The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-03-21
THE GRANDMA WHO WAS GIVEN
AWAY.


THE GRANDMA WHO WAS GIVEN
AWAY.
LITTLE BEss WHEELER had grand
ma whom she dearly loved. Nothing
pleased Bess better than to sit at grand
mas feet and watch the bright knitting
needles, as they flew in and out, while
grandma told the story of her own
childhood. Often, when the short win
ter afternoons were beginning to grow
dusky, grandma would hear in the
hall the patter of little feet. Then the
door would open, and Bess' voice ask:
"Dan'ma, tan l tum in and have
'lasses tumfortp''
Grandma, who knew what GLASSES
tumfort'' meant, would draw Bess'
little chair beside her own in front of
the always glowing CRATE. Then, tax
ing rosy-cheeked apple, she would
cut it into halves and scrape out the
pulp. Bess, who sat with her mouth
open, like young robin, would receive
the juicy morsel upon outstretched
tongue. Every once in while Bess,
who thought grandma careless of her
own interests, would say:
cts our turn now, dan'ma. Then
grandma would take scrape."
When the apple was finished, grand
ma would take her knitting, and tell a
story, which began with the words,
ever musical in Bess' ears, "when l
was a little girl"
One day Bess was visiting little
friend. In the course of their play,
Bess said something about grandma.
"Oh, dearr' said Lucie. 81 wish |
had grandma. l haven't got any,"
Amt dot any dan maj cried Bess,
in voice of deep pity. "'Ou poor itty
dirlr'
All the rest of the afternoon Bess
seemed unusually thoughtful and less
light hearted than was her wont.
Nurse came for her at four o'clock.
just as they were going out the door,
Bess drew her hand from nurses, say
ing:
~ want to do back minute
Running up the stairs, she burst into
the nursery with:
"Pll do it: 'ou poor itty dirl with no
a nina. I'll div 'ou half of mine."
Bess was in great haste to get home.
She did not care to stop at the store
windows, or any of the usual places of
attraction. When nurse lifted her out
Of the carriage, she saw that Bess was
crying softly.
"Why. Bess, what is the matterP"
she asked.
"Not'in'," said Bess, choking back
the sobs.
Bess waited only to have her wraps
taken off, then ran up to grandma
room. She did not enter in her usual
manner: ihaliu Mfall ndnsl}f,' Y6oklng at her
on every side.
Come here, dearie, said grandma.
Have you had a nice timer"
Bess, regardless of both invitation
and question, continued to survey
grandma from head to foot. Atlength
she said:
.Is 'ou all here, dan'ma-all insides
of 'ou?''
"Why, yes, child. What makes you
ask such a question: replied grand
ma, in establishment.
With a long sigh of relief, Bess drew
nearer, and, leaning upon grandma s
knee, asked:
"Does 'ou love me, dan'ma, as well
as 'ou did this morningP'
"Why, yes. What child! You are
the only grandchild grandma has got.
OF course. l love you better and better
every day."
"No," said Bess, II isn't the only
dan'child 'ou's dot now. 'Ou's dot an
other"
"No, child, 1 haven't. Your mamma
is the only child | have, and you have
no brothers and sisters"
Bess gave her head a mournful shake
and continued her Investigations:
"Would 'ou div me away, dan'ma IA?
Would 'ou div half of me away to
somebody who hadn't dot no 'itty dam
child?'
.No," said grandma, mistaking the
anxiety evident in Bess' face. I'D
be very sorry for them; but l couldn't
spare my Bess. Give you away? No.
l wouldn't give your little finger for al
the world"
The words that grandma had thought
to make SO full Of comfort were the
last drop in poor Bess' cup of sorrow
With an outburst of grief, she ranfron
the room, down the stairs, pausins
never until she threw herself into nam
mas lap. It was long before mamma
could gain from the sobbing child any
clew to her trouble. just as Bess wa
getting little quieted. grandma, whit
had followed her as fast as her. trem
bling limbs would allow, entered thu
room. At sight of her Bess' grie
burst forth afresh. Seeing that he
presence only made matters worse
grandma in q thoroughly mystife'
frame of mind, went back to her owl
room. Little by little mamma gaine'
the whole story. Like the wise nam
| ma she was, she did not make lgnt Q
her child's grief, but said, in tone Q
assurance that brought comfort Z
Bess' troubled heart:
AZ think can arrange it. Mayb
Lucie will give grandma back"
Mo-, said Bess. cousin Free
saws it's awful mean to take back
/ s.Well,'' said mamma, "then yo
can buy her back. |"
l "No,'' said Bess, mournfully
..Lucie won't sell her, and / amt dc
only ten cents in my bank. ] spent
all kismas."
/ uGrandma is not worth SO much I
Lucie As she is to you; because Luci
| can't have her in the house, IS you car
i The last time Lucie was here, You r
member how much she wanted tn
little doll-baby Of yours. Would 70
| give that to have grandma all YOU
own againr"
i Mamma, who knew that doll-Dao
| was Bessie's especial treasure, wstcne