FOUNDER OF HIS RACE 91 



when he may change owners. He can only hope his next 

 one may be the one of his choosing, which does some- 

 times happen. 



The minds of the Vermonters in those days dwelt on 

 higher things than fashions, especially with the men, and 

 the wearing of beavers was not common, unless perhaps 

 the hat was inherited. Hats were so much better made 

 then, and so expensive, that a beaver lasted from thirty 

 to forty years, and was passed on from father to son. In 

 this way it had come to be looked on as frivolous and 

 extravagant to be seen in a new one; if any man had 

 the courage to buy such, he left it out in the weather a 

 few nights to ''take that nezu look oif" before he wore 

 it in public. 



At this time David Wing was town-clerk, and one 

 day on his return from a trip to Boston, by stage, he 

 brought home something in what was unmistakably a hat- 

 box. 



Gossip concerning so important a man soon flew about, 

 and the box became town-talk before the day was over. 

 Women folks came, on one pretext or another, to call 

 on Mistress Wing. Some asked her rule for-wheaten 

 cake, others how she made her cheeses, and so on. But 

 it did not take their clever hostess long to find out the 

 true aim of their calls, and being right proud of the hat 

 herself, she took it out of the box and showed it to them 

 all. 'Twas very tall and glossy, and shaped liked the 

 rain barrel : the brim was so low in front it would hide 

 its wearer's nose completely ; suddenly it curved sharply 

 at the sides in the manner of a drawn bow ; and, all 

 told, it was an elegant bit of the latest Boston fashion. 



'Twas to be worn. Mistress Wing informed her call- 

 ers, for the first time at meeting the next Sabbath. 



Many were the exclamations of ''Land sakes !" and 

 "Do tells !" that the sight of the hat provoked, and much 



