Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-04-05
APRIL FOOLS DAY AT ELMsGLADE.
Nv S lNNiE trBSsT

- D 6SNAE 6RrST
DEAR RUTH: Did you remembe,
that the 31st of March is my ninetietI
birthdays Probably 1 shall not sec
another one, and I want all nv family
10 celebrate this. VIII you come for :
week I | want you al TO BE here or
The 9th or 28th, and to stay sotie daye
INTO april | believe I can hope to SEE
all excepting sydney. Lovingly ever,
GRANDMoTHER.
Ii was Just what | wanted, this little
holiday, for | had been hard at work
all winter, and was feeling very lonely,
sefy homesick, md drBery. when the
invitation came like glimpse of sun.
shine.
:. knew who, would be there. Five
daughters; and their husbands, with.
ON SO many children, most Of them
young ladies and gentlemen; I, the on
~ child OF sixth daughter, who had
joined my father years ago in the bette,
world, and Sylvia.
must tell you of Sylvia, the only
one probably of grandmother's guests
who was not child OF grandchild.
She was grandpla's companion No
body knew much about her previous
history, excepting that her mother had
been one of grandma's scholars in the
days when she kept a little school be-
lore grandpa came a-wooing.
think there was not one of the
grandchildren who would not gladly
have lived at Elmsglade, and been
grandma's companion, but she would
have it so.
"Give me your company and your
love Come to me when you can, but
never feel obliged to stay she would
say. Sylvia will live with me till she
marri es or die
80 1t was Sylvia who wrote grandma s
stters, who read to her, and performed
the thousand little acts of service old
people constantly require. Becaus e
she was poor, Sylvia received salary;
because grandma liked pretty things
about her, Sylvia accepted the ward
robe she provided, and was always ex-
quisltely dressed. She was very beau
tlful Not merely pretty face, that
depended upon color and dress for
much OF It's effect, but a rarely beauti-
fuI face, full of animation one moment.
yet as lovely IN repose the next. The
pending expression was bright and joy-
GUS, for SyIvla's was happy nature ::
but at times there would come TO her
great brown eyes a wistful look, sad
and tender, as if some sweet memory
of sorrow or unattainable future iov
was IN her heart.
We all loved her Maude, stately
brunette, our queen of cousins. ratron-
tzed her; Susie, the youngest of us oil.
worshIpped her; and all the cousins
between gave her their love, unmixed d
with jealousy, for we knew she was
grandma's comfort, without depriving
us of one loving throb of her true
heart.
L fairly counted the hours in nv lit
tie boarding -honse room until I could
pack vallse for a weeks soioUrn at
EImsglade, and took an early break
last and early train on the 2Sth, draw
ing long, free breath of delight as
the iron horse snorted its way out of
the depot.
Such houseful as l found. Maude,
Claire, and Percy, with Aunt Alice and
Uncle Joe; Aunt Margery's twin girls
and only son, with Uncle Harry prom
Is ed for the birthday; Aunt Mary,
with seven olive branches. and Uncle
Walter coming with Uncle Harry;
Aunt Sue and Uncle Lewis, with their
their only child, Hester and Aunt
Polly, with ten children, and, grandma
said, Uncle Phil, the biggest baby OF
the lot; |, all alone, but welcomed
heartily. We were all there, as grand
ma said, all excepting Sydney.
1t was sad gap we knew for grand
ma. She had never had but one son,
and he died one year after his marriage.
killed by a Lightning stroke. Three
days after his wife kissed her baby boy
once, and then joined her husband.
leaving the hour old child to grandma.
He was her idol. She loved us all.
but she worshipped Sydney, her child
of children, her darling of darlings. We
were too young when he was at home
TO speculate about the peeuliarities
that made older people sigh for the
boys future; but looking back through
the vista of years, can understand
why older people trembled for SYDNEY
Fair as a girl, frail as flower. beauti-
full as dream, this orphan boy inherit
ed from his father an artists soul.
from his mother a sensitive, delicate
body. He was genius, living an
ideal life, INDUCED in every fancy, and
causing no other anxiety than that
called forth by his feeble health. His
mothers large fortune made him
Independently wealthy when he came
of age, for grandma would have no
part of it touched for his support or
education IN boyhood He was an art
Ist from babyhood | think he was
seeking for souls or fairies in the flow
ers when his baby hands pulled them
into shreds, his great blue eyes look
ing mournfully and w1stfully at every
torn petal. Before he could speak. he
would SIT for hours watching clouds.
ralndrops, birds, any of the beauties
Nature showered upon Elmsglade.
[ think the greatest struggle of his
petted life was his choice of "a profession.
Should he devote himself to music.
he must give up his hopes of being
painter; if he elected to be painter,
where were his dreams of one day rival
ing the master musicians of the past (?
Painting finally carried the day, yet to
hear Sydney touch piano or violin
made one sigh for him to spend his
Ife IN music.
Need I say he was the idol of aunts
and cousins3 Everybody Joined the
compact to spoil sydnny, but be would
not be spoiled He was hard working
and indolent by turns, studying as
eagerly as professor to-day, lying on
the Grass all day tomorrow. His col
ilege lte brought him no special honors,
but It's temptations passed him and
left HIM untouched With his great.
soui-lit eyes, his white broad brow.
ms sensitive mouth, and fine features,
nls expression was childlike in its
innocent sweetness.
had not been an hom at Elmsolade
@ @hen my especial pet and crony Of
sta' soaslhS' Ella, came to take me up
LOU and L are TO have our old
toCn, s.Caroa Of 1a., course" she whispered.
Tome, let's run off for chat. !"
ne were out of school some wears