Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-06-02
aMistellanu.
The "OId Lady's " Experience.
MRS. T. N. MUNR0E.

with books; Il lew pictures, lew brackets
with simple ornaments, sewing machine,
writing tables, a few chairs, comprise all
its furniture The occupants of the room
myself, u middle-aged lady. and little
boy I'd nearly three years. The little boy
has placed all the chairs in row and
mounting IA cricket on the hindcrmost,
with a long pair of colored worsted reins
reaching 10 tue foremost. is driving an
imaginary carrisge. The ride is con-
tinual mounting and dismounting, occa-
stoned by a refractory horse and reins,
that are continually slipping, and must be
as continually replaced. There is also a
constant call for my aid and attention,
and my study Of j. S. Mill on the Sub
iugation of the Woman is often broken
IN upon by requests of, Say get up hos
sey!" which say in most mechanical
manner.
Then he tires of the horse and perches
himself on Il chair by the writing table,
and calls for "cunny pessel, which l give
him, together with piece of paper, and
he proceeds to make strange hieroglyph-
les, and am asked TO see "big doggies
"uing to say bow wow" and little pup
pies" and = get up, hoss," The next call
is for Il picture book" and. with an eye
to something permanent | place before
him Webster's Unabridged, opening at the
classified selections of pictorial illustra-
tons A smile of satisfaction irradiates
the little face, and turn to my book com.
paratively undsturbed, yet conscious all
the time of musical ripple of sounds
made up of ends of rhymes suggested to
tie childs brain by the miscellaneous
collection before him. Sometimes l am
interrupted by information vouchsafed and
sometimes by information required, but,
on the whole the dictionary is a success,
and we are getting along bravely. when
hear IL step on the stairs, and some one
pushes open the door and says:
"llave you any umbrellas to mendP'
" Yes, there is one | would like to have
mcnded."
There is man down stairs says he
las done many n job here; that the old
lady always used to employ him."
Very well; this is probably the man ;
let him mend the umbrela-it is in the
kitchen closet"
The door shuts-the steps recede.
Something in the last sentence has dis
turbed me. | drop J Stuart Mill, and the
little child goes on unheeded with his
rhyme OF
Z" One misty, moisty morning,
When cloudy the weather."
suggested probably by the picture of a
knight in full armor.
Twas but these few words, /" the old
ladyw Why should they disturb mef
Perhaps it is the first time they have been
thus brought home to me. One may
know II thing in vague, underlined way
but rs long rs no one crystallzes it in
> i Hru ion.
it is not II recognized fact
You may know you have grey hairs
and that wrinkles are discernible; but moi
Till you hear some one say, "she really
begins to look DID, do you begin to real.
ize that your youth is behind you. Now
know well enough that my step on the
stairs is not us light rs it has been. have
seen Jhe grey hairs and the wrinkles
know the cause of the poIiteness of people
in the horse ears, am aware Of all the in
dCatiOns telling me that my feet are on
the downward slope; still in my thought
have not got beyond middle age, am
standing still at the prime Of life! And now
comes this man sending up these words to
me where | sit calm and serene among
my books and my work, with the little
chlld's prattle in my ears like the babble
OF II pleasant stream, the old lady used
to employ him!' And stop. Why should
the sentence be Il surprise! The little
child addressed me as grandmother, which
is its synonym? Nevertheless, | am dis
quietcd. Then it occurs to me, that per-
llaps this is not the man, or he may be
mistaken In the person or place; then
other considerations present themselves
IL is dangerous allowing strange men to
enter the house, how do | know but at
this very moment this man may be laying
violent hands on Maggie or making away
with the family silver? 1t is imperative
upon me that 90 down. As | start up
from my chair, say aloud, 9" must &c
down and see the man."
ION, let me 90, grandmother" cried
Harley, Il want to see the han organ.
SO we 20 down to the kitchen There
sits the mender of umbrellas. A glance
tells me it is the same man, and that Mag.
gle and the family silver are safe.
He is Il short, thickset man, his hands
are black and grmmy, his face not over
clean, but not dirty enough to disguise the
unmistakable honesty depicted there.
bundle of old umbrellas lie on the hool
beside him, while my own invalid screen
is undergoing repairs at his hands. lie
looks up at my entrance, and, his hat be-
ing removed he touches his hand to hi;
forehead and on my acknowledging the
Salutation, he goes on with his work.
VIII it cost more than it is worth tC
repair il?' | ask.
80 no, marm, there's good stuff in il
yet; not 50 good looking now rs it was
. once, for old things can't be expected tc
look the same as new, but with n new rt
and fastening of these loose sticks to the
handle, it will last some time yet. And il
it gets broken or lost you will not feel sc
bad us if it was II new silk one."
That is true,' | reply, but if have
no new one and no money to buy one
with, | might mourn for it little even i
it be an old one"
Yes" says he, +" but you are none sc
badly off But the old ones do for the
children to carry to school. But I've
mended this umbrella before, marin, twas
good one when it was new, or it never
would have paid to have it mended 81
much. 1t pays to get good umbrellas
marm."
In the meantime, Harley, who is not q
all disappointed that the man is not /
han oroan,n has been looking on will
mnch interest The box of tools particu
nrlv attracts him, and the old umbrella
can hardly be resisted. But marley dellb
crates before he strikes, and the man ant
his wolk are more attractive than his sur
,uundings, so he sidles up to him, ant
looking IN his face says:
Is this your umbrelaP'
mo, This is your grandmother's. 1t i
your grandson, take it marm?"
own the relationship.
| thought you were none so young a
to he his mother"
No, am an old lady believe yol
called me So"
And meant no offence, marm. The olc
umbrellas are good for something, and 81
are the old people; keep 'em well mendet
up, take good care of EN-, il pays marin
You're not so very young yourself''
venture 10 remark.
No, no. I've got grey hairs" he re
plies. - I'm not so spry as | was. |
seems long time don't it to look back t
a.. ,,,,. an hoo vou had M urav hnira am