The New Bonnet

A FOOLISH little maiden bought a foolish little bonnet,
With a ribbon and a feather, and a bit of lace upon it;
And that the other maidens of the little town might know it,
She thought she'd go to meeting the next Sabbath just to show it.
But though the little bonnet was scarce larger than a dime,
The getting of it settled proved to be a work of time;
So when 'twas fairly tied, all the bells had stopped their ringing,
And when she came to meeting, sure enough, the folks were singing.
So this little foolish maiden stood and waited at the door;
And she shook her ruffles out behind, and smoothed them down before.
"Hallelujah! hallelujah!" sang the choir above her head,-
"Hardly knew you! hardly knew you!" were the words she thought they said.
This made the little maiden feel so very, very cross
That she gave her mouth a twist, her little head a toss;
For she thought the very hymn they sang was all about her bonnet,
With the ribbon, and the feather, and the bit of lace upon it.
And she would not wait to listen to the sermon or the prayer,
But pattered down the silent street and hurriedup the stair,
Till she reached her little bureau, and in a bandbox on it
Had hidden safe from critic's eye her foolish little bonnet.
Which proves, my little maidens, that each of you will find
In every Sabbath service but an echo of your mind;
And that the little head that's filled with silly airs,
Will never get a blessing from sermons or from prayers.
(Taken from Child's poems, compiled in 1878)

d that's filled with silly airs,
Will never get a blessing from sermons or from prayers.
(Taken from Child's poems, compiled in 1878)