The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-10-19

rdllleTy our SrdVer Oueb WIFI hlnu anu
serious admonition. AS child used
to follow him about, and draw as near to
him as l could. 1 remember when l
was small enough to sit on his knee.
and play with his watch-chain. As
girl, would join him in his walks on
the terrace, sit with him over the fire
during the winter twilight, or by the
open windows in summer. As child,
girl, and woman, loved and honored
him above all earthly beings. And we'll
1 might. From him seemed to flow all
the pleasures of my life. To him owed
all the small blessings and joyful sur
prises of my childish and girlish years.
1 was fond of riding, and was rising
above that childish simplicity when,
provided I was mounted on horse, /
cared nothing for my equipments, and
when an old saddle or broken bride
were matters of no moment. I was be-
ginning to be fastidious, but had never
told my wishes. I was standing one
bright day in the portico, when a man
rode up to the door with a beautiful
lady's saddle and bride before him. My
heart bounded. These coveted articles
were deposited at my feet. My grand
father came out of his room to tell me
they were mine. When about fifteen
years old began to think of a watch,
but knew the state of my fathers fnan-
ces promised no such indulgence. One
afternoon the letter bag was brought in.
Among the letters was a small packet
addressed to my grandfather. 1t had
the Philadelphia mark upon it.
looked at it with Indifferent, incurious
eye Three hours after an elegant
lady's watch, with chain and seals, was
in my hand, which trembled for very
Joy. My Bible came from him, my
Shakespeare, my first writing-table, my
first handsome writing-desk, my first
Leghorn hat, my first silk dress. What,
in short, of all my small treasures did
not come from himY
cannot describe the feelings of ven-
Grafton, admiration, and love that
existed in my heart toward him. 1
looked on him as being too good for
my comprehension; and yet I felt no
fear to approach him and be taught by
him some of the childish sports that 1
delighted in. When he walked in the
garden, and would call the children to
go with him, we raced after and before
him. and we were made perfectly happy
by this permission to accompany him.
Not one of us, in our widest moods,
ever placed foot on one of the garden
beds, for that would violate one of his
rules and yet never heard him utter a
harsh word to one of US, or speak in a
raised tone of voice, or use a threat.
He simply said: "Do," Or "Do not" !"
He would gather fruit for us, seek out
the ripest figs, or bring down the cher
ries from On high above our heads with
a long stick, at the end of which there
was hook and little net bag. One OF
our earliest amusements was in running
races on the terrace, or around the lawn.
He placed us according to our ages, CIV
ing the youngest and smallest the start
of all the others by some yards, and so
with his white handkerchief in his hand,
on which our eager eyes were fixed, and
slowly counted three, at which number
he dropped the handkerchief, and we
started off to finish the race by return
ing to the starting place, and receiving
our reward of dried fruit-three figs,
prunes, or dates to the victor, two to the
second, and one to the lagger who came
in last. Often he discovered, we knew
not how, some cherished object of our
desires, and the first intimation we had
of knowing the wish was its unexpected
qualification. Sister Anne gave q silk
dress to sister Ellen. Cornelia (then
eight or ten years old,) going up stairs
involuntarlly expressed aloud some feel
ings which possessed her bosom on the
| oooasiop hv saving UI never had a
silk dress in my life" The next day a
silk dress came from Charlottesville tc
Cornelia and Ito make the rest of us
equally happy also pair OF pretty
dresses for Mary and myself.