Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11

"Why, grandma, did you come all the
way from Boston?" cried Dot, in sur
prise, 4 was just writing a letter to
you, grandma"
Yes, | came ali the way from Boston,
Dot; and l have brought you present"
said grandma, laying tiny little box on
the table.
"Oh! what is it?" asked Dot, taking it
up eagerly and opening it.
There, on bed of blue velvet, lay a
shining gold ring with two beautiful
pearls in it.
"Oh, you dear grandma" she screamed
in her joy, " how did you know wanted
a ring more'n anything in the world :
MORN a locket and chain, cause you
gave me one before? Oh! you do give
| me such elegant jewerelly"
But grandma did not say word, and
when Dot looked up in her face she saw
she was reading her letter.
ooh! Grandma, don't read it now" she
exclaimed; cause it's all got to be
writed over into clean paper, with ink"
"Dotty Hamilton, is this the letter you
were going to copy and send me?" said
grandma. And Dot was so frightened by
the grave voice that she jumped up and
stood on chair, looking over her grand
mas shoulders while she read
Yes, that was surely her letter; but how
great was her surprise and terror to see
there not only the sprawling big-print
letters she had made, but the thoughts
that had come into her head while she
was writing. This was the way it read:
Ny Dear Grandma:
| got the locket and chain and wore them
to a party. Mamma said to thank YOU very
much for them, and I do 60 dear, don't
like to write letters. I do wish my Grandma
did not 'spect a letter from me) I weared
them two times. q wish my Grandma was
blind. Then 'twouldnt be no use writing
her letters, cause she could not read them.)
| was six years old when got that locket, and
next time I'll be seven. % dear, l am so
tired. [ am just as sure, if Grandma was
here, she would say: CHOW, Dot Hamilton,
you needn't write that letter to me") Susie
Mills said they was brass, but Robbie says
she's iellus. (When my Papa is the Presi
dent I'll get him to make laws for grandmas
never to 'spect any letters, cause they won't
get them if they dO0 | can't think of any
more news to tell you, 'cept the organ grind
er came here to-day. Guess if Grandma
knew how sick it made me to write letters
she'd feel real wicked to 'spect them.) Good
by. From your beloved
DOTTY HAMILTON.
Dot was so frightened when she had
read this that she tumbled down off the
chair on to the floor
Her mother heard the noise and came
running up.
Has grandma gomez" were Dots first
words.
Grandma has not been here" said
her mother, taking her on her lap.
Then Dot sobbed out her story; and
her mother smiled as she said:
81 think my little girl has been asleep
and dreaming"
81 do truly believe I have" cried Dot
in delight. ''Ohl Pm so glad, cause |
would not have grandma see such let
ter,not for all the rings in the world and
there amt no ring here, and there amt
no things in my letter. So, mamma, if
you'll give me clean piece of paper I'll
write ink into it, and I'll tell grandma
that do like dreams when you find out
they are not true"
In few moments Dot was busily labor
ing away at the fresh letter; and when it
was all done and sealed and sent through
the mail. and grandma opened and read
it, she smiled so many times and kissed
the crooked little words so fondly that,
if Dot had seen her, she would have
thought that if any of her "thinks" had
got into that they were only the most
pleasant, cheerful, loving ones that
could come from her little heart.-L5n-
coin Montgomery, IN ". 7. Independent.