Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-08-14


Brown. They looked at the newly paint
ed house with bewildered air, and never
stirred from their seats.
"Well," said the farmer, ''herewe are;
shall help you outy"
"But this can't be our old house-some-
things wrong about it someway, Dut !
can't just think what it is" said the Ola
man.
swell, guess it'll be all right inside;
you'd better go in and see."
Trembling with surprise and wonder,
the old couple went slowly up the clean
swept path, and were met at the door by
Aunt Kezzy's sunny face.
ooh! know now! It's some of your
workr'
mo, indeed, grandpa! Do you suppose
an old woman like me could paint up
your house like this? But come in, come
in and sit down."
Aunt Kezzy led them to the coy sit
| ting-room and seated them in their cush-
Toned chairs.
"Now, Keziah Thompson, who's done
all thiss" said grandma, pointing her
trembling finger to the newly-papered
walls, the muslin curtains, and the trifies
that adorned the room, then feeling care
fully the cushioned arm of the chair In
which she Was SltllHS.
"a whole parcel of fairies, grandma,
real fairies. They are all coming to see
you this afternoon"
Tears slowly gathered in her faded eyes
and rolled down the burrows in her
cheeks.
sWell, Pm all beat out! I can't think
what it means" said grandpa 81 don't be-
| leve it is our house, after all; it's some
mistake"
"No, indeed it's all right assure you"
said auntie. "Just rest bit, then look
about you and see"
They couldn't wait to rest. Excited and
curious as children, they got up and went
out into the kitchen, looked at the shining
stove, the old clock in the corner, the
neatly-scoured table and floor, the pure
white walls, and the blue and white
dishes in their accustomed place.
1t was treat to Aunt KezZy and Farmer
Jones, who stood in the doorway, blowing
his nose vigorously, and furtively wiping
his eyes upon an enormous red handker-
chief, to hear their ordinations of aston
ishment as, hand in hand they peered
cautiously into the little bedroom. The
same blue and white spread was on the
bed, the same little clawfooted stand by
its head, with the campfire" bottle, box
of matches, grandpa's spectacle-case, and
grandma's knitting-wOrk and old cap on
on it, just as they had left them. They
went back to the sittingroom, took one
long look at the pretty chairs, and then
sat down.
swell, wife, it's nice, amt it, whQever's
done it?" And the old mans face work
ed strangely, while his wife looked be.
seechingly at Aunt Kezzy, and said
"Do tell us what it means"
81 will tell YOU dear old souls. You
see we all know grandma has the rheuma
tism so badly she cannot do much. and
we know you have no children to look
after your comfort, so some dear fairies,
with stout hearts and willing hands, came
here while you were gone and fixed up
the old house as nice as they could. They
are coming soon to see how you like it,
"Bless 'em! hope they WILL" said
grandpa; ''but guess Aunt Kesiah had a
hand in it,"
"Of course I did always manage to
have hand in anything like this if
can, but l did very little of the work,
assure you. Now, just lie down and have
good rest before the fairies come" She
coaxed the old folks into their little bed
room, turned down the blue and white
| IL,
tucked them in like the two dear old
children they were. Closing the door
she slipped down to the grove where 81
mon Martin had put up long table under
the trees. She spread them neatly with
table cloths, then hurried back to the gate
Just in time to send the young folks softly
around the house. Very soon the con
tents of their baskets were transferred to
the table, and then auntie set them to
work making wreaths and mats Of oak
leaves and bouquets Of wild flowers with
which to adorn it, while she made the
tea in the house. They placed two chairs
at the head of the table for grandpa and
grandma, and another at the foot for Aunt
Kezzy. When all was ready aunty woke
up the old couple, who were having a fine
nap, helped grandpa on with his boots,
wrapped light shawl around grandma,
and invited them to walk out to the grove.
How their dim old eyes frightened up
when they saw the pretty girls in their
white dresses and wreaths. and the fine
looking, sturdy boys, with flowers in their
button-holes They shook hands with
every one. then gathered about the
table Every fair young head was bowed
while grandpa, with his trembling voice,
called down blessing upon the dear
hearts who had remembered the old folks
so kindly. What delightful time they
did have, to be sure! Grandma made
them tell her all about the work, how they
had contrived to brighten up the old
place so. Grandpa praised them, and
finally got up and made aspeech, wherein
he expressed their united thanks to each
and every one, and wound up by saying,
"And now, three cheers for Aunt Kezzy
and her fairiesi" The boys made the old
woods ring with their loud hurrahs, and
the girls screamed with laughter to see
the old man swing his hat and hurrah as
loud as he could with his weak, trembling
voice.
"Why grandpal you're making an old
fool of yourself" said grandma, wiping
her eyes, and laughing as she hadn't be-
fore for years.
$50 be, wife, so be; but never mind.
1t makes me feel like boy again to get
with such parcel Of young folks
Such jolly time as they had! Finally,
the falling dew warned them 1t was quite
time for the old folks to be in the house;
so. after gathering up the fragments of
the feast, they escorted them to the door