The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-08-13

GRANDMA FREEMAN was very, very
deaf. But the worst Of was she didn't
know it, but always insisted she was not
81 tell ye," she would squeal out in a
way that proved at once that she was
deaf, else she never could endure the
sound of her own voice, "my hearin s
Jest as good as ever twas. It's all in the
way folks has O. mumbin' and chewin'
their words nowadays, that can't hear
nothin' Course l amt dcaf-it never
run in the family. My father and moth
cr both lived to be over eighty, and could
hear as well the day they died as can,
and not one of us thirteen children ever
was the leastest grain hard O. hearn'.
My mother was Priggins, and the Prig-
gnses never was deaf set. Father did
have one sister-Aunt Randy, we used
to call her-Mirandy Stebbins-she mar
ried Luke Butterfield for his second wife
his first wife was she that was Charity
Miller; wal, Aunt Randy was leetle
hard O hearin', but it all came o gittin'
cold arter the measles when she was a
gal"
And grandma, having cleared her skirts
CT the sin and disgrace of being deaf
would dig the end of her knitting needle
zealously into the sheath pinned on her
side, and 60 to knitting again.
1t was not often that grandma was
trusted to entertain company alone
either Mrs. Freeman the younger or one
of her two pretty daughters usually as
sisted in the business. But grandma had
as strong faith in her gift of edifying as
when she was fifty years younger, and
never hesitated to try it. One fine
spring afternoon young Mr.. May, getting
sleepy over his law studies, threw the
| books aside and sauntered out to call on
the Freeman girls. Now it so happened
that Mrs. Freeman was at the sewing
circle, and the hired girl had gone home,
sick, so Lucy and Belinda had the kitch
en- work to do. Lucy was up to her
dimpled elbows in a batch of bread, and
Belinda was giving the dish cupboard
thorough overhauling and putting to
rights, so neither of them heard the door.
bell. Neither did grandma, though she
was passing through the hall and saw
it ringing so she was quick-witted enough
to open the door, and found Mr.. May, all
smiles and bows, on the steps.
Good afternoon, ma'am, he said, po-
litcly raising his hat. 'Are the young
ladies at homer"
Pretty well, thank ye,' squcaled
grandma, " though my rheumatic bothers
me some. Walk right into the sittin'-
room," for Mr. May often called there,
SO she knew him well by sight, and she
felt quite flattered by his polite saluta-
ton. Mr.. May hesitated, but there were
two other fellows coming down the side
walk, and he dared not risk another
question and answer, so in he went.
Take this chair" and grandma was
surprisingly active in hauling up a big
arm chair for him; "now amt that com
fortable9 That cushions the best 0
hens feathers. I've seen live geese
feathers not a mite softer. worked the
cover myself since was seventy year
old, but I've got sight handsomer one
that worked when was gal"
And down on her knees at the lower
bureau drawer pumped the old lady. and
drew out ondangay but now faded
sampler, whereon divers impossible birds
and flowers were wrought in worstcd.
"Thcre," said she, spreading it over
his knees, II did all that aforc was fif-
teen Gals amt nowadays what they was
then"
''It's very pretty" said Mr.. May,
thinking he must say something in praise
of it, Il called to see the young ladies.
Are they at home."
6 Not but dreadful little of it at home
mostly did it at school. Such things
taught at school in them times, and |
think if they was now, in place Of alzc-
bry and bottomy, and sech nonsense, it
would be better, don't you:"
"I dare say" was the reply; and while
grandma carefully put away this souve
mir Of old times he tried to study his
way out of the scrape. "She must be
very deaf thought he, "but I'll try once
more"
"Where are Misses Belinda and Lucy"
he screamed, when she had settled her
self in a chair
g Yes, sir, Tryphena Newton has been
at work here all winter, but she's gone
home now with sore finger, and I'm
afraid she'll have felon ont. Anyhow
it begins jest as James wife's first hus-
bands sisters felon began-she was Sal
Mari Gage-and she had proper bad
time ont. She was keeping the dees-
trick school and boardin' with us when
she was took with it. The gals have to
do the work now, but they're smart as
lection, though think Belindy's a trihe
the best for business. !. Maybe you're
courtin' one on 'em," she continued, look
ing up at him with what was meant for a
roguish smile.
"Hang itr was Mr.. Mays mental ejac-
ulation, "but the girls will probably be
in soon. I'll relieve her mind Of that no
ton. Oh, no, indeedr' he replied, loud
ly. II am only young man just study
ing law, you know"
"Next Sunday morning!" cried the old
lady, fairly starting out Of her chair with
surprise. "Now you don't say SO! At
meetin', Of course. Now how sly they
have kept it from mel"
+" You misunderstood me, !" he screamep
il terror. "I didn't say So"
"Belindy, toos Well, I'm glad it's her
for your sake. Cause she won't say no
to SO good an offer. Belindy's god gal,
too. She's named after me, and perhaps
that's why like her q little better than /
do Lucy; but shall do what's right by