The Van Buren press., 1871-08-15
eudget Of SclSserings.


Tas GsaspmoTRER R-irauimsmms is
90 old. She has so many wrinkles, and
her hair 10 quite white; but her eyes shine
like two stars. Yea. they are much more
beautiful they are so mild. SO blessed to
lsok into. And she can tell the most de-
lightful stories. aud ,he has dess OF siIk
that rustles it is covered with large how-
ers.
Gnndmamma knows so much, for she
lived long before papa and mamma, that is
certaia. Grandmamms has psalm book
with thick silver clasps, and she reads in 1t
often; in it there lies a rose; il is quite
pressed md dry; 1t is not so fine the
roses she has the vase. and yet shc always
smi!es most kindly at it there even come
tears in her eyes. How can it be that
grandmamma looks always 80 .ondly upon
tho withe,ed rose in the old book DO
you know Each time that grandmsmma S
tears fall npon the flower. its color revive..
it freshens again, and the whole room is
filled with the scent OF it the wslls di.sp-
pear as though ;hey weie only fog. and all
around is the green, beaui:u wood. with
the sun shining through the leaves. sua
gisndmamma-yes, slc is quite ouns
sbe is a beautiful girl lwith golNen lock, an'
blooming cheeks. engaging and lovely; no
rose is mere freshly yet the eyes. the mild,
blessed eyes. they are ,,ll! giandmamma'
by her eide is seated y0uth-so young,
handsome and strong. He offers her rose.
and abe smiles; but net thus smiles grand
mamma Yes the smile comes. lie IL
gone, many thoughts ana many forms paSs
by the handsome outh is gone. the rose
lies in the psalm.hook, and grandmamma
yes. there she sits again. as mn old lady.
gazing at the withercd roso ths, lies in :he
book.
Now grandmamma is dead. She sat in
the easy chair and told long. delightful,
story. And now !, is over. y she sail,
"and l am quite weary LEI me s!cep lii.
tie" Then she lay back nrew heavy
sigh, and .lep,: but it became more ami
more sill, an her lace was 80 n,l "i peace
and Joy, it was az if the sun shone upon 1t
then they ,aid that she was dead.
She was laid in black coffin. enshreud.
ed in pure white linen she looked 30 beau
tiful, and yet her eyes were closed But ali
tho wrinkles were gone sweet smile
played on her mouth; her hair WAS so si,
yer white, so honorable. no one could be
afraid to look at her 81, was still the same,
benign. kind grandmamma. And the
psala.- book was laid Wder head, as she
herself had desired. and the rose lay in the
book ; and SO they buried her.
On her grave, close under the church
wall, they planted a roso tree. and it stood
full OF blossoms; the Nightingale sang over
II, and from within the church the organ
played the most beautiful psalms in the
book that lay under her head. And the
moone shone right down the grave but the
dead was not there every child could fear
lcssly go there at night, AMI pluck a rose,
there by the church-yard wall.
One that is dead knows moro than all
we living know the dead know the dread
we sheula feel at anything so strange as
that they shonld come to us the dead are
better than we ALL and 80 they do not come
There is earth over the coffin. there is earth
in it. The psalm.book with its leaves Is
dust, tie rose with all its associations has
c,umbled int, dust but above fIesh roses
bloom-above tho nightingale signs, and
the organ plays; one thinks OF the old
grandmother, with she mild eyes, ever
young.
Ewes can never die Ours shall ons ia,
zee her, young and beautiful az hen. iol
the frat .ime. sho kissed tho fresh red rose
that liesh now dust in tho grave From
the Danish ef,hs Hans Cha istiaa Aadcr.
sen.