The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-03-03
Gbe Gintes, NeO BLOOMFIELD, 9Da.

Die MI. May WAS with her. Old folks like
to be noticed yet you know.
When Nancy Jane went over that eve
ming to carry Jerusha speedwelI, the
dress-maker, her daily pint of milk she told
the news.
:" guess it must be a mistake,' said Je-
rusha doubtfully.
90 Oh no It isn't" persisted Nancy Jane
60 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 Lucy's gold mixed, and |
thought it queer they didn't have them
alike, but I guess they thought pearl gray
more suitable for the BRIDE"
"Sure enough" said Miss speedwell.
"I fitted those dresses less than month
ago, but never thought thing" Miss
Speedwell told her next customer that Be-
linda was to be married in pearl gray
poplin, probably 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 a score of bonnets in these degener-
ate days. Opening it, she took carefully
out huge old straw bonnet dating 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 bon
net forty-five years, and it's just as good as
new to-day. The strings are little soiled
but can wash 'em out and then it will
bo already to wear to meetin' next Sun
day."
Grandma hadn't been to church for
years, so this announcement excited no
little surprise.
"You shall have new bonnet if you
want to go to meeting" her son shouted
in her ear.
=" A new one to make fun, dare say but
don't care for that. This is a good SEN
sible bonnet, worth dozen of the little
fiddlin' things they tuck on behind their
ears nowadays. should catch my death
of cold with one of 'em; I'd great deal
rather tie handkerchief on my head than
wear one."
"You should have new one made large,
you know" shouted Mrs Freeman.
"Too far to go La sakes 1 amt so
feeble but what l can walk that little
ways. My red shawl will be warm enough
if it is a pleasant day, and my black ala
packy dress is all the fashion now.
There was clearly no way but to let the
old lady take her course, as when her
mind was made up it was like the laws of
the Medes and Persians. But Lucy and
Belinda were wholly overcome the next
morning when their mother told them of
grandma's plan. fs.i
"What does make her do SOP" cried
Lucy.
"Pm sure l don't know, but she's bound
to do it, and l see no way to prevent it."
g She hasn't been to church for years, {"
said their mother soothipgly, "the best
way is to be independent and not mind
it."
But girls at eighteen and twenty rarely
possess the independence of mind that be-
longs to forty or forty-fve so the church
bells on Sabbath morning rang to them,
secluded in their chamber, peeping through
closed blinds at church goers. Not one of
the family had chanced to hear the rumors
which had been flying all over town the
past two days, gaining volume with repe-
tition, until full particulars of the bridal
costumes, the house they were to occupy
and the furniture already purchased, form
ed part of the regular story. alt comes
from the family SO it must be So" was the
clincher that convinced all doubters.
Grandma had settled her huge sky
seraper of bonnet with many and long
consultations of the mirror, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Freeman proposed to walk to church
with her, both trying not to feel the ridic-
ulousness Of the situation. Grandma was
formed somewhat like Mrs. Stoves old
ladies-"lile a bag of feathers with a
string tied around the middle" and the
ample skirts of her black "alpacky' seem
ed to hang from heavy and chubby cider
barrel. An old fashioned red shawl COW
cred her broad shoulders, and over aud
above all, the crowning glory of the whole
outfit, was that bonnet, her little wrinkled
face appearing in the middle of its huge
circumference in about the proportions of