Doctors' bills and hard times, and stingy patrons who were "as 'fraid of a dollar-bill as if 'twas the small-pox." Hilda's eyes filled with tears of sympathy, and one great drop fell on the green satin hat, but was instantly covered by the wreath of ivy which was replacing the staring cock's feathers.
"Wal, I declare to gracious!" exclaimed Miss Bean.

"You'd never know that for the same hat, now, would ye?
I thought 'twas han'some before, but it's enough site han'somer now.

I shouldn' wonder a mite if Mis' Peasley bought that hat now.

She's been kind o' hankerin' arter it, the last two or three times she was in here; but every time she tried it on, she'd say No, 'twas too showy, she guessed.

Wal, I do say, you make a gret mistake not goin' into the trade, for you're born to it, that's plain.