Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-08-08


I've heard Sc me news" he said to
the family when he got home, " Belin-
dy Freeman's gong to be married"
q" When 2" who to " The questions
rained down
Next Sunday morning in church, to
that May fellow. He's got a house al
ready engaged. | didn't ask what one,
but presume it's the Cox house, right
next to the law otfice-that's empty
now.
He's called on the girls, and wait
ed on them too, sad his daughter,
Nancy Jane, "but | didn't suppose
there was anything serious as yet
g Well, it appears it's settled. The
old lady ga me full particulars. She
seemed as pleased as a child, and told
how sociable Mr.. May was with her.
Old folks like to be noticed, you know. y
When Nancy Jane went over that
evening to carry Jerusha Speedwell,
the dress-maker, her daily pint of milk,
she told the news
+" | guess it must be a mistake, said
Jerusha doubtfully.
"Oh, no, it isn't" persisted Nancy
Jane, g for we had it right from the
family. And that explains those Irish
poplin dresses the girls had this spring.
Belinda's was pearl gray and Lucv's
gold mixed, and | thought it queer
they didn't have them alike: but I guess
they thought pearl gray was more suit
able for the bride"
Sure enough" said Miss Speed
well. Il fitted those dresses less than
a month ago, but / never thought a
thing Miss Speedwell told her next
customer that Belinda was to be mar
ried in pearl gray poplin, probable with
bonnet and gloves to match.
That evening while the Freeman
girls were at prayer meeting, and only
their parents at home with grandma,
the latter went into her bedroom and
soon came out bringing huge band
box, large enough to contain score of
bonnets in these degenerated days.
Opening it, she took carefully out a
huge old straw bonnet, dated a half
century back, and trimmed with faded
green gauze ribbon. Mr. and Mrs.
freeman looked ON in quiet surprise as
she turned the ancient article around
and looked it carefully over.
"There said she, "I've had that
bonnet forty years, and it's just as
goods new to-day. The strings are a
little soiled, but l can wash 'em out,
and then it will be all ready to wear to
moetIn' next Sunday"
Grandma hadn't been to church for
a., nya,tnl
no little surprise.
"You shall have a new bonnet if YOU
want to go to meetin', = her son shouted
in her ear.
"a new one to make fun. | dare say;
but | don't care for that This IS a
good sensible bonnet, worth "A dozen
of the little tiddlin' things they tuck on
behind their ears nowadays. | should
catch my death of cold with one Of
EN-; I'd a great deal rather tie a hand
kerchief on my head than wear one.
" You could nave new one made
large, you know" shouted Mrs. Free.
man.
TOO far to go La sakes ! | amt
so feeble but what | can walk that lit
tie ways My red shawl will be warm
enough if it's pleasant day, and my
black alpaclly dress is all the fashion
now.'
There was clearly no way but to let
the old lady take her own course, as
when her mind was made up it was like
the laws laws of the Modes and Per
SLAMS But Lucy and Belinda were
wholly overcome the next morning
when their mother told them of grand
mas plan.
" What does make her do so 2" cried
Lucy
Tn sure I don't know, but she's
bound to DO it, and | see no way to
prevent"
{" She hasn't been to church for
years, SAID Belinda, land knows she
can't hear a word. Strange what she
wants TO go now for :"
:" know one thing" said Lucy de-
u won't go to church step
if she goes with that awful looking
thing on her head.
" Nor l, put in Belinda. "Iguess
not, indeed. y
sob now, girls, said their mother
soothingly, "the best way is to be IN
and not mind it,
But girls at eighteen and twenty
rarely possess the independence of
mind that belongs to forty or forty
five: SO the church bells on Sabbath
morning rang to them secluded in their
peeping through closed blinds
Mt the church-goers. Not one of the
family had chance to hear the rumors
which had been flying MI over town for
the past two days, gaining volume with
every repetition until full particulars
of the bridal costumes, the house they
were to occupy, and the furniture al
ready purchased formed part Of the
regular story. 1T comes from the
M MI - Il mnst he 50 y WIS the