The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-11-23
GRAHDMA's soHxET.
By vEs1 M'DoNALD FORCES.

BY vEE1 M'DoNALD FORCES.
1t was few years ago, one March,
when a few days of spring like air
swelIed the buds on the naples, sent
small green shoots from the daffo-
oils. and set US girls planning about
spring hats.
Cousin Kate and were going into
the city tomorrow on shopping ex-
pedition, so my sisters and l ran across
lots to Aunt Fannie's to consult with
our cousins, the 'other girls"
Somehow, we always drifted into
Grandma's room. 1t was on the
ground floor, for one thing, and
Grandma was always so bright and
cheerful that we loved to be with her.
She sat there that morning, occasion
ally putting in her quiet word, while
we dived deeply into the subject of
millinery-straws !. .Neapolitans and
Leghorns, high crowns, wide brims,
tips, plumes, flowers, ribbons, etc.
At last, it was all settled that Kate,
being fair, should get white hat
trimmed with baby blue ribbon and
either blue hyacinths or white roses
aud Cousin Clara, white lace one
with pink roses. Sister Ruth's hat
was to be like herself, quiet and
sweet-a fine straw with bit of deli
cate lace and heliotropes while mine,
all agreed, should have rolling brim,
faced with black lace, ard trimmed
with scarlet poppies.
There was no need of so much con-
sultation and chatter, however, for
each, after receiving advice, resolved
to provide herself with the identical
headgear she had had in mind for the
last month or more.
After we had somewhat subsidized,
Grandma got quietly up and went
over to her bureau drawer.
"I reckon I'll have my bonnet
tended to while you're about it, !" she
said, as she carefully lifted it out.
1--WE worn it just as it is going on
FIVE years now. Isn't it getting to
look little sort o. rusty 7"
Grandma ought to have new
bonnet, mother" said Kate. Zone
of those fine black Neapolitans, trim
med with black lace and a bunch of
pansies, would be lovely for her."
Aunt Fannie took her mothers
black straw bonnet and turned it about
on her hand, inspecting it critically,
thinking meanwhile that the girls
hats were all to be rather expensive
this season, and that it was time to
economize somewhere. What great
difference did it make about an old
lady's bonnet anyway, so that it was
comfortable-she went out so little.
"Oh, don't think I need a new
one," Grandma said, meekly. THAT
would be extravagant +; but thought
a new tab might be put in, and maybe,
a new pair of strings
81 don't see anything the matter
with the tab, /" said Aunt Fannie in
decided tone. "The strings can be
sponged and pressed, and they will
look as we'll as ever"
As she said this she handed it back
to Grandma, and turned to give Kate
some further commission for the next
day in the city.
Ruth told me afterwards that she
felt like saying, Give it to me,
Grandma. l will have it all fresh
ened up for you, and I'll pay for it
myself"
But none of us ever thought of
going contrary to Aunt Fannie's de-
crees. She was the commander in
chief of both households.
Grandma took her bonnet in silence,
and put it. back in her drawer. She
was not bit childish, but was sure
tear trembled on her eyelid as she
bent her white head an unnecessarily
long time over the drawer. She felt
hurt-I know she did. She was not
a vain old lady by any means, but her
tastes were nice, and she knew as
we'll as any of US younger ones that
her bonnet had lost its freshness.
Grandma took up her knitting pres
emily, and seated herself by the win
dow in her armchair. As watched
her fell to wondering if her thoughts
were going back just now over the
years to the time when Aunt Fannie
was baby They were poor then,
and / had heard Grandma tell how
she did all her own work, and took in
sewing for several families to help
make the ends meet Was Grandma
recalling how she had sat up night
and sewed to earn money enough to
buy cunning little HOOD made of
satin and swans down for her baby
girl? Or did she remember how
many weary stitches it took to earn
that 6uc, broad brimmed straw hat
trimmed with white ribbon, that her
thirteen-year old daughter mi g b t
''look like other girls?" Perhaps
her mind dwelt upon story had
often heard her tell with such evident
pleasure how, when Aunt Fannie
was eighteen, there came an invita-
ton for her to go to Boston and spend
a month.
Fannie felt badly" Grandma's S
story ran, because she thought her
hat wasn't nice enough to wear. I
had bonnet made of a splendid piece
Of velvet that my brother had brought
me from Paris. / didn't say word
to anybody. I just slipped upstairs
and ripped that bonnet up; then l
got your Grandpa to take me to town.
| had some money had been saving
up good while to buy myself new
bombazine dress, but I thought a
cheaper one would do just as well |;
so 1 just took some of that money
and went to the best milliner in town.
| r