Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-04-02
AJ11ath' /. Column
PIE STORY OF MRS. POLLY
ANN .BUNCE'S BEST CAP.

Mrs. Polly Ann Bunce was Beth
Halls grandmother. and she wanted
to 90 to the convention at Providence.
1T isn't likely, LII beth" she
said TO Beth's mother, THAT I'll ever
live to see many more of these ami
versaries, and, as I am not so poorly
as usual, this year, think I'd like
to CO.
"Well," said Mrs. Hall, Il have
been counting on spending day
with Lucius's wife, and 1 might as
we'll 90 now and take you to the con-
vention.''
81 want to 90 to the convention,
too" cried Beth. "And, anyhow,
Mother, if l don't 60 to the conven-
ton, should like to 60 to Prov
idence."
Her mother looked very doubtful
for moment, and then said:
swell, well, I'll see about it. We
shall not 90 till next week Thursday
so don't begin to tease now, child.
By Wednesday Mrs. Hall had de-
cided to take Beth with her to Prov
idence, and as Dot and / needed new
shoes, she offered to let us join the
party.
There were quite number Of
Tuckertown people going into tow
that day. Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Polly
Ann Bunce went in the early train
but as there was not room for us il
the carriage, Beth, Dot, and [ were
to follow in the next one, under The
care of Mrs. Ithamar Tibbetts.
Mrs. Hall said that this was a very
nice arrangement, but Beth and
didn't think so, by any means. Aun
Jane says I have prejudice agains
Mrs. Ithamar Tibbetts, and that sht
is a good, generous woman. [ sup
pose she is, but Beth and | console(
ourselves that day with the though
that, when we got to the station, W
could run away from Mrs. Tibbett
and oct seat in another car. Blu
she kept her eye on us every minute
and finally seated herself directly be
hind us.
II don't care" / whispered t
Beth. SIN the big depot at Prov
dence / know we can get away froI
her. We will hurry out of the cal
ahead, and there will be so niue
noise we shan't hear her call after us
While we run out into the street, sh
will have to stay and look after he
baggage. That is, if you know tt
way, Beth"
"Oh, yes, 1 know the way" sal
Beth.
We didn't have any baggage e,
cept Mrs. Polly Ann Bunce's be-
cap, in box, which Mrs. Hall hs
given us to carry for her.
Well, everything happened exact
as we had planned, and soon Mr.
Tibbetts and we had parted comp
ny. "Now," said Beth, "let's wa
slowly and look into all the sh,
windows. want to spend my mo
ey right off,"
Beth had a dollar, and Dot and
each had fifty cents. Mrs. Hall h
the money for our shoes.
had just made up my mind
buy lovely fan with shepherds
painted on it, when Dot sudden
cried: "Why, where is Mrs. Pc
Ann Bunce's best cap?"
Sure enough, where aUas it?
SIT has gone on to Boston in
train," said Beth family. "We l
it in the cars in our hurry to get aw
from Mrs. Tibbetts.
"Oh, how Mrs. Polly Ann Bur
aviU look without any cap!' gigg1
Dot.
"And how do you think you v
look when we have to tell that
lost it?' snapped Beth.
Dot, of course, began to cry.
"'T wasn't my fault, Beth HI
I'm real little girl. 1t was y
fault and Mary James,
SIT was the fault of all of III
said I. "But | don't care, for
can buy her a new cap. We h
money enough, Pm sure"
''Yes, but l had rather buy cal
than caps" whined Dot.
MARY jane" said Beth, eff
and Dot will give your money,
will have two dollars altogether. T
much do you suppose caps cost?'
II Dunno answered Dot
never buy 'em."
At that they all laughed, and T
said they were ugly things anyh
and ought not to be more than a
lar. In that case, we should
fifty cents left to spend.
Pretty soon we came to p
where there were bonnets in the
dow, and We thought they would
caps there, too.
MARY Jane. you ought to as
said Beth. ''You are the oldest.
''I'm only two weeks older I
you," said l, "and I've done enc
things to make up for those
weeks long ago.
Well, if not the oldest, the yo
est, then. The middle person n
does anything" Beth said, wi
nod at Dot.
There are folks who slip out o
erything, and Beth Hall is one