The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
TOLD BY MARY JANE.
The Story of Mrs. Polly Ann Bunce'S
Best Cap.
by A. G. PEy1npFOn.I

motner, ana she wanted to go to the convention
at Providence.
'Tisn't likely, 'Liz'beth,n she said to Beth's
mother, that I'll ever live to see many more
OF these anniversaries, and, as l am not so
poorly as usual, this year, l think I'd like to
go.'
Well" said Mrs Hall, AZ have been count
ing on spending a day with Luciuss wife, and
L might as well go now and take you to the
convention"
Iwant to go to the convention, too cried
Beth. And, anyhow mother, if l don't go to
the convention, l should like to go to Provi-
dence"
Her mother looked very doubtful for mo-
ment, and then said
Well, we'll, III see about it. We shall not
go till next week Thursday, so don't begin to
tease now, child
By Wednesday Mrs. Hall had decided to
take Beth with her to Providence. and as Dot
and needed new shoes, she offered to let US
join the party
There We're quite number of Tuckertown
people going into town that day. Mrs Hall
and Mrs. Polly Ann Bunce went in the early
train, but as there was not room for us in the
carriage, Beth Dot, and | were to follow in the
next one, under the care of Mrs. Ithamar lib
belts
Mrs. Hall said that this was very nice ar
rangement, but Beth and | didn't think so, by
any means. Aunt Jane says L have prejudice
against Mrs Ithamar Tibbetts and that she
IS good, generous woman. | suppose she is,
but Beth and | consoled ourselves that day
with the thought that when we got to the
station, we could run away from Mrs Tibbetts
and get a seat III another car. But she kept
her eye on Us every minute, and finally seated
herself directly behind US.
:" don't care" l whispered to Beth. "In
the big depot at Providence / know we can get
away from her. We viii hurry out of the cars
ahead, and there viii be so much noise we
sha'n't hear her call after us. While we run
out into the street, she viii have to stay and
look after her baggage. That is, if you know
the way Beth"
Oh yes, L know the way said Beth,
We didn't have any baggage except Mrs.
Polly Ann Bunce's best cap, in box, which
Mrs. Hall had given Us to carry for her.
Well, everything happened exactly as we
had planned, and soon Mrs. Tibbetts and we
had parted company. "Now," said Beth, "lets
walk slowly and look into all the shop-win-
dows. want to spend my money right Off"
Beth had dollar, and Dot and each fifty
cents. Mrs. Hall had the money for our shoes
had just made up my mind to buy lovely
fan with a shepherdess painted on it, when
Dot suddenly cried why, where is Mrs.
Polly Ann Bunce's best eap?"
Sure enough, where was it?
" 1t has gone on to Boston in the train" said
Beth, family. "We left it in the cars in our
hurry to get away from Mrs. Tibbetts."
"Oh, how Mrs. Polly Ann Bunce viii look
without any CAPT" giggled Dot.
=" And how do you think you viii look when
we have to tell that we lost it?" snapped Beth
Dot of course, began to cry.
"'Twasn't my fault, Beth Hail. I'm real
little girl. 1t was your fault and Mary
James,
" 1t was the fault of all of u.s. said 1. "But
| don't care, for we can buy her a new cap.
We have money enough, I'm sure
. Yes, but had rather buy candy than caps"
whined Dot
Mary Jane" said Beth, eff you and Dot will
give your money, we will have two dollars
altogether. How much do you suppose caps
cost? n
4 Dunno" answered Dot; 81 never buy
EN-
At that we all laughed, and Beth said they
were ugly things anyhow, and ough not to be
more than a dollar. In that case, we should
have fifty cents left to spend.
Pretty soon we came 10 place where there
We're bOnnets in the window. and we thought
they would keep caps there, too.
Mary Jane, you ought to ask, said Beth.
You are the Oldest"
+" I'm only two weeks older than YOU" said
|, and I've done enough things to make up
for those two weeks long ago"
:" Well, If not the Oldest, the youngest, then.
said, with nod at Dot.
There are folks who slip out of everything
ard Beth Hall is one. was glad when Dot
said:
But it isn't my grandma's cap. 1 think
Beth ought to ask for it."
Come, Mary Jane,' said Beth, "I dare YOU
to do it."
OF course, I had to do it then al guess I'm
not afraid, | said, and walked right into the
shop.
There were three girls behind the showcase.
| said to one of them: " I've come to look at
caps"
They all looked at each other and began to
laugh in most disagreeable way, and one of
them asked: For yourself, madam"
l knew she was making fun of me, and was
just going to say that we would go TO some
other shop, when Dot burst out: why Mary
James only little girl. She don't wear caps
1t S for Mrs. Polly Ann Bunee, and she is an
old, old lady"
well, you know, there are great many diff
ferent styles of caps said the girl to me.
'What kind do you wantP"
I'VE want cheap kind" said Beth"
| had no idea there was so many different
kinds of caps There was one very fancy one
with wheat sticking out of the ruche, and q
bunch of grapes ON one side in bow made of
pink ribbon. We thought this cap would be
very expensive,-it had so much trimming on
It--bul IL Oub 10 US the very cneapSSt
one in the shop. / suppose that was because
the ribbon was shop-worn. / liked better the
black one with the two lace tabs hanging down
behind and the purple bow on the top-but
just think! that was seventeen dollarsl Real
lace, you see.
There was still another with Just a ruche
and plain muslin strings, which looked some
how just like Mrs. Bunee's; but il was two dol
lars, and would take all our money. So Beth
took up the one with the grapes again, and said
to me:
ooh, what shall we do Mary JaneP I'm
afraid grandma wont like this cap"
" Did she send you to buy one for her?n said
the second girl, who was leaning over the
counter and staring at u.s.
"Why, mol" Beth answered 'fbut we lost
her cap coming from Tuckertown. We left it
in the cars, and now we have got to buy her
another"
The poor little things!" said the third girl.
They are afraid to go home without cap.
Couldn't we fix up one for them for dollar and
half, Eliza?" There's the one we began for
Mrs. Jonas Jones; with ruche instead of the
lace, it will look very nice | dare say they
will get scolding for losing the cap
Eyes, indeed!" put in Beth, and never saw
her look so wretched before or since q You
had better believe my grandma will scold, with
no cap TO wear all day, and she a-visIting, too.
i dare say we wont be allowed TO have any
dinner at all, and Pm so hungry !"
I" So am / J" said, and Dot looked ready to
cry.
sf There now vo, cbaar nv,