Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-04-02
PrisciIIa's Easter Bonnet


Miss Priscilla Peck was remodeling her
6est bonnet, and it was a serious under
taking to Miss Priscilla.
The light from the kerosene lamp fell
en- a forlorn array OF bits of silk. ribbon
aud faded artificial flowers on the little
round table at her elbow, and limp, d.
lapidated frame lay on the floor at her
feet.
She had been curling her plumes with
the blade of the penknife, and her white
spron was covered with the fibers that
had broken off in the operation.
She held the two rusty little tips up
TO the light and looked at them critically,
and they did look funny, even to Miss
Priscilla. The tibers that she had man
aged to curl were twisted down into lit
tie hard, frizzy knobs, and those that
were still uncurled hung down in limp,
detected little strings, and Miss Priscilla
laughed little dolefully as she said to
herself
We'll, there amt but precious little
left OF them, and that's a fact; and
don't know as I've improved 'em much.
either, but they've just got to go back
that bunnit, if they hain't bigger'n hens
feathers" then she laid them carefully
aside and picked up a piece of the drab
silk.
II s'pose l ought to have washed 1t in
gasoline" she said a little ruefully, but
really didn't feel as IL | could afford it.
And | don't believe l can ever get it
puckered up and put back on the frame
SOS it won't show the faded streaks. l
don't s'pose / ought to have ripped it
up, but I've wore it for six years and /
just felt as if l couldn't wear it to-mor-
row without something was done to it,
Everybody always comes out on Easter
with their pretty new hats and bunnits-
and mine was jest as pretty as any Of
'em when it was new. but last Easter it
looked SO kind of faded and shabby be-
side all the new ones that somehow
felt as IL l was slightin' the day that ev-
erybody ought to celebrate by lookin' and
feelin' as bright and joyful as they can.
I've tried to keep my heart in harmony
with Easter. but folks can't see my heart
and they can my bunnit," and then Miss
Priscilla laughed again and went patiently
to work shirring and shaping and fitting
the silk over the limp, old-fashioned
frame.
Miss Priscilla was a sociable little
body, and always talked to herself when
she had no one else to talk to-
She had no family of her own and was
born nurse, and so everyone in the vii
lage felt perfectly free to call on her in
case of sickness. She bad comforted aud
cared for the aged whose feet were going
down into the valley of the shadow. and
had ministered to the middle-aged and
the young, and everyone in the village
loved Miss Priscilla and felt that they
owed her debt of gratitude.
But love and gratitude, precious as
they are to a lonely heart, are poor com
modities wherewith to pay the butcher,
the baker and the candlestick maker, to
say nothing of the extravaganza of buy
ing Easter bonnets, and as Miss Pris-
ella was no hand to parade her poverty
before her friends and neighbors she dyed
and turned and made over. and withal
managed to keep so bright and CHEEKY
that no one really suspected how poor
she was.
She worked on patiently for a while.
too much absorbed to even talk to her
self, but somehow the result was not
very satisfactory. Long years of nursing
the sick, however, much as it may soften
the heart and refine the sensibiitics, is
not conducive to proficiency in fashion
ing artistic millinery. and Miss Priscilla
began TO feel somewhat discouraged.
She fashioned the stiff ribbon into a
bow and tackled it on one side of the
bonnet; fastened the two sickly little
plumes and the bunch of faded roses on
top; pinned on the strings and. stepping
over TO the little mirror that was perched
on top of the old-fashioned bureau, set
tied the result of her handiwork on her
wavy brown hair
But what was the matter? Miss Pris-
ella looked at the reflection in conster-
nation. She saw pair of tranquil brown
eyes and a round. rosy face that remind
ed one of 4 winter apple, but the bonnet
the frame was all twisted out of shape
and the silk was askew. and the bow
plumes and the roses all seemed to stand
up and glare at each other in the most
belligerent attitude. She gave one look
and snatched it off her head and flung il
on the table.
There now she said. "I hope I'll be
satisfied. I've ruined the only thing
had TO my name to wear on my head, and
now can just stay at home from church
tomorrow. and it's Easter Sunday. too,
and all on account of my foolish pride.
oh, why couldn't l have been satisfied TO
iet well enough alone?" And then Miss
Priscilla did strange thing for her
she dropped her head down on the little