The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-06-25
A VERY REMARKABLE HAT.

1t was Il very cold and windy afternoon
and the acknowledgements Boston) were
uncomforyably crowded. Templeton, Jr.,
who took his Mount Pleasant car at the
corner OF West Street. could only find
standing oom on the rear platform. TO
reach home in time for tea, he must con-
tent himself with a breezy corner by the
step on the right-hand side, just where he
could look in the window and admire the
double row Of happier ones safe inside.
These details are important to a right I'M
dCrStanding of the peculiar and distressing
events that took place when the ear passed
up fremont Street and entered Shawmut
Avenue. All Went well with Templeton,
IT., til the car slowed down to cross the
iron bridge over the tracks Of the Boston
& Albany Railroad. Here a cold blast
swept down the open space between the
HOUSES where the railroad curved off TO
the east, and that Mount Pleasant car
seemed a m0ckerv and a confusion to the
unhappy beings on the rear platform.
There was a dense cloud of white steam
blowing up from the track, and with child
like curiOSitE Templeton, Jr., turned to
gaze down upon the passing train. In
stantly so much of his riches as might be
comprised in his silk hat, took to itself
wings and gaily flew away. OF course
TcmplctOn, Jr., followed his property
with speed. The east wind was too quick
for him, and his hat flew over the low iron
railing down to the railroad below. He
reached the walk just in time to see his
hat land safely upon an empty PLATFORM
car, and glide swiftly away on the 1870 p.
M. Albany express freight. There was
MS hat calmly riding away with the freight
charges unpaid. and he disconsolatc on the
bridge in Shawmut Avenue. For an in
slant he thought of the Providence Rail
road crossing, a mile beyond, where all
trains stopped, and he was for racing after
it. The laughter OF Sundry idle boys and
other vain persons who stood round about,
convinced him of the folly of such a chase,
and with uncovered head he watched the
train till it disappeared under the fremont
Street bridge. Then ne turned for his ear.
1t Wa gone. Hemustt take another. The
raw east wind suggested to him that his
first duty was 70 get another hat.
He looked for some one to sell him one.
There was no man. He lett the bridge
and walked on up the avenue in search Of
a hat store. Suddenly he saw a ign that
chcered his heart. Its legend sOothei his
Spirit-"Hats blocked here"
Would the man kindly sell him i nat ?
No? hadn't a hat in the place. Block
M for lou, sir.
"Oh, dear, no, Just wanted a new one,
that was ALL"
"LOst him :" inquired the man.
Yes" replied Templeton. Jr., with
feeling Il lostit-blew away, yOuknOw."
1t was singular, but the man had not a
hatin his shop that he could sell. If the
gentleman would wait, perhaps he could
find some kind of a head covering that
would do to wear home in default OF any
other. He was a grimy, smOked-dried.
little man. and he poked about among his
dusty hat boxes, and at last he did find a
very ancient felt hat.
There was a hat the gentleman might
have it if he would take it. Templeton,
Jr., looked atthe forlOrn Oldhat with some
misgivings. Could he wear such a par
ticularly bad hat in the streets of respecta-
bic Boston? There was no could or
would about 1.-THE must. There was not
a hat store within two blocks. and he
must put this disreputable thing on. or go
bare-headed at the risk of bad cold and
the derision ofall light-minded passers in
the street.
The little hat blocker would take no pay