South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-03-02
Romney Hampshire County, West va March 2, 1877.


nothing in this world much better for
boz to have than good grandmother.
Then some very comfortable clothing
was added for Mary. Now what do Won
suppose GRANDMOTHER Gray rounded Off
the Top OF the great chest with? A fruit.
cake. iced as white rs snow on the top,
dough-nuts. bag Of cookies-somc
housekeepers call them jumbles. and
some seed-cake; but Grandmother Gray
always called them cookies. Grand
father poohpoohed at the cakes, but
grandmother said: ~ guess I know
what Mary likes?" So grandfather
said IF you send the cake, viii SEMI
some coffee, tea, sugar, and Spices
! When Grandfather Gray returned with
his groceries he had large bundle Of
candies. although. rs rule. he did not
! believe In them. The chest was locked,
strapped, and hurried Off by express.
Grandfather Gray said: Il have not
felt so happy in years and years"
| Mother" said Charlie Snow, "to-
morrow is Christmas: l have twenty five
cents; i earned it OF Farmer Gibson
Can you spare me to 60 to town this
afternoon" YES. Charlie, and / will
60 with you. / would like to buy few
things for Christmas" Each bought
what they intended for the.other. The
village store, express and post-ofiicc
were all in one room.
AS they were waiting. the stage came
int only came twice in q week. There
was chest on the back of the stage.
ut took several men to fasten it on
said the driver. "Oh. Widow Snow,
are you there? The chest is for YOU"
'It can't be for me, SIR
"Yes. indeed it is. You can read for
yourself"
Sure enough, her name was there.
with directions so plain no one could
make n mistake.
"What shall do with it?''
"Take it to my house, if you please !;
but / can't pay you to day have no
money!
"Pay me when you can. Mrs. Snow
BY this time the mail and express
were ready. The expressman said,
"Mrs. Snow, yeu are in luck to-day
here is money'package for you"
at can't be for me, SIR
"Yes, here is the very same direction
that was on the chest"
Sure enough: it seemed too good to
be true; but it was certainly addressed
to Mrs. Mary Snow. 1t was opened in
order to pay express charges, and ii
seemed 4 great fortune to all the vii.
lage. Every member Of the little com,
munity sympathized heartily with Mary
and all were agreed in saying, 1.-The
old Deacon has done the right thing
Mt last
Then followed grave consultation
about what should be done with the mo
ney. Alary's neighbours felt as il they
each had share in her unexpected pros
perity: half dozen women, with shawls
pinned on their heads, came hurrying in
to congratulate her: all advised that foI
the present i: would be better TO leave
the money in the strong box OF the ex.
pressman so she left it there, retain
ing enough to celebrate the happy
Christmas.
Como. neighbors, all Of you, to-
morrow, and rejoice with me-" said Mrs
Snow, "and we will keep the Christmas
day rs we used to IN pleasant New
England"
The neighbors. every one OF them, ac-
cepted Mays invitation, end it is safe
to say that no Christmas gift ever made
n score Of people more completely
happy.
When the chest was opened. and
Charlie saw all the cakes, candies,
skates. balls and clothing. III said, mo
ther. the Lord has added all these things
/ only asked him for the books
A few days after Christmas, Mary said
TO her son 1--WE must write n letter to
father and mother, thanking them for
their great kindness TO u.s.
Charlie wrote his letter. Perhaps you
would like TO read it?
Dear GramE0,er and Grandmother
Gray: The chest came on the afternoon
before Christmas i'm time for Christmas
Eve. How very kind you are | only
expected the books. and did not think
/ would get cakes, and candies too. be.
sides so many beautiful new clothes
/ Mother kissed the chest inside and out
| side, and cried go much that at first / was
/ frightened, until she whispered, Happy,
! happy tears, Charlie; the chest looks
/ like an old friend that has come on a
very long journey to see me- Then she
took up one OF the cakes My own dear
mothers cookies and doughnuts, and as
sure as / live, Charlie, here is one Of
mothers own fruit cakes No one can
tell how We enjoyed our supper. 1 am
sure we never can be any happier i'm
this world than we were that evening
I Dear grandmother, how coulj you guess
so exactly how tall ! am? Even the
bands Of the shirt 70 me perfectly, and
/ you can't think how nice look If it
/ had not been FOR the chest I never could
have known what a nice and good grand
mother ] have. Jeddy Barnes used TO
say he pitiod n boy that did not know
his own grandmother. So dol. Ifvou
were here. perhaps you would ask me,
Charlie, what did you like best?' and
almost feel rs If / ought TO be ashamed
to say. OF all the things in the chest