The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-09-25

Having shown me the chambers OF the
house-the dairy room, with It's hundred
clccses, like so many fattened spheres Of
gold, ranged upon shelves-the wool loft. in
which were stored the results of three sea-
sons shearins-thc yellowwh blocks Of
heeccs packed away, IN rows, to the ceiling,
with little ai>les and arches, all of wool, and
having explained to me, very lnnocently,
that this crop, reaped from the backs of
sheep, WAS q commodity which increased in
weight by being kept, and that it would
probably command a better priceper pound
another season than this, the young ladies Of
| the farm conducted me to the pantry, where
they exhibited a trayful of extraordinary
/ hens'-eggs, then to the ashroom, to show
me the glossy water r-tank, supplied by a spout
from the hill; and, finally, asked me if l
would like to see their grandmother
BY all neans' | replied; and they accor-
diugIy led me to sitting. room, where the
old lady sat, with a grey cat in erlap, knit
ting "a sock which was precisely the color OF
! the cat.
'Gran'ma = cried the younger Of the girls
the prcttier of the two, if there was any
difference in their beauty, for they were both
handsome as cherries-'G Gran map she re-
peated, raising her voice, for itappeared that
the old lady was rather deaf, there's gen.
tleInan come to see YOU
| "A gentleman from Boston, added her
sister, laughing.
'From Boston = echoed the old lady, put
ting on her spectacles. 81 declare! Why
didn't you tell me-l'd have sllcked up lit
tie. No matter now, though. How do you
do? So you're from Boston, beye?'
&c
osity on her face as she examined me thro'
her glasses and at same time observed
that both the girls were laughing.
! you'll have to tell your story about the
gentleman from Boston = said Della that
was the younger, in the old lady's ear.
'And Lyddy Lankfort's vedding' exclaim-
ed the grandmother, quite merrlly. 'That's
jest, what come into my head! / never
heard Of gentleman from Boston but
think ont do believe. But couldn't tell
it, my memory's a failin' on me so. Here,
Susie you take up this stitch Eve dropped;
Fre took up many n stitch for you, girls,
when you was children, and larnin' to knit,
and that's all the good it ever done ye. |
guess you'd 90 without stockings, if ye didn't
have me to knit 'em for ye, for all knittin'
on 'em yourselves
Having given Susie the sock, with this
severe comment, the old lady wiped her glass
es, and held them pensiveIy in one hand,
while she gently stroked the cats neck with
the other. The cat purred; Susie bent
biushiug!y over the sock /: Della played with
string: | looked with pretended interest at
the pathetic picture Of the old lady and her
cat but was, in reality, thinking how
handsome the girls were, and how captiva-
ting they would be had they possessed a little
sentiment with their fun, and been less shock
ingiy practical. ..- -.
sGentieman from Boston!' suddenly burst
forth the old lady with a laugh. Il don't
know as Eve thought ont fer the last sixty
years without laughin', no matter where
was--even if twas in meetiu'e ~ 49,
Sixty vears!' observed. That is long
road to look back OVER
sWa'al in one sense, 'tiS. There's been
changes that make it seem so. Times WASH Z
then as they be now. You'd think twas
rather funnv, wouldn't you, to 60 back to
where there wasn't any railroads, or steam
boats. or tallygrafts don't remember as
we ever used to see newspaper them days.
And as for chaises, and bugsys, and such
things. don't believe there was over a dozen
or SO in all Connecticut. At least never
see one in our yiliage-only Deacon Lahk, :,
fort had a kind Of a one-hoss wagin ne nseu
to drive to meetin', and tho't twas dreaiui
smart ---.--- .--.... e.
The Deacon was one of the richest men
there was in town; he had a noble farm, ana
kept store .besides-sold sugar, calico,
Lrooms. Boston crackers and no end OF rum.
f,rwsn't considered any disgrace them days