Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-09-12

open-hearted. He's got house all en-
gagged, and they're goin' right to house
kecpin.'
The deacon's ears were all agape to
hear further particulars, but Mr.. Free
mans entrance just then cut short the
garrulous old lady, and as her son made
no allusion 10 the coming event, in the
conversation which followed, the deacon
would not seem inquisitive, and so re-
ceived no more information.
I've heard some news he said to his
family when he got home. 'Belindy
Freeman's going to be married.
When 2 who to-? tho questions
rained down.
Next Sunday morning in church to
that May fellow He's got house al
ready engaged. [ didn't ask what one
but presume it is the Cox house, right
next to the law of1icc-that is empty
now
He's called on the girls, and waited
on them, too, said his daughter Nancy
Jane, but I did not suppose there was
dHyJHluS SERIOUS aS yeU.
We'll, i appears it is all settled. The
old lady gave me full particulars. She
seemed as pleased as child, and told
how sociable Mr.. May was with her.
Old folks like to be noticed, you know
When Nancy Jane went over that
evening, to carry Jerusha Specdwell,
the dress-maker, her daily pint of milk
she told the news.
Il guess it must be q mistake, said
Jerusha, doubtfully.
ooh, no, it isn't persisted Nancy
Jane, "for we had it right from the fam
lily. And that explains those Irish pop
lin dresses the girls had this Spring
Belinda's was pearl grey and Lucy's gold
mixed, and | thought it queer they didn'a
have them alike, but | guess they thought
pearl grey was more suitable for the
! bride"
"Suro enough" said Miss Speedwell
II fitted those dresses more than month
ago, but never thought thing" Miss
Speedwell told her next customer that
Belinda was to be married in pearl grey
poplin, probably with bonnet and gloves
to match.
That evening when the Freeman girls
were at prayer-meeting and only their
parents at home with grandma, the lat
ter went into her bedroom and soon came
out bringing huge bandbox, large
enough to contain score of bonnets in
these degenerate days. Opening it, she
took carefully out huge old straw bon
net, dating 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; eve had that
bonnet these forty-fve years, and it's
just as good as new to-day. The strings
are little soiled, but / can wash en-
out, and then it will be all ready to wear
to meetin' next Sunday"
Grandma hadn't been to church for
years, 80 this announcement excited no
little surprise.
"'You shall have new bonnet if you
want to go to meeting" her son shouted
in her ear.
ga new one to make fun I dare say;
but don't care for that. This is good,
sensible bonnet, worth dozen of the
little fddlin' things they tuck on behind
their ears nowadays. / should catch
my death of cold with one of 'em. I'd a
great deal rather tie handkerchief on
my head than wear one"
"You could have new one made
large. you know" shouted Mrs. freeman.
''Too far to go! La sakcs amt SO
feeble but what | can walk that little
ways. My rod shawl will be warm
enough if it's a pleasant day, and my black
alpacky dress is all the fashion now"
There was clearly no way but to lot
the old lady take her own course, for
when her mind was made up it was like
the law Of the Modes and Persians But
Lucy and Belinda were wholly overcome
the next morning when their mother told
them of grandma's plan.
"What does mako her do so p cried
Lucy.
"Pm sure I don't know, but she's
bound to do it, and sec no way to pre-
vent it,"
"She hasn't been to church for years"
said Belinda, "and knows she can't hear
a word. Strange what she wants to go
now for"
Il know one thing" said Lucy decid-
cdly. II won't go to church step if
she goes with that awful looking thing
on her head"
"Nor l." put in Belinda. II guess
not, indeed"
"Oh, now, girls" said their mother,
soothingly, "the best way is to be indie
pendent and not mind it,"
But girls at eighteen and twenty rarely
possess the independence of mind that
belongs to forty or forty-fve; so the
church bells on Sabbath morning rang
to them secluded in their chamber, peep
ing through closed blinds at the church
goers Not one of the family had CHANGED
to hear the rumors which had been flying
all over town for the past two days,
gaining volume with every repetition,
until full particulars Of the bridal cos
tunes, the house they were to occupy,
and the furniture already purchased,
formed part of the regular story. cit
comes from the family, so it must be 50,
was the clincber that convinced all.
:. Grandma had settled her huged sky
scraper of bonnet with many and long
consultations Of the mirror, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Freeman proposed TO walk TO church