The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1880-10-09

knows what is proper as well as you do.
Besides, hate to have grandma in the
room when we have company anyway,
she looks 80 odd, and has such queer
ways"
So the matter was decided, and Patty
said no more, but when the Blacks and
their guests sat down to tea that night,
she was not among them.
Now, grandma" she was saying,
"you and will have supper all by our
selves. Such fun, isn't it?"
"Ah, understand it," said grandma,
mournfully, "they don't want the old
woman among them, and you are giving
up your pleasure to keep me company"
Not bit of it," laughed Patty, " I'd
o thousand times rather stay with you
than them," and she whirled small
round mahogany table into the center of
the room, and placed tray upon it with
dishes for two.
Its hard to be nobody where I was
mistress once" moaned grandma, but
when John comes home will be diff
ferent. He won't have his old mother
set aside for anybody"
mot he," said Patty.
81 know he amt dead, though they
all say he is; they're fools for thinking
so, amt they, Patty?"
"The biggest fools in the world" said
Patty.
"He said he was going away to seek
his fortune, and he shouldn't come
home till he found it," said grandma.
"You shall ride in a coach and pair
yet, mother" those were his last word
when he went away. Tha was twenty
years ago, and he's never been back
since, but he'll come some day, won't
he, Pattyg"
Certainly he will. I should know
him in minute, though I never saw
him. Let's see, he had lovely curly
hair
land beautiful blue eyes!"
"And was six feet tall -
And the best-hearted boy that ever
lived"
"Yes. that's Uncle John; how long
to see him. Now let me move your
chair up to the table, and you and III
drink his health in cup of tea"
So this harmless pair ate their supper,
and laughed and chartered, and were
altogether merrier party than that in
the dining-room.
"Where are grandma and PattyP'
whispered Mr.. Black to his wife, at the
first opportunity.
"Oh, grandma wasn't able to come to
the table," (Which was true in one
sense)" and Patty chose to stay with
| her. There was no sort of need of it;
it is only one of her odd freaks"
Mr.. Bla OK, who, although possessing
many good qualities, lacked his wife's
resolution, said no more.
"The next time 1 have company l do
hope l shall have a larger dining room, u
remarked Mrs. Black, the following
morning, while engaged putting away
her cake and preserves, the remains of
| the evenings festivity.
"I'm sure you might if you'd only say
so," said Rosie; there's no earthly
reason why grandma should have one
| of the best rooms in the house, when we
want it every day."
IF it comes to that, there's no reason
why she should be here at all. I'm sure
no one could blame your father if he
| should refuse to take care of her any
longer-only astepmother so; he's done
more for her now than most people
would"
"It's very good of papa" said Belle,
"but then he ought to consider his own
family; and she really is no relation to
any of u.s."
"None at all, and so I've told your
father over and over again, but he has
a notion that he owes her something be-
cause she took care of him when he was
small; of course she'd take care of him
| if she married his father, how could she
help it?"
Mrs. Black did not mention what was
also true, that what little property
grandma had brought with her, had
been freely given for the use of her hus-
bands family.
=" AS I told your father, nobody could
expect him to stand by her when her
own son ran off and left her. Well,
then! hope l shall be able to bring
him to reason some time"
And bring him to reason she did, for
a constant dropping will wear away
even stone, and Mr.. Black was not
stone, but very ductile kind of clay
Hence it happened that he at last con.
sented, not without some pangs of con.
science, that his aged stepmo other
should be banished from the roof which
had sheltered her so long.
One day Patty returned from an errand
on which she had been dispatched, tt
find grandma's chair vacant. She had
heard the plan spoken of, but had never
believed it would be accomplished, ant
now her grief and indignation knew M
bounds.
Grandma gone to the poorhouse! 7