Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-11-30
GRANDFATHER.

Most graphic Is THIS passage from a
sketch by Theodore Parker: There is
a funeral to-day ola white-haired woman,
old, very old. Mr.. Grandfather remem-
bers her as chubby little rosy-cheeked
maiden, with black hair, and eyes so full
of fun, just getting into her teens when
she was but half way there. Now he
reads on the silver plate, Aged XCIV.'
'Ninety-four,' quoth he, a great age.
Yes, know she was about that A
great age. Four score and fourteen.
Six more and it is a hundred. He re-
members the green cages she used to
give him out Of her fathers great gar
den now it is built all over with huge
granite, stories high, and pear trees and
plums which Mr.. Blackstone brought
over from England, have followed their
planter long since. He remembers her
wedding-seventy-six years ago last July,
boy Of twelve that he was. On the plain
table of those good old times he set Chi
ma bowl Of white lilies, which he swan
for in Hammonds Pond that morning. to
honor bis pretty cousins marriage. 1t
was the first time they had such flowers
at Puritan wedding; but the minister
liked it, and so did cousin Lucy, but the
nea0 cousin thought only of her who made
him SO happy. Now she is clad for an
other change, quoth Mr.. Grandfather, as
he lays his last gift of blossoms on her
coffin; always little before me. We
shall meet again before long.
That night Mr.. Grandfather tarries
late in his sitting room, when the rest
are gone to bed. He slept little after
supper in his great arm chair, and is quite
wakeful now, The old clock stands
there; it tells the hours of human time
nay, with delicate hand it marks even
their seconds, just as life itself will al
ways do. 1t reports likewise the days of
the month, and of the week, and the
shape of the moon on the top of all
this is ship at sea, rising and falling by
wheel work, as if driven by the sea and
tossed. Mr.. Grandfather looks into his
wood fire, and then all the long voyages
Of his life come pictured to him, from
the cradle to Lucy's funeral. There are
sad things TO look upon, which bring
back tear; he did not know it till it fell
on his hand and made him start. There
are joyous things also, which set his
heart thrObbing as when he was bride
groom. Nay, there are wrong things
which he did, repented of, and outgrew,
so long ago that they seem historical, like
the sins of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 4;
yet he remembers the lesson they taught.
His boyish love returns-father and
mother, children-nay, children's chill
dren. The wife of his heart, reverently
buried years ago, comes back in bridal
garments, then sits at the new cradle.
Then another funeral rushes on his SIGHT.
: Lover and friend thou puttest far from
me and mine acquaintance into darkness
quoth he. Nay, nay, not into darkness 4;
say rather into marvellous light. NV
time is not far eff. How long, 0 Lord !?
How soon? Speak, Lord, for thy SER
want heareth. The old clock strikes
twelve; the first day of another month
comes into its place, and the new moon
lifts her silver rim to tell below what
heavenly light goes on above. Soon
shall behold thy face in righteousness,
and l shall be satisfied, when 1 awake.
with thy likeness"