Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-10-21
BUYING A HAT FOR JIMMIE.

~~~N>~~~0No~~N
Jimmie, OH the drop seat OF the
brougham, leaned forward and asked
his aunt where they were going. She
named a big department store and his
face lighted up. "They have Ice cream
soda In the basement" said he.
ooh, I'm sure it can't be good!'
100000" Jimmie always agrees
with lady. 'It isn't so bad, though.
When we bought the kitchen coal-hod
Courtney treated me. We had chocolate
and strawberry mixed-oh, fine! Don't
you think I might treat him to-day?
could carry glass out to the car
riage without splitting g. drop" He
suddenly thrust his head out Of the
carriage. Courtney, what kind"
His aunt dragged him inside. "Some
other time,'' she said.
"What can 1 do?" he asked, after a
gloomy pause.
"We're going to buy hat, dear"
II don't want any old hat"
"a nice new hat"
This feebly jocose correction fell fiat.
Jimmie grasped the hat on his head
with both painfully gloved hands and
dragged it down to lis ears. "It's just
got comfor'ble he moaned. "She"-
he meant no disrespect to his mother
wants to send this one to the In
dams or the Florida children, I s'pose."
A CLEAN Of hope Illuminated his face.
81 wish they might have the new one.
I woul at mind having it fitted on me,
Don't you think they'd be pleasedI"
Jimnie's aunt ignored this artful ap-
peal "You know your mother wishes
you to be spick and span when grand
ma comes Thursday"
ooh, my grandma won't mind" con-
fidently. "And I'd brush up great!
His aunt shook her head.
Perhaps boots would do? They'd
be all right. New ones kick fine"
This easy sacrifice to the home god
dess was promptly rejected, and jim
ME knew then that it was to be a
hat.
"When 1 buy them myself they'll be
old and big, and everything new will
go into the barrel-and maybe there
won't be any BARREL" he threatened,
darkly.
Jimmie helped his aunt to alight at
Cut s. Cash's store, and followed her
to the hat counter, the sullen tread Of
his feet speaking volumes of disgust.
The counter was surrounded by wo-
men, mostly mothers, but Jimmie's
turn came at last.
"Well. lady," said the perspiring
clerk, "what can I show you for your
little boy?"
"She's not my mother!' said Jimmie.
"She's my aunt. She isn't even mar
ried. My father says"
"Show me something in a white
straw, please" Jimmie's aunt said,
hastily. Something suitable for a
boy of nine"
Nearly ten," corrected Jimmie. my
father says"
Something a little wider in the
brim, and I prefer navy-blue band"
said Jimmie's aunt.
"My father" began Jimmie. But
his aunt promptly clapped a hat on
his head, and his tune changed. ut
don't feel good! It's too small! And
1 don't want an elastic under my chin;
only small kids wear them. Oh, 1t
hurts my headr'
When the clerk was on his knees
opening boxes, trying to find another
hat, Jimmie again became amiably
sociable.
1.-THE last time the New London man
was there, he said"
Something similar to his old hat
will be right" said Jimmie's aunt, In
an agitated falsetto.
"The New London man said, "A kiss
IS as good as a smile,'" continued jim
mie. II was under the sofa, and I
heard"
"This will do. You need not look
any further" said Jimmie's aunt, seiz-
ing a hat and placing it on Jimmie's
head with a determined hand. The
clerk rose, but not before he was mast
err of his countenance, and began to
turn over the slips in his book
''You must be awfully ratified,
aunty," said Jimmie. "This is my old
hat."-Youth's Companion.