The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-21
Going to Grandma's.
BY MAMMA GREEN.


Christmas times, was the midsummer
visit to Grandmas; and it was anticipa-
ted with as much Importance as was
Santa Claus coming.
NO convenient river, with luxurious
steamers on its tawny bosom, rolled be-
tween our house and hers, nor any rail
way offered swift and pleasant locomo-
ton; but forty miles of country road,
uphill and down-hill, through damp
creek bottoms, and along sunny upland
ways, stretched its slow length and our
car was the numbering, old-fashioned
family carriage. But when that ancient
vehicle, all rusty aud dusty, was dragged
out into the stable-yard where our col
ored driver, Uncle" Lee, brushed and
furnished it; and put the harness in or
der, 1 knew these signs were favorable
Tor an early start on the morrow, and
happy little girl 1 was. Myjoy lasted
all night, woke me up betimes in the
morning, and broke into transports when
the carriage actually stood before the
door. Lunch-basket, bucket, shswls.
bags, corn for the horses, and the little
trunk were all slowed away in their
places, outside and inside. Mamma and
and Hester, my nurse, were seated and
shut In, Uncle Lee mounted his box.
shook the reins, and drove away out OF
the drowsy town, where not even the
houses had opened their eyes, and only
the servants were stirring, and away
we went through green lanes into the
quiet, dewy woods.
Mo'mi'g,-The little birds few about
and sang, squirrel ran up tree, a rab-
bit dashed across the road, swinging
grapevine, full of downy blossoms as
sweet as violets, scattered shower of
dew drops in our faces and an inquisitive
willow branch thrust in it's head to see
the little girl who was going to her grand
mas. The horses were flesh, and we
went at spanking rate.
Noon.-As the sun rode higher UP the
sky the hot air shimmered along the vel
low road cdws stood in shady places, Ian
guidly brushing off the persistent flies, or
knee deep in the little streams, lizards
ran along the fences, or darted out of
sight between the rails, and once four or
five snakes raised their ugly heads out of
a pool under the roots of fallen tree by
the roadside, and Kissed and glided out
of sight when Uncle Lee cracked his whip
at them. On the farms lazy focks OF
sheep, in light summer dress, congregated
under sheltering trees, and in the corn
and cotton fields black men and women
stopped work and rested on the handles
of the plows and hoes to watch us 90 bv
[ wondered who lived in all the houses
We passed.
:. When the horses stepped on their
shadows my thoughts turned toward the
lunch basket, and mamma said, "Now,
dear, look out for pretty place to take
our dinner" And by and by when it
was chosen, she called, "Stop here, Lee,
and he jumped down and opened the door
for US, and took out the cushions, and
shawls, and basket, and buckets. and
while Hester laid the cloth and opened
our picnic lunch he took the buckets and
went in search of water from neighbor-
ing farm house. And pretty soon, with
a sharp appetite, l sat down and ate with
keener relish than have felt for many
grand dinner since. Sometimes little
negroes in tropic costumes, looking, with
their naked brown legs, bushy heads,
and wild eyes, like the Hottentots in the
biographies, came and stared at us over
and through the fence, and accepted bits
of our lunch. Then, while the servants
ate, mamma and 1 would take walk and
look for flowers, berries, moss and grasses,
with which Titled the carriage. On the
way we found a nest with three young
brides as scantily clothed as the little
darkies, which we looked at but did not
touch
Eveai'ag-After lunch I slept in NAM
mas lap, while we logged on many
weary miles, and woke up warm, cross,
and thinking it a long way to grandma's
house. l used to keep asking every few
minutes: How many more miles P" un-
til, when the shadows had grown long
again, and the air cool and moist and /
was almost worn out, we came in sight
of the old Clubhouse on the hill. A little
farther on we saw the row Of cherry trees
in the corners of the zig-zag orchard fence
and soon after the quaint, irregular old
house, half red brick and half mud, that
had once been painted white. By this
time the negroes coming home from the
field had spied, us, and gone on ahead to
carry the news, so that when we had
driven into the big gate, and through the
grove up to the yard gate we found them
all waiting for us, uncles, aunties, cousins,
and best of ALL the dear, good beautiful
grandmother. But one summer when we
were just beginning to talk of going on
our trir, mario roo,, 80, oL.s1-