The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-05-07
Vol. l6.---No. 4
GrandinOtIlcrs.

A family may enjoy life aud have
quite pleasant home without . dog or
bird or cat. though many maintain the
opposite, even without little babe
they may exist, but without grand
mother home is not home. AL the
interest aud care otherwise given to pets
can be lavished much more beautifully
on the silyer-haired, quiet being whose
chair is always in ono place by the win
dow. as much q center Of attraction rs
a baby's cradle The mother is 80
busy, troubled about 30 many things,
that it is not easy for her to sit down
and sew ball for the boys. or make .
dress for doll, or mend q torn coat or
unfortunate dress; but there's grand
mother who is always sitting down, and
has nothing TO do but such odds aud
ends of work--except OF course, I'll Q
family mending, plain sewing. stock
ing darning and the like; and to her all
go in their distress, and. with q gentle
rebuke for carcessness or rudeness, she
proceeds at once to make the rough
places SIN both. This Is one reason why
home is not homo without grand
mother.
At twilight, there is always call for
stories; but there are calls to make or
calls to receive, and never would q story
be heard Ii it were not for grandma,
who tells ever some new things or the
days when she was young-how chill
dren walked miles to church, carrying
their shoes in their hands till almost
there; how long the sermons were; how
glad when night came, and Monday
would begin the week again, though
they all had to work. There is never
an end to the wonderful things done in
the olden time; and when bedtime
comes, the little ones give q loving kiss
to the dear old lips, and pray to God to
bless and spare the dear grandma that
is such comfort 10 them all And this
is another reason why home Is not
home without her.
In these days Of precocious children,
when parents find it difficult to preserve
the respect due to them, the influence
Of old age is one Of the greatest bless.
ings family can have. Steps grow
softer, voices lower, plays become moro
quiet because grandma can not bear tho
noise, and, though other children may
rejoice that they are not restrained thus,
they do not know they are losing =
| lesson that Is one of the best in life--a
thoughtfulness for Others that renders
character charming.
Blessed grandmother! Every thread
of silver tells Of some act Of good to
others every wrinkle is Gods writing,
telling the history of years Of conflict
and self sacrifice; and the eyes growing
dim, hint at the curtain that is shutting
out this outer world to reveal more
clearly the inner and the beyond-ths
real world of which this we see 10 but
home %isESSadt lhesdH ssso sap home be
"What ia to be done If one has no
grandmother 2" One grandmother
will not supply all homes" and oher
such remarks we near. 1t is indeed too
true, yet il we think Of all the childless
old ladies who would enjoy home, all
tue families without children, the supply
would go far toward meeting the de-
mand You say they are not your own }
They are, nevertheless, aged, and their
influence in the family would more than
compensate for the extra care or trouble.
What more beautiful sight than to see
children tender and consider ate to old
age? This can never be acquired by
mere theory--likc tho other graces. 1t
must be practiced. Imagine IN old lady
brought to q home, and the children
| told that, because they had no grandmoth-
er, that they were to treat her lovingly
and make her last days happy, to show
how they would treat their own.
If you can not have Que Of your own,
beg, borrow or buy somebody elses
grandmothe The Alliance.