The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-03-11
THE TWO GRAND
FATHERS.
A Simple Story.

''Whirr, Whirrr' and the sparks
flew off the grindstone from the scis
sors held against it. The man who
was grinding stopped a minute, felt
4 the edge of the scissors with his thumb
tightened the rivet, and handed it tC
the servant who stood waiting fol
| it.
"Threepence, miss; thank you p
and he prepared to move on. "Will
ye get in, Kitty ?"
''No, grandpa; me not tired" said
long haired, blue-eyed child OF
about five years old, who tOddled
alongside. She was very poorly dress
ed, but perfectly clean; her hair was
smooth and glossy, and her face had a
! look of contentment and trust not a
very pretty child at first sight, but
evidently bright, dOcile little crea-
ture.
"Any knives or scissors to grind Z?
any pots, pans or kettles to mend?p
shouted the man as he pushed his lit
tie machine with q grindstOne and
emcry-wheel, and a smoking pan of
charcoal dangling from it, before him.
The barrow was like other barrows OF
the sort, the only difference being
that underneath, just above the tread
lie; was a sort of fiat box, with a rug
laid in it-a very coy little nest in
deed.
''Grandpa, me ride" presently said
the child.
"Jump in, then, Kitty" and the
child curled herself up in the flat tray,
and was presently fast asleep.
All day the man wheeled his grind
stone from street to street, with the
child sometimes awake, trOtting
alongside and prattling gayly, some
times sitting or lying in her little
cradle.
When darkness came on, he turned
from the crowded streets and ceased
his monotonous cry. He was eviden-
tly on his way hOmeward. West
ward he went, up Oxford street and
along the Edgeware road, and through
a side street to a small archway. Up
this he drove his grinding-machine
into a small yard there under cover
ola shed, he slowed away his barrow,
and lifting the sleeping child out of the
rough cradle, he carried her tenderly
up stairs to a room at the top of the
house; then, laying her down on the
bed, he proceeded to strike 4 light
Leaving the candle burning, he went
down stairs again and out into the
crowded road. There he bought some
hot potatoes from an itinerant VEN
der, some bread and some butter, and
a pint of tea at a cOffee-shOp. This
last he put into tin he had brought
with him, and then went back again
to his room. He arranged his pur-
chases to the best effectupO the little
table, and then proceeded to wake up
the child.
"Wake up, Kitty, you little sleepy
head Tea is ready all hot, potatoes
and everything"
The child sat up, rubbed her eyes,
and then scrambled off the bed and
clambered up on her grandfather's
knee.
tMe sleep so, so long" holding out
her arms to the fullest extent.
ayes, Kitty, and You have slept all
night if would have left you"
"GO0d grandpa, good nice supper"
the child said as she tried to eat a hot
potato.
'Yes, isn't it first rate, Kitty ?
You get it for nothing. Miss Tuck
er, you know, had sing for her sup
peru
''NOt Miss Tucker, grandpa-TOm-
my Tucker. Tommy must have been a
boy, you know"
ayes, of course, Kitty. Well you
know, he had to sing for his sup
per-"
al will sing, grandma ~ and she slip
ped off his knee and stood with her
hands folded reverently, and sang the
DOXolgy at the end of the Evening
Hymn. 1t was not, perhaps, much
like the air; but she sang the words
clearly and distinct in her child
voice.
The old man had ceased eating as
she began, and clasped his hands before
him too. A tear stood in his eve as
she finished:
Every nice, Kitty, there's a dear
You have earned your supper; the
| potatoes are not too hot to eat now. -
Kitty climbed up again on her
grandfather's knee, and ate her sup
per cOntentedly, prattling meantime
about thousand things.
= ''Now, grandpa, tell me a story"
"What shall it be pussy? Jack the
/ Gidnt-kiLJer. PUSs ia Boots, or Jdck
and the Bednstdlk, or whatw
"The Fair One 1Oith Golden Locks,
grandpa. like that best"
The old man gravely began his
story; but he had not gone far before
eyelids closed over the blue eyes, and