Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-11-01
THE
History Of a Bonnet.
BY JANE p. ROWE.

ried nearly 10 years. Mr.. Latham was
clerk in dry-goods store with
salary of $3.50 month. He was
man of steady habits, and greatly
trusted by his employers.
The whole force of his mind was given
to saving money, and with this end in
view he restricted his living expenses
to the lowest possible sum that ac-
corded with his position in life.
But with Mrs. Latham it was dlifer-
ent, and she was one of those dainty
little women that light colors and ele-
giant material set off to great advan-
tage. If she had Il passion In life 1T
was for fine clothes. But this passion
was never gratified. She had few
amusements, for her husband frowned
on theatres, and did not countenance
her going to parties lest she should be
at the expense of a return entertain
ment. Yet she was a cheerful little
body. and went on year after year,
baking and cooking and sewing and
mending for her great silent partner,
because. as she said, she had not a lazy
bone in her body.
When she was not at her household
duties she was making over old clothes;
she had one dress that had been turned
six times. and with the assistance of
the cleaner and dyer was still passably
fresh looking Every new dress came
out of her savings from the daily fare
One of these, with q mournful attempt
at pleasantly, she named her robe de
mouton, because it had been procured
through buying scraps of the least
choice parts of sheep and serving
them up to conflding husband with
a deceiving sauce that effectunlly hid
their unworthiness. Another was
termed her ''ashes of beef" because it
was attained through reducing stingy
rump steak into small fragments and
investing it in an appetizing pie.
AS for her bonnets, she had quite for
gotten the date for their birth; they
were, in fact, prehistoric. But one
cay this little woman met her fate.
1t came in the shape of a bonnet, "A
dream in lavender. Such an airy thing
it was that she almost expected to take
wings and fly away before her eyes.
So afraid of this was she that she de-
termined upon securing it Mt once, so
she went into the millineT's and de-
manded the price.
"Fifteen dollars, ma'am."
"Oh, dear! That is above me-
"Well, you can have it for $40. 1t
is > sample theatre bonnet from Paris,
and as the winter is coming on we
are afraid of keeping it too long on
hand on account of its delicate color
well, l will think it over, and per-
haps come for it on Monday.
Mrs. Lathams greeting to her hus-
band that Saturday evening was one
of unusual fervor. He wondered and
was delighted. but later on was not
so well pleased, for when seated at
dinner his wife said.-
"My dear, we have been married
nearly 10 years"
"Indeed" he answered smilingly.
''They have passed like 10 months"
''Not to me. 1t seems an age since l
had Il new bonnet
"I'm sure the one you are wearing
now looks as good as new"
Its as old as the hills-in fact, ante
diluvian. And oh. John, I've just
turned and remade my wedding dress,
and do so want Il bonnet to go with
it. And today saw such love-I
was spcllbound by it-I wonder ever
got home"
"How much was it?'
'Ten dollars
"Whew! That's beyond everything.
No wife of dry goods clerk ought to
wear ten-dollar bonnet"
"But, John, I've not had a new bon
net since my wedding. and l do SO
want this one! 1t will exactly match
my dress, and | am invited to Miss
Simpsons wedding. and want to go.'
impossible, my dear" answered
Mr.. Latham. in his calm. authoritative
way. "lf it depends on your getting
that bonnet"
'But. John, here have | been work
ing for you these 10 years, without
asking anything but mere boa:d and
the commonest of dresses; If | had
been merely your working housekeeper
my wages would have been at least
SIS month. Surely SO in 10 years
is not too much To ask for u new bon
net"
"My dear, have now nice balance
Mt my bankers which VIII be yours
whenever | die Ten dollars added 10
another 90 awaiting II will make 800,
and bring You in So year more than
you would otherwise have. | have at
this present moment only one $40 bill
In my pocket, and there 1t Will remain
till II goes into the bank"
Mrs. Latham rose. and without a
word commenced removing the dishes,
and nothing further was said about
the bonnet.
On the Monday evening following.