Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-08-08
GRANDHt'S NISIAk Z.

Grandma Freeman was very, very
deaf But the worst of it was that she
did not know IT, but always insisted she
was not a. tell yc, J." she would squeal
out in a way that proved ut once that
she was deaf, else she never could en-
dure the sound Of her own voice, "my
henrins Jest as good as ever twas.
It's all in the way folks has o mumblin'
and chewin' their words nowadays, that
| can't hear nothing. Course | Gin't
dealt never run in the family. My
father and mother both lived to be over
80, and could bear as well the day they
died as ! can now. and not one of us thir-
teen children ever was the least grain
hard o. he0riu'. My mother was a l'lIg-
gins, and the Prigginses was never adeaf
set. Father did have one slster-Aunt
Randy we used to call her, Miranda
Stcbbins She married Luke ButterticId
for his second wife; his first wife was
she that was Charity Miller wal,
Aunt Randy was II little hard O hearin',
but it all come o getting cold arter the
meuses, when she was gal. And
grandma having cleared the skirts OF
the sin and disgrace OF being deaf,
would dig the end of her knitting needle
2ealUusly into the sheath pinned on
her side and 60 TO knitting again.
II was not often that grandma was
trusted 10 entertain company alone;
either Mrs. Freeman the younger or
one of her two pretty daughters usual
lv assisted i'm the business. But grand
ma had strong faith in her gift Of
edifyiug as when she was fifty years
younger and never hesitate to try it.
One fine spring afternoon young Mr..
May, getting sleepy over his law studies,
threw the books neiie and sauntered
ont 10 call on the Freeman girls Now
il SO happened Tint Mrs, Freeman was
mt the sewing circle, and the hired girl
had gone home sick, SO Lucy and
Belinda had the kitchen work to do.
Lucy was up to her dimpled elbows In
batch of bread and Belinda was civ
ing the dish cupboard a thorough over
hnulug and putting TO rights, SO neith-
er oil them heard the door bell. Meth
er did grandma, though she was pass.
ing through the hall and saw it ring.
ing; So he was quick Witted enough to
open the door, and found Mr. May, all
sw'..s and bows, on the steps.
Good afternoon, ma'am,' he said
politely, raising his hat, "arc the
young ladies' at home z"
' Pretty we'll, | thank ye, squealed
grandma; though my rheumatic
hothers me some. Walk right into the
sittin' room, for Mr.. May often called
there so she knew him we'll by sight
and she felt quite battered by his polite
Saluution Mr.. May hesitnted, but
there were two other fellows Just COM
ing down the sidewalk, and he dared
not ask another question and answers
SO in Inc won't
" lake TINS chair, md grandma was
surprisingly active III hauling mp a hIg
arm. chair for him NOW amt that
comfortable That cushions the best
a. hen feathers I've seen live geese
feathers not mite softer. | worked
the cover myself since | was 70 years
old, Int I've got sight haudsomer one
that / worked when | was a gal. " And
down GA her knees at the lower bureau
drawer pumped the old lady, and drew
ont once gay bat now faded sample
wherein divers impossible birds and
flowers were wrought in worsted.
There, SAID she, spreading ii over
his knees, Il did that all afore | was
Is. Gals amt what they used To be.
It's very pretty" said Mr. May,
thinking he mast say something in
praise of il. called to edo the
Young ladies. Are they home
Not but dreadful little of it home,
mostly did at school Such things
was taught in school IN them tunes,
and / ,hink if they was now I'M place
OF alzebrv and hottomv aud sech nom
tense 1t would be better; don't you
shiuk So
n dare say, was the reply. and
while grandma carefully put away this
souvenir # old times, he tried to study
his way out OF the fx. She must be
verv def, he thought, "hut III try
once more.
i ..Nuete3a are Misses Belinda aud