Help me, Will

[Skip Wolfe]

"caps" for "hats"?

>"Snow-Balls have flown their Arcs, starr'd the Sides of Outbuildings, 
>carried
>Hats away into the brisk Wind off Delaware,-- the Sleds are brought in 
>and
>their Runners carefully dried and greased, Shoes deposited in the back 
>Hall,
>a stocking'd-foot Descent made upon the great Kitchen, in a purposeful 
>Dither
>since Morning, punctuated by the ringing Lids of Boilers and 
>Stewing-Pots,
>fragrant with Pie-Spices, peel'd Fruits, Suet, heated Sugar,-- the 
>Children,
>having all upon the Fly, among rhythmic slaps of Batter and Spoon, 
>coax'd and
>stolen what they might, proceed, as upon each afternoon all this snowy
>Winter, to a comfortable room at the rear of the House, years since 
>given
>over to their carefree Assaults."
 I've 
>taken
>the liberty of replacing one of the words with a near-synonym. Any 
>guesses,
>Pynchomanes?