St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
AUNT MARIA'S AFTERWARDS.

AUNT MARIA'S AT TERWARDS.
It was years ago that March, when a
few days of springlike airs swelled the
buds ON the naples, sent small green
shoots from the daffodils, and set us girls
planning about spring hats.
Cousin Louise and were to go into the
city tomorrow On shopping expedition,
so my sister and | ran across the street to
Aunt Maria's TO consult with our cousins,
the ''other girls"
We always drifted into grandma's room.
1t was the largest, pleasantest room in the
house, and grandma was so bright and
CHEEKY we loved to be with her. She sat
by that morning, occasionally putting in
her quiet word, while we went deep into
the subject of straws and bonnets and leg
horns, nigh crowns, rolling brims, tips,
plumes, ribbons, etc. 1t was all settled
at last that Louise, being fair, should get
a pale blue, shirred-like bonnet, and
Cousin Clara white Grape one with pink
roses. Sister Ruths bonnst was to be like
herself, quiet and sWeet-a fine straw with
a bit of delicate lace and heliotropes, while
mine. all agreed, should be hat with
rolling brim, faced with black velvet, and
glowing with scarlet peoples. There was
no need of so much clatter and consulta-
ton, however, for each, after receiving
advice, resolved to provide herself with
the identical head gear she had in mind
for the last month.
After we had somewhat subsidized, grand
ma got up and went to her bureau drawer.
81 guess I'll have my bonnet tended to
while you're about it," she said as she
carefully lifted it out. GIVE worn it just
as it is, going on five years now Isn't it
getting little sort O. rusty3'
Grandma ought to have new bonnet,
mother" said Louise. Zone of those fine
black Neapolitsns trimmed with black
lace would be lovely for her."
Aunt Maria took her mothers straw
bonnet and turned it about on her head,
inspscting it critically, thinking, mean
while, that the girls hats were all to be
rather expensive this season, and that it
was time to retrench somewhere. What
great difference did it make about an old
lady's bonnet, anyway, so that it was COM
fortable-she went out so little.
Nonsense, Louise!" Aunt Maria said at
last "This bonnet is as good as it ever was. !"
"Oh, don't think need a new one"
grandma said meekly. "That woulo be
extrsvagant; but thought new border
might be put in. and may be new pair of
strings"
81 don't see anything the matter with
the border" said Aunt Maria in decided
tone. 1.-The strings can be spopged and
ironed, and they will look as well as ever +"
So saying, she handed it back to grand
ma and turned to give Louise further COM
missions for the city.
Ruth told me afterward that she felt
like saying: "Give it to me, grandma. l
will have it all freshened up for you, and
I'll pay for It myself"
But none Of us ever thought of going
contrary to Aunt Maria's DEGREES She
was commander-in chief of both house
holds.
Grandma took her bonnet in silence and
| put it back in the drawer. She was not
growing childish, but | was sure that a
tear trembled on her eyelid as she bent her
white head an unnecessary length of time
| over her drawer. She felt hurt-I know
| she did. She was not vain old lady, but
her tastes were nice, and she knew as well
as any of US younger ones that her bonnet
had lost its freshness
| Grandma took her knitting work pres
| emily and seated herself by the south win
dow in her arm-c chair. AS watched her
| fell to wondering if her thoughts were
going back just now over the years to the
time when Aunt Maria was baby. They
were poor then, and had heard grandms
tell how she did her own work and made
shirts for several families to help make
the ends meet. Was grandma recalling
how she had sat up nights and sewed tc
make money enough to buy a cunning little
white hood made of satin and swans down
for her baby girl? Or did she remember
1 how many weary stitches it took to earn
that fine broad brimmed straw hat trimmed
with white ribbon that her thirteen year
old daughter might be "like other girls? 2
Perhaps her mind dwelt on story she
had often told me how, when Aunt Malis
was nineteen, there came an invitation fol
her to go to Boston and spend a month.
sMaria felt bad" grandma's story ran
because she thought her hat wasn't it t
wear. had bonnet made of splendid
from Paris. didn't say word to any.
body. l just slipped upstairs and ripped
that bonnet up, then l got your grand.
money I had been saving up good while
to buy me q new bombazine dress, but
thought cheaper one would do just q!
we'll so Just took some of that money
and went to the best milliner in town.
bought long black feather-I knew
Maria liked 'em-and told her to maxi
me hat fit to be seen in Boston. neve
let on to anybody what I'd done. But yo'
ought to "a seen Maria when that hat cam
home. If she wasn't happy! 1t was
beauty. The long black feather curle,
around her goidy hair, and just touches
her shoulder In front there was ittl
white tuft, with some tail birds O paradis
feathers waving in it. The millinsr SAT-
it neefed that so got it besides. You'v
no idea how handsome she looked. and
enjoyed that hat forty times better thai
when had it for mine"
Was grandma thinking. "And ye
Maria begrudges me little new ribbo
for my bonnet, as well off as she is, too
If any such thoughts disturbed her, the
did not appear on her placid face as sh
patiently knitted on.
1t was only fortnight from that day
. and we gathered again in grandma's room
. There was no merry talk. There wa
i that strange hush which but one presenc
) brings, broken only by low sad strains G
music, and words of consolation spoken
subdued tones.