller to build barn
with cause we can't put our horse no
where and we want it top O. the chick
en-coop. Say, may we 2"
"Yes, dear, yes (; but don't be so noisy,
boys. Don't you see Aunt Hester is
here 2" answered Aunt Jem, indulgent
but distressed.
"Yes; that's why we don't want to
come in for" answered Teddy, with re-
freshing frankness. wont you please
to hand the rumbreller out, Aunt Jem Z"
Aunt Jem produced the umbrella, in
full consciousness that her visitor was
watching with grim disapproval, and was
prepared for the speech that came next.
"You are spelling those children,
Jemima-completely spelling them. 1
am really astonished at you"
1t was point upon which the lady's
astonishment had become chronic, so
Jemima did not attempt to lessen it, and
momentary silence ensued.
"Ah" !" said Aunt Hester, in q more
gracious tone, after her eyes had scanned
every other article in the room, and
rested finally on the bonnet. "What do
you propose to do with that, my dear"
~ don't know" answered Jemima,
rather disconsolately.