The Grange advance., 1874-12-29

Wondered now, when the bells really
did ring knell. Mechanically he count
ed the strokes. 1t vas a woman and
thirty-three years old. Thirty-three
years ago his Grace was born-and
where was she now!
Meanwhile, the two old angels were
jogging along the road, in excellent
spirits, on their way to take tea with
lisa bella Newman. Grandmother Bright
had the faculty, as have remarked, Of
retaining, without much regard to date,
the impression Of all sweet and pleas
ant things that had happened to her.
Sorrow, and particularly death, she
seemed not to remember at all. That
was why her world was full of friends
and friendly thoughts, She ever lost
anyone she loved, and so the years
brought her increasing, instead of d.
minishing, treasure. She had attended
the burial of her early companion, a
dozen years ago; but that had now
passed entirely out of her mind, while
she recalled quite clearly her happy
wedding, and her joy when Grace was
born--the very Grace whose lifeless
form, the form Of worn and wasted
woman, now lay prepared for the grave
in the house of DR.. Hopkins. The old
shay went by. and its occupants were
quite unconscious Of the scene within.
Nor were they noticed by anybody.
But quarter of mile beyond, they
overlook a child, trudging bravely over
the light snow, bareheaded and not
warmly clothed, but flushed with walk.
ing. Grandmother Bright pulled. up
the old mare, and called out, 'sMercy
on US, child, what are you doing out
there! You'll get your feet wet, and
catch your death of colo. Why, as
sure as live, do believe it 8 Isa bella's
Grace! How you have grown, my
dear!''
Like green bay tree,'' said Aunt
Pickerell, graciously; while her COM
panion continued. "But, what upon
earth sent you out this way! Little
girls shouldn't 60 away from home
without asking their mother.''
Here Grace's lip quivered, and the
tears began to fall. ''Mother isl
have lost my mother, and am going to
find Betsy Bright she faltered.
''Bless the child; she's lost, SO she
is,' said Grandmother Bright. ssOnly
to think of it! little thing like that,
starting off all alone, to 60 and make a
call on me, and getting lost! I never
did hear the like! Why, dear me, I'm
Betsy Bright, and here l am going out
to tea. You just jump right into the
shay, and we'll make you comfortable!'
10 look at the old lady was to believe
her; and Grace climbed up, to be
tucked into the middle of the seat, and
covered with shawls. In a few mo-
ments, tired out with her grief, and ex.
citement, and exertion, she was fast
asleep. Grandmother Bright was quite
aroused by the unexpected incident,
and talked incessantly about it. "Do
look at that face, Mehitable; just the
image of Isabella. Endicott all over.
What could Isabella be thinking of. to
let her 60 out that way? She'll be
properly frightened to find the girl is
lost: Ill tell you, we'll give her
good lesson. Grace here don't know
where We are going to tea. When you
catch running child, never tell 'em
you re goino to take 'em home. That's
Just where they run away from. Tell
EN- you're going on visit, and wart
them to 60 along And Grandmother
Bright smiled sweetly at her own wis.
dom, ''But we'll play a little trick on
Isabella. Well ask her what has be.
come Of Grace; and then, when she has
worried little, we'll just bring in the
child, and have good laugh over it."
Aunt Pickerell nodded gracefully to
everything, though her only remark
was that the laughter of fools was like
the cracking Of thorns under a pot.
When they reached tie Newman house
they climbed out upon the horse-block
and hitched the old mare securely; and
it was found necessary to wake Grace,
because she was too heavy to carry.
Grandmother Bright was afraid the
child would object to enter her home
but Grace, to whom the house was per-
fectly strange, made no opposition what.
ever.
'Catch me knocking!'' whispered
Grandmother Bright. Il mean to sur
prise her, So she opened the front
door and passed through the long hall.
She knew the house as if she had WIS.,
tied there but yesterday. At the end
of the hall she planted Grace on a
chair, with orders not to stir, if she
wanted something nice. The poor
child was too experienced in sorrow and
care already to mind this little bribe;
but she had no wish to do anything but
be guided by this dear white-haired
lady, who was now her only friend.
Then Grandmother Bright opened the
door suddenly, and in
upon Oliver Newman walked the two
old angels.
''Good afternoon, Oliver! Well, who
would have thought to find you at
home, right in the middle of the dav.
almost. We thought we'd lust come