Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-01-26
Gid Granny.

tace dim TO nv memory. ohe was az
ways called Old Granny, but her name
was Sarah Thornton, and she lived in
cne room with her little granddaughter
up the steps at the cottage at the end
of Thorp's Yard, at F. rnmere, IN Cum
berland. we were staying, party OF
US. at the Fernmere Hotel-had taken
rooms for menth-and we had tired
a little of always gong about together
over the Lake distrlc go by the time
we got TO Fernmere we went our sep
arate ways. We were people who
liked best to be uushackled by the
bonds OF mock pOlileness.
Have you no one belonging to you
in the world but little Libby?' 1 asked
her one day. Has your husband been
dead many years ?'for l concluded that
of course, he was dead.
He's not dead at all as knows on. ,
she answered, the tears gathering into
her eyes I'VE parted many years ago.
ard I've only heard of him Ouoe since.
and that was long ago.
Wasn't he good 10 you?'
Yes, good enough at times, ma'am.
and lie was allays fond Of me. don't
think he ever looked at any one else.
not since l was lass; 1 don't believe
he ever has, though I'm more than
seventy years of age
Then why is it p l asked.
He was a very proud man, and he
never showed or said v hat he felt; he
was above it. But he'd his weakness
ma'am-it was drink. He conquered
his longing often and often, aud he'd
vow never to touch il again th'n n he'd
20 back TO it all Of g sudden, and there
was no doing any thing with him. lie
used to be ashamed afterSard, to be
sure
'Well?'
well, ma'am, at last he signed the
pledge It's years ago now. when
Libby's father there was younger than
she. and now Les in bis grave the'e
many Years, he and his wife, and I've
neither chick nor child belonging to
me. save that little lass Jond'r.
noddiu2 at Libby. who was tahing ad-
va, tage 81 my visit to set out to tbs
hotel on. a mercantile expedition.
And after he si-ucd the p',dse?'
Yes, ma'am. Tor Two years and NM
months there wasn't happier couple
or ten miles round. Then one day
it was hiring day; l remember it a
well as may be-he got overlook by
bad mems words and wa,s, and he for
got himssls. when he came home a.
night lie was drunk. ma'am-thal drunk
he couldn't stand and he seemed to
be ashamed even then. before he WA,
sober yet. and lie gave way to bad
language. and reDrOached me Wit
thugs that never had been, and he Bit
me. He never had before.
He slept it off; but he couldn't get
over the fall to his pride, and he was
ashamed to think l carried about the
mark of his hand on my face. l would
have thought lillle about that. though
he never struck me before; ; but all the
rest was heavier than the blow Aud
Granny sighed sadly, and looked up a
the mountains that reared their mighty
sides close by the windows Of her poor
little room. The pain, too, seemed to
catch her, and she stopped again for a
few minutes then she went on, and |
did net try 10 prevent her, feeling 1t
must be a relief TO talk of her troubles,
instead OF brooding over them alone.
Veil. ma'am, and l went about as us
nal. and when folks asked about m,
face put them off with anything. But
things got no better. AT last one day
the minister came down, My master
was out, and he walked stright in aud
isked me If be had taken to drink again;
it was true, and then, quite By chance.
he asked if he'd gwen me blow on my
check.
And couldn't tell good man lie,
ma'sn. There's more lies told TO bad
people nor good, l think, for there''
something in good mans face lha'
drives lalsehood away before it. l think
,he minister shouldn't have asked me,
for 1t was maxim wife turn witness
against her own man. He should have
asked James himself; but he meant
good. I know, though he did harm. s
I told him the truth, and he told James
that's my husband, is James, ma'an
and james told the minister he'd no
business to come spying about aud
letting between man and wife and
when he came in 10 me he said bitter
words. and then he took himself of
and didn't hear of him for years. She
stopped a moment. L often wonder
how he could forget all the years | stood
by him for the sake of the one time |
'urned agin him (; nut | suppose the
sting Of one was sharper than the other
was sweet
And you never heard from him
again.?
Yes. ma 'am, heard once be wrote
10 say he'd been sorry for it all. and
he wasn't doing we'll. lie was Ia
Adelaide but he'd come back some
day. and he said he was as fond OF me
ever: and wrote back an said "a
come to him, and went. L worked
and worked 10 save the money, and ]
advertised, and got a lady TO take mr
free for nursing her children on the
way out. I'll never forIet how l
counfed The days all the way out, and