The Portland daily press., 1862-12-01
MISCELLANY.
Grandmnther,s Caps.

In a beautiful home in dear New England
dwells the beloved grandmother of whom
write More than three score years have passed
over her head, and still her steps are followed
by the blessings OF those whose llves are made
happier by her acts of charity and kindness.
A model of thrift and tidiness, it is woe indeed
to the insane fly that ventures to intrude upon
her premises, and she takes even now. a wor-
thy pride in the whiteness of her household
linen
1t was beautiful afternoon In June, many
years ago, that my grandmother said to me,
"My child, take these bits of lace, and run out
under the trees where the grass is clean and
nice, and spread them out carefully, that they
may be bleached by heavy dew"
How like yesterday it seems to me-the soft
air as it came through the open window, the
sweet voices of the birds that sang in the tall
trees, and the beauty of the varied landscape,
as 1t lay dathed in the warm sunset glow on
the threshold of summer.
'Don't drop any of the pieces" said nv
grandmother, for | was needless child.
promised care and took the lace. | remem-
Der each bit-the round pieces for the crowns,
the straight pieces for the top of the caps, and
the yards of soft. delicate border, which shaded
the dear face everybody loved so well.
Selecting little out-of-the-way place, where
no cat or dog would wantony step upon it,
stretched each piece carefully on the soft
grass, and went To play.
Several days had passed, when my grand
mother said TO me one morning, "Now you
may go out and bring in my caps; by this
time they must be quite white"
hastened to do her bidding, but on reach
ing the spot where | had laid them, what was
my surprise to find them gone--not trace of
them left l ran back to the house, and told
the fact, which to all the family seemed quite
unaccountable. We had none but honest neigh
bors, and knew of no mischievous cat or dog
about, which was known to have a taste for
such delicate finery. On the whole, it was a
mystery: and, as the time passed, when any
thing was lost about the house, and could not
be accounted for, a common expression with
the family would be, 1T has gone with mothers
caps"
One afternoon, late in autumn, stood by
the window with my brother, watching the
trees as they swayed to aud fro in the chilly
wind. The sweet birds had all sung their good
bye songs and taken themselves to warmer
climate, for the winter was fast coming. We
children were talking of the nice fun We would
have when the beautiful snow should come
again, and we couldcoas aud skate Sudden
ly my brother exclaimed-"What do see up
In that tree. so white, like a feather?" Fol-
lowing his eye, saw what appeared like a
white ribbon, or strip of cloth, as it fiuttered
In the wind, seeming to grow larger as we
watched it.
At last we called the aunts and grandmoth-
er to look. but no one could decide what it
could be- "Well," said Ned, "Pll climb the tree,
and then we shall know" SO out he ran, and
slowly but surely he drew himself up the tall
slender trunk, and reaching the branches, he
carefully dislodged white bunch to which the
streamer seemed to be attached, and placing
1t inside his jacket, he began his descent. 1t
was but the work of moment to slide to the
ground, and in another moment he was sur
rounded by an eager group, all wondering what
he had found-grandmothe with spectacles
and knitting work, as interested as any one.
One look explained long mystery, and with
united voices we exclaimed, 'Tis grandmoth-
er's caps at last" and sure enough, there in
the shape of the incest of all robins nests, was
the lace so long missing. The crown pieces
were Just the things for the bottom, and the
top pieces were laid around the sides, while
the bit OF white (which had attracted our no.
tice was but an end of the border, which with
great care and dexterity was woven In for
kind of finishing touch to the whole. Slender
twigs and bits of straw were glued together
with laces, making a really elegant and fanci-
fnl home for some ambitious robin who had
spent the summer in happy possession,with no
idea that his property would be seized and ap-
propriated SO soon after his departure.
With great care the lace border was detach-
ed from the nest, and though untitled for use,
1t was distributed for relics, piece to each,
and 1t was the sight of the bit in my mothers
possession which brought back the incident to
my mind.-lChristian Inquirer.