Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-07-05
Mrs. HOPKINS bonnet


fort livin in M if it hadn't been for
Miss Wilson. She was the fastest
dressin' woman | ever see. Every thing
she put on looked well, if it want moth
in but a six cent print. If there was
anything pretty she would have it. She
come over to our house one evenin' and
we got to speakin' about bunnits. /
was calculatin' to wear the one | had
the summer before. She said she was
gOin' to have new one and asked me
if [ had noticed that one in Miss Evans
window Said she:
II don t know when [ ever see a bum
nit that took my eve as that one. and [
mean to have it. It's perfect beauty. :"
what kind OF bunnit is it?'' l asked.
at is a beautiful white Dunstable
trimmed with cream-cOlored ribbon and
pink roses" said she.
After she had gone [ kept thinkin'
about that bunnit. Here was a chance
where [ could cit ahead of Miss Will
son.
Wal, the end of it was [ got up in the
mornin' bound to have that bunnit. Just
as soon as [ got my work done up, Iput
on my things and started for Miss Ev-
ans shop, and sure enough, the first
thing | see in the window was that bum
net. | tried it on; it looked well; it
was handsome bonnet and no mistake
1t WASH the fashion then to have ties,
but an elastic cord held it on, and
there was long ends hanging down be-
hind.
Wal, [ paid the six dollars and went
home with the bunnit
When John come tn dinner, he said
there was man goin' tn lecture that
eYenin', who had been livin' long the
Injins and he wanted tn 90 and hear
him. [ thought it would be a good
chance to wear my new bunnit, so [
said right off that | wanted to 90. We
want long goin' tn the hall. John let
down the top of the buggy and [ jumped
out
The man had just got up tn speak as
we went in; the hall was about full, but
John went clear up front, and got some
seats. l was glad of it, twas good
chance to show my bunnit. I saw Miss
Wilson the first thing and thinks I tn
myself, wonder who has got the pref
test bunnit this time?
[ saw folks lookin' q good deal, and
kinder smilin', and some young girls
that sat right behind began to giggle.
just then John looked round at me-
Now he never took no notice of my
clothes; he couldn't tell calico from
cashmere; but he kept bookin' at me,
and | thought my bunnit must be very
becomin' for John to take so much no.
tice of it.
just then he whispered to me and
said, ''For massy sake! what did you
come here without your bunnit for?''
l put my hand to my head, and, sure
enough, my bunnit was gone. Just
think of it, Matildy; there was, in that
hall full of folks, right up in front, with
no bunnit on, and that little horn comb
to keep my bunnit on stickin' in my
hair. I wished | could sink down
through the floor. | was so 'shamed I
didn't know what to du. Inever thought
nothin' bout the bunnit, where it had
gone nor nOthin'. [ only wanted to GIT
out of that hall, and | did. [ dom t
know how / ever had the spunk to do
it, but anything was better than sittin'
there and everybody laughin' at me.
he did, for [ almost had a hysteric fit.
[ cried and laughed. He tried to talk
to me and tell me it want no matter,
that folks hadn't noticed it, but that on
ly made me feel worse. Hadn't [ seen
them laughin' at me?
[ told him he must take me home; so
he got the buggy and when went to
git in, if there want my bunnit lynn in
the top of the buggy.
You see, when John let the top back,
one of the long ends of ribbon got caught
some way, and the bunnit was drawn
right off my head. Come to look at it,
the elastic cord hadn't been sewed on,
and had pulled off; that was why the
bunnet slipped off so easy. [ tell you,
Matildy, my pride had fall, [ never
took a mite of comfort wearin that bun
nit. But twas a good lesson tn me-
| gave up tryin' tn keep up with Miss
Wilson