The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-05-12
LITTLE FOXES.


Dear me! there comes Grandma Jar
Wis., sighed pretty Mabel Lee, as she
looked out of the window and saw an
Old lady coming across the lawn-a very
queer looking old lady, in a plain gray
gown, d dark purple shawl and an old
fashioned silk calash over her thick.
ruftled cap.
Mabel!" said her mother, indig.
nantly. u. .,
ooh, know it, mamma dear. I'm an
awful sinner; but Grandma Jarvis is SO
good and sensible, and so forth, always
feel as if were poor little nut in the
jaws of a steel nut-cracker when she is
about"
She generally finds out and brings
out the good in you,n said Mrs. Lee,
smiling, but she said no more, for Mrs.
Jarvis turned the door-handle at that mo-
ment and came in.
You saw at once, if you saw her face,
that she was person of keen insight and
judgment; perhaps less lovable than a
gentler and more gracious nature, but
yet woman to be thoroughly trusted and
relied on. -..
Mabel was ladylike, bright girl,
spoiled, to be sure, as children are apt
to be, when there is but one in family,
and resenting, like any spoiled child, her
grandmother'ssh sharp comments and sensi-
BILE advice. AT heart, however, she re-
spected her, and perhaps little more
that the old lady was rich and generous,
and young people, even the least mer-
cenary and grasping, feel kindly toward
the hand that brings timely and costly
gifts. . ..[.1 81. ,
Mabel even forgave the old, worn dress,
since that gray gown was heavy, lustre-
less silk; the thick-quilted cap rutfles
India muslin and thread lace; the purple
shawl Grape, covered with embroidery,
and the white kerchef fastened with one
great diamond.
Grandma Jarvis never thought about
her clothes further than to have them
comfortable and not too outre She knew
very we'll the world was like Mabel, and
would forgive the simple fashion for the
costly material, and, with certain grim
humor, she always called the diamond
pin i" Charity, ,g....--.e. s.. ...
"1t covers so many of my sins, my
dear" she said 81 pass for awoman of
sense with ninety people out of hun
dred simply on account of this big
trinket. 1t blinds them so they can't see
am out Of the fashion"
To-day Mrs. Jarvis had definite
GRAND. She sat down on the sofa and
took off her calash with deliberation.
"Mehetabel," said she, fixing her eyes
on the young girl, whose color rose to
her fair face at the obnoxious name, 81
hear you are going to be married."
Mabel blushed still more holly, and
looked straight out of the window The
.teil-tale pane reflected a knit brow and
enthusiastically cross lips.
Mrs. Jarvis laughed.
You are rather startling, mother" 4
81 should think the fact was more
startling than l am" dryly answered the
old lady. " got your note last night,
Hetty, and | made up my mind to come
over this morning and see you about it,
"Yours are the first congratulations,
mother. Nobody else knows it,"
Il haven't congratulated anybody
yet" snapped Mrs. Jarvis. 81 never do
congratulate anybody till year after
their wedding day, and then don't have
to very often. | came to say, don't any
of you give the child tea serviee.
want to do that myself She's got my
name, ard it ought to be gilt, OF
silvered, or something, to console her for
such an old-fashioned appellation,
though she does top and tail it as if it
were a gooseberry."
"Ograndmaw Mabel turned pleased
and pretty face away from the window
now. -.. ,. .ts-f ...
g Don't be overcome yet. Maybe
you'll change your mind before the end
miss. I've got bit of advice for you
and promise to take first. The advice
is, to leave off the piano for six months
and take to the kitchen. Men can't live
on love and waltzes, much less man OF
the Selden tribe. / know 'em. If he
don't have good food, he'll be sour first
and then he'll have dyspepsia, and
there'll be sound of going in the top:
of the mulberry trees; which things are
figure. But that's the advice"
80 grandma! | can make splendid
cake, and ice-pudding, too, and Char
lottes, just as good as Cross" .
Fiddle.stick You can't make bread
or boil potato, or broil steak"
But anybody can do that"
Mrs. Lee smiled, and grandma turned
whitening look on Mabel
Don't be fooll There isn't one il
q hundred can do either, and doubt i
you've got brains to; but you might try
There rose up instantly a mighty re
solve in Mabels feminine soul to SHOW
Grandma Jarvis that she could do NOR,
than she,gave her credit for; that sh,
would learn to cook in spite of this dis
oouraging prophecy. 1t is just possibl,
randma knew who she was talking to
: Then, as to the promise. Pm goin!
to send you over a motto-one of thos
painted gimcracks everybody hangs ~