The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-08-18
LITTLE FOXES.
BY ROSE TERRY COOK.

Dear me! there comes Grandma Jar
yis?' 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 plain gray
gown, dark purple shawl and an old
fashioned silk calash over her thick-ruff1ed
cap.
"Mabelp' said her mother, Indignantly.
ooh, | know it, mamma dear. Pm 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 steel nut-cracker when she is
about"
''She generally finds out and brings
out the good in you," said Mrs. Lee,
smiling, but she said no more, for Mrs
Jarvis turned the door-handle at the 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 loyable than
a gentler and more gracious nature, yet
Il woman to be thoroughly trusted and
relied on.
Mabel was a ladylike, bright girl
spoiled, to be sure, as children are apt to
be, when there is but one in a family,
and resenting, like any spoiled child, her
grandmother's sharp comments and sem
sible advice. At heart, however, she
respected her, and perhaps little more
that the old lady was rich and generous,
and young people, even the last mer-
cenary and grasping, feel kindly toward
the hand that brings timely and costly
gifts.
Mabel even forgaye the old, worn
dress, since that gray gown was heavy,
lustreless silk; the thick-quilted cap of
India muslin and thread lace; the purple
Grape shawl, covered with embroidery,
and the white kerchief 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 well the world was like
Mabel, and would forgive the simple
fashion for the costly material, and with
a certain grim humor, she always called
the diamond pin Charity"
1t covers so many of my sins, my
ear, she said. Il pass for a woman of
sense with ninety people out of hun
dred simply on account of this big trim
ket. 1t blinds them so they can't see
am out of the fashion"
To-day Mrs. Jarvis had definite err
rand. 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, " hear
you are going to be married."
Mabel blushed still more holly, and
looked straight out of the window. The
tell-tale pane reflected knit brow and
Enthusiastically cross lips.
Mrs. Jarvis laughed
You are rather startling, mother"
should think the fact was more
startling than | 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,
81 haven't congratulated anybody
yet" snapped Mrs. Jarvis. never do
congratulate anybody till a 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-service. |
want to do that myself. She's got my
name, and it ought to be gilt, or silver,
or something to console her for such an
old-fashioned appellation, though she
does top and tail it as if it were a goose
berry"
0 grandma" Mabel turned pleased
ana pretty face away from the window
now
Don't be overcome yet. May be
you'll change your mind before the end.
miss. I've got a bitof advice for YOU ard
apromise to take first. The advice is 70
leave ofthe piano for six months and take
to the kitchen. Men can't live ON love
and waltzes, much less man of the Sell
den tribe. know 'em. If he don't have
good food, he'll be sour first, and then
he'll have dyspepsia, and thereH be a
sound of going in the tops of the null
berry trees; which things are figure.
But that's the advice"
90 grandma | can make splendid
cake, and ice pudding, too, and Char
lottes, just as good as cross"
Fiddle sticksl You can't make
bread, or boil potato, or boil a steak"
But anybody can do that"
Mrs. Lee smiled, and grandma turned
a whitening look on Mabel.
Don't be q FOOL There isn't one
in hundred can do either, and | doubt
if you've got brains to- but you might
try"
There rose up instantly mighty re-