The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-10-20
The Grandmother.

rrom the Danish of Hans Christian Ander-
sen.l
Grandmamna is so old, she has so
many wrinkles, and her air IS quite
white: but her eyes shine like two
stars. Yea, they are much more beau
titul; they are so mild, so blessed to
look into. And she can tell the most
delightful stories, and she has a dress
Of thick silk that rustles it is covered
with large flowers.
Grandmamnla knows so, much for
she lived long before papa and mann
ma. that is certain. Grandmamma has
A nsaIm-book, with thick silver clasps,
and she reads III it often in it there lies
a rose ii is quite pressed and dry 1t
IL not so fine IA the roses she has In
the vase. and yet she always smiles
most kindly at it; there even come
sears i'm her eyes. How can it be that
Grandmamma looks always so fondly
upon the Wretched rose in the old
book? Do you know? Each time
that prandmamma's tears fall upon
The flower, it's color revives, 1t freshens
again, and the whole room Is filled
with the scent of it; the walls disap-
pear as though they We're only fog, ana
ali around is the green, beautiful wood,
with the sun shining through the
lRnVf1A. y
quite Young! she is a beautiful girl
with golden locks and blooming
cheeks engaging and lovely no rose
ia more fresh ; yet the eyes, the mild,
blessed ewes, they are still grand
mammals. By her side Is seated a
youth = so young, handsome, and
strong! He offers her the rose, and
she gmiles-but not thus smiles grand
mamma! Yes !-the smile comes.
ii. is gone : many thoughts and many
forms pass by; the handsome youth
IL gone. the rose lies in the psalm
book, and grandmamma-yesi thefe
she sits again, as an old lady, gazing
at the withered rose that lies III the
book.
Now prandmamma is dead. She
sat in the easy-chair, ana told long,
long delightful story. = And now II
- Ever y she said, >" aud am quite
weary: let me sleep a little" Then
she Law back, drew a heavy sigh, and
sient but it became more and more
stifl. and her face was so full Of peace
and ioy, and it was as If the sun shone
Il st; then they said she was dead.
She was laid in a black cofiini
eushrouded in pure white linen; she
IDOked 40 beautiful, and yet her eyes
were closed But all the wrinkles were
gone: a sweet smile played on hel
mouth her hair was so silvery white
40 honorable, no one ould be afraid Il
look at her it was still the same, be
niVn. kind grandmamma. And the
psaln-book was laid under her head
as she herself had desired, and the
rose lay in the old book ; and so they
buried her.
On her grave, close under thu
church-wall, they planted a rOse-tree
and M stood full of blossoms; th'
nightingale sang over it, and from
within the church the organ playeI
he most beautiful psalms 10 the booi
hat Law under her. And the moor
hown right down upon the grave
Int the dead one was not therei ever,
chill could fearIessly go there at night
and pluck a rose, there by the church
yard wall.
one that is dead knows more thai
ali we living know: the dead know
Ihe dread we should feel at anything
so strange as that they should come t
us fine dead are better than we all
and so they do not come. There l
earth over the coffin, there is cart
in It. The psaim-book with leaves ]
,lust the rose with all its association
has crumbled into dust; but above
fresh roses bloom-above the nightin
gale sings, and the organ plays; on
thinks OF the old grandmother, VIII
the mild eyes, ever young.
Fves can never die! Ours shall on
day see her, young and beautiful, a
when. for the first time, she kisse
the fresh red rose that lieth now aus
in the grave.