Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-05-03
APRIL FOOLS DAY AT ELMsGLADE

APRIL FOOLS DAY AT ELMSGLADE
DEAR RUTH: Did you remember thai
the 3lst of March is my ninetieth birthday
Probably L shall not see another one, and
want all my family to celebrate this. vii
you come for week ? [ want you all to be
here on the 9th or 2Sth, and to stay some
days into April. | believe [ can hope tc
see all excepting Sidney. Lovingly ever,
GRANDMOTHER.
1t was just what [ wanted, this little hol
iday, for had been hard at work all winter
and was feeling very lonely, very homesick,
and dreary, when the invitation came like
glimpse of sunshine.
| knew who would be there. Five daugh-
ters- and their husbands, with, oh SO many
children, most of them young ladies and
gentlemen; l, the only child of sixth
daughter, who had Joined my father years
ago in the better world, and Sylvia.
[ must tell you of Sylvia, the only one
probably of grandmother guests was not a
child or grandchild She was grandma :
companion. Nobody knew much about her
previous history, excepting that her mother
had been one of grandma scholars in the
days when she kept little school, before
grandpa came a woOing.
l think there was not one of the children
who would not gladly have lived at Elms-
glade, and been grsndma's companion, but
she would not have it 50.
Give me your com ?any 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 marries or die. y
So it was Sylvia vino wrote grandma ;
letters, who read to her, and performed the
thousand little acts of service old people
constantly require. Because she was poor,
Sylvia received salary; because grandma
liked pretty things about her, Sylvia accep
ted the wardrobe she provided, ana was al
ways exquiSitely dressed. She was very
beautiful Not merely pretty face, that
depended upon color and dress for much of
its effect, but rarely beautiful face, full of
animation one moment, yet as lovely in re-
pose the next. The pending expression
was bright and joyous, for Sylvia was a
happy nature but at times there would
come to her great brown eyes wistful look,
sad and tender, as if some sweet memory
Of sorrow or unattainable future JOY was in
her heart.
We all loved her. Maude. stately bru-
nette, our queen of cousins, patronized her ;
Susie, the youngest of us all, worshipped
her. and all the cousins between gave her
their love, unmixed with jealousy, for we
knew she was grandma 5 comfort, without
depriving US of one loving throb of her true
heart.
| fairly counted the hours in my little
boarding house room until | could pack a
vaise for weeks sojourn az Elmsglade,
and took an early breakfast and early train
on the 2Sth, drawing long, tree breath of
delight as the iron horse snorted its way out
Of the depot.
Such houseful as | found. Maude,
Claire, and Percy, with Aunt Alice and
uacle Joe Aunt Margery's twin girls and
only son, with. Uncle Harry promised for
the birthday; Aunt Mary, with seven olive
branches, and Uncle Walter coming with
Uncle Harry; Aunt Sue and Uncle Lewis,
with their only child, Hester; and Aunt
Polly, WIKI ten children, and, grandma said,
Uncle Phil, the biggest baby of the lot; L,
all alone, but welcomed heartily. We were
all there. as grandma said, all excepting
Sydney.
1t was a sad gap we knew for grandma
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 chill,
dren, her darling of darlings We were toe
young when he was at home TO speculate
about the peculiarities that made older peo.
pie sigh for the boys future but, looking
back through the vista of years, can now
understand Why older people tremblod for
Sidney
Fair as a girl, frail as flower, beautiful
as dream, this orphan boy inherited from
his father an artists soul, from his mother
sensitive, delicate body He was geni-
Us, living an ideal life, INDUCED in every
iaucy, and causing no other anxiety than