KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL 



113 



THE DRESS CAP; 



OR, 



THE TIMES WE LIVE IN. 



Custom— the world's great idol, we adore ; 

 And knowing this, we seek to know no more. 

 What education did at first conceive, 

 Our ripened eye confirms us to believe. 



Pomfeet. 



Custom ever does dispense 



A universal influence ; 

 And makes things right or wrong appear, 



Just as they do her liv'ry wear. 



Butlee. 



UDGING of Society, as we 

 have a right to do, from what 

 daily comes under our eye — we 

 think it desirable to " hold the 

 mirror up to nature" at every 

 convenient opportunity. People 

 reflected veluti in speculum, may 

 perhaps be taught to " think." Only let us 

 get their ear, and we will try to descend 

 lower — into their heart. Once there, we 

 have no fear of being turned out. We always 

 " play a deep game ;" and generally win the 

 " odd trick." 



" May I trouble you to show me that 

 dress-cap with blue trimmings in the win- 

 dow ? " said a lady- like person, as she 

 entered a fashionable lace-shop. 



The proprietor, with a polite bow, handed 

 the lady a chair ; and producing the cap 

 alluded to, recommended it in the usual set 

 phrases. 



" Pray, what is the price ? " inquired 

 Mrs. Mowbray, with a dissatisfied air, after 

 viewing it in every imaginable position, and 

 scrutinising its materials and workmanship 

 with the most patient minuteness. 



"The price is seven shillings, madam," 

 answered the shopkeeper, rubbing his hands. 



" Seven shillings ! " exclaimed Mrs. Mow- 

 bray ; " why, I have seen them marked up 

 at a score of places for six ; and at the 

 bazaars they are cheaper still." 



" Excuse me, madam," replied the shop- 

 keeper, " not such a cap as that, I think. 

 Observe the tine quality of the materials, 

 and the neatness of the workmanship. It is 

 a first-rate article." 



" Oh yes, I see," rejoined Mrs. Mow- 

 bray ; " but the caps to which 1 allude are 

 quite equal to it in ever} T respect. The fact 

 is, I do not particularly want it ; but if six 

 shillings will do, I will take it." 



The shopkeeper hesitated. " I suppose 

 you must have it then, madam," said he 

 with a saddened countenance, "but really 

 I get no profit by it at that price." 



" Oh," said Mrs. Mowbray, with a banter- 

 ing air, " you shopkeepers never get any 

 profit, if we are to believe you. You mean 

 to say, you do not pocket quite fifty per cent, 

 by it." 



The shopkeeper, with a faint effort to 

 smile, shook his head as he neatly folded and 

 wrapped up the delicate article ; and Mrs. 

 Mowbray having counted out the six shil- 

 lings, he politely thanked her, opened the 

 shop-door, and bade her good- day. 



" There, Jane," said Mrs. Mowbray, as 

 she entered the parlor on her arrival at 

 home, " what do you think of my pur- 

 chase ?" — holding up her new acquisition. Is 

 it not a love of a cap ? Guess what I gave 

 for it." 



Jane examined it minutely, and guessed 

 the price to be seven or eight shillings — the 

 materials and work being, as she remarked, 

 so very good. 



" Only six shillings ! " said Mrs. Mow- 

 bray triumphantly ; " the shopkeeper asked 

 seven, but I succeeded in getting it for 

 six; and (putting it on and walking up to 

 the looking-glass) I assure yc u I am not a 

 little pleased with my bargain." 



" Well," said Jane, " it is a wonder they 

 can afford to sell such a cap for the money ; 

 the materials alone, I should think, would 

 cost as much as that." 



" It is a wonder," replied Mrs. Mowbray 

 indifferently, as she turned herself round 

 before the looking-glass, and inquired of her 

 sister how it suited her face, and whether the 

 color of the ribbon was adapted to her 

 complexion. 



A loud double knock at this moment was 

 heard at the door, and Mrs. Mowbray, 

 taking off the cap in the greatest trepidation, 

 remarked that she would not for the world 

 that her husband should know of her pur- 

 chase, as her last month's millinery bill had 

 been very heavy, and Edward would be 

 displeased at what he would term her extra- 

 vagance. 



The cap was safely deposited before Ed- 

 ward had entered the room ; who, throwing 

 himself on the sofa, declared he was fatigued, 

 and said he should be glad of a cup of tea- 



"You are late, my dear, this evening, 

 are you not ? " inquired Mrs. Mowbray. 



"I am later than usual," answered Mr. 

 Mowbray ; " I have been attending a com- 

 mittee-meeting of our benevolent society, 

 which detained me some time." 



"Your benevolent society is always de- 

 taining you, I think," said Mrs, Mowbray, 

 somewhat reproachfully ; " benevolent so- 

 cieties are very good things no doubt, but 

 I think you have quite sufficient to do, both 

 with your time and your money, without 

 attending to any such things. What can ice do 

 for the poor ? It is very well for those who 

 have nothing to do, and plenty of money to 

 spare ; but 1 cannot see how persons with so 

 limited an income as ours have any business 

 with benevolent societies." 



" Well, my dear," replied Edward, " I have 



Vol. III.— 8. 



