77 



" You wish to know more about braiding. I wrote in my old 

 book, when at the age of nineteen or twenty. I cut oft' the first 

 leaf, which had dates, some years since, thinking it would only be 

 a laughing-stock to future generations. There were several cir- 

 cumstances noted down ; that I began to braid when twelve years 

 old ; but it was some time before I could make a bonnet. Miss 

 Alice Keene and Mrs. Whipple bought the trimmings. 



" A woman here, says she bought the first plain straw bonnet I 

 made, of cousin Celia Baker, after she had worn it three or four 

 years. I made a number of bonnets here, and learned them to 

 braid all kinds of braid. I find it expressly stated, that the first 

 who learned in Providence was a young lady who lived the next 

 door, and this was Sally Richmond, who Avent to Wrentham, and 

 learned them to braid all kinds of trimmings as well as the plain 

 braids. I will try to braid a pattern of some of the first braid, if 

 my hands do not tremble. I stated in my old book, after they 

 learned in Wrentham, it began to spread over the country, as we 

 had a numerous acquaintance, who lived in all parts of the coun- 

 try. It is also mentioned we had quite a manufactory, and were 

 always hurried making bonnets. I well recollect the Misses Howe. 

 They lived near, but I do not recollect about their learning. I 

 recollect Sylvia Pidge, from Rehoboth, Betsey Bacon and Caty 

 Gay and Mrs. George, from Attleboro', and some from Pawtucket ; 

 and sister Caty removed to Bristol, and learned them there. I 

 never had anything published about it, and never saw but one ac- 

 count, which was published by a man in Wrentham, who said 

 Hannah Metcalf was the first that braided ; but Mrs. Whipple 

 made the mistake. Mrs. Whiting, who lives in our house, near 

 by, says, she always heard Sally Richmond learned them in Wren- 

 tham. She knew the Avoman who braided the first bonnet there ; 

 and Mrs. Whiting says her grandmother carried the bonnet to 

 Boston and sold it. Her name is Bennett. She is still living. 

 Mrs. W. says she will write and see if her grandmother remem- 

 bers what she got for the bonnet, and when it was. 



" As to the improvements, we soon had a machine to split straw. 

 The first had only one tooth in it, but soon had a number added, 

 and we had a barrel or box to bleach our straw. We had a press- 

 ing machine, which remained in our garret when we k^ft the old 

 house, but I do not know how long we used it, or who invented it. 

 I think I have written enough about old times. Probably Caty 

 could remember more, although she was opposed to my trying to 

 learn, as is stated in my old book." 



" The book," referred to, I understand to be a diary kept by Mrs, 

 Baker herself. Those who know ]\Irs. B. only by general report, 

 will be surprised and chagrined that she has mutilated it, and 

 more so, at the reason she gives for having done it. Such daily 



