The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-28
~ 20 to no playhouse or ball room, Or

But, gracious me, do look at my cap
l must change my cap; and beside, as the
weather is extremely cold, l guess, III give
up going altogether; I'm toOold for froiic'
julie, at my time Of my life."
"No, indeed, you don't give up going
and as to your cap, we shall be right BY
your house, 80 you can very easily run up
stairs and change it."
swell, where ON earth are you going to,
julie? am inclined to think It must be a
lecture; yet, IL nothing more than q lecture
why change my cap?"
But it is not lecture, ma! so you
must have one Of your caps on, and then
You know you'll be in capital trim"
Grandma gave quiet smile at this play
on words, for she has a pleasant apprecia-
ton of such things; and made no further
resistance. When they got to the house the
front windows were closed, and the front
parlor door which grandma tried as she
passed through the hall, was found to be
locked, and altogether the house seemed 30
still that she concluded the folks must have
gone out visiting. Aunt julie went up
stairs with grandma, and got her to lay of
her cloak and cape, so that her cap and
ribbons might be the more tastefully arrang-
ed, and then as though sudden thought had
struck her, exclaimed, "Why, ma haven't
seen you look so well for years, you must
certainly step down stairs, and let the girls
take look at you before you put on your
out door rig"
81 suppose must obligc you, julie but
you are regular quiz, and doubt whether
the girls are at home, any way
Now imagine grandma and aunt julie de-
scending the stairs, and as they approach
the front parlor door, it is suddenly thrown
open, and Judge then what must have been
the effect of the scene on grandma as 1t met
her wandering eyes. The two parlors were
hung with the different varieties OF ever
greens, both in festoons and clusters: and
here and there were intesperscd bouquets OF
real flowers from the nursery. Even the
ceilings were ornamented with twisted vines,
each one forming swelling fcstoon and di-
,erging from the common centre Of the ceiling
to the cornice, and thence hanging several
feet below, in flowing ends. The whole was
brilliantly illuminated, not with gas-lights,
but by numerous colored candles of various
sizes which were entwined with gold and
silver paper trimmings. As soon as grand
mas foot had touched the threshold, aunt
julie suddenly slid from her side, and uncle
William, who had remained below stairs,
took grandma by the hand and escorted her
through temporary arch in the front par
lor to raised seat covered with canopy,
which had been constructed in the back par
lor. Here he seated tho dear, bewildered
old lady, who seemed to herself to be in q
trance, as she afterwards expressedit, as tho
she were passing through q trance. But
must describe the arch and the canopy.
The first was composed Of two small grace
full cedars properly trimmed, (but not by
any means denuded Of their limbs or foliage)
with their tops brought carefully together,
and thus forming a central point.
At the apex of this arch, grandma's por-
trait was placed, lighted with two wax can
dies, and decorated with garland of natur-
al flowers, and gauzc and ribbon trimmings.
Justundcr the portrait, and intertwincd with
some of the evergreen foliage, was the sim
plo word /" Grandmother" wrought on q
ground of white satin. The throne, so to
call it, was gandma's easy chair, having
the back and sides ornamented with a lace
drapery; and from the edge Of the over
shadowing pagoda-shapcd canopy, made by
aunt Emma out Of some cast-off salmon col
ored satin, there hung six festoons of inter-
mingled cvergreens and japonicas. Altogeth-
er, considering that this semi-honl display
was Of domestic arrangement, it was exceed
ingly brilliant and fairylike. But to return
to grandma. 1t is proper to remark that
she had not Us yet seen a soul in either par
lor but uncle William, and Us 500 she was
seated, the sliding doors between the parlors
were closed as If by invisible hands, and
grandma with look of the utmost amaze
ment, turned to uncle William, and inquir-
cd of him " what this all meant, and where
were Miriam and Molly"
In one moment, mother! you will know
all about il" replied uncle William, and he
had no sooner uttered the words, then the
sliding doors were suddenly drawn apart,
and the front parlor, which moment be-
fore, with all its beauty, looked so deserted,
was filled with smiling and familiar faces.
But must tell you who this pleasant as
sembly consisted Of. They were all grand
mas children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law
and grandchildren.
And now there ensued scene most tender
and affecting. First, aunt Miriam and aunt
Mary passed through the cedar arch, and
approaching grandma, kissed her and wish
ed her many happy returns of her birthday.
After this the married children came for
ward, passed under the arch, in tho order
of their ages, bringing their families with
them thus first, uncle William and aunt
julie and their children, each one from the
Oldest to the youngest, shutting the cheek OF
dear grandma, and wishing her happiness to
come. Then uncle Ellis Payson andhis two
daughters after them, uncle Jonathan and
aunt Lydia and their numerous progeny I:
uncle Samuel payson and aunt Emma, and
their young folks; and at last uncle Albert
and aunt Annie, and their boys. at
Grandma sustained herself wonderfully