The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1881-08-18
WHICH KNEW BEST ?

Dear old Grandma Wellington looked
up over her gold-rimmed glasses at
Jack, with world of loving anxiety in
her blue eyes-sweet, tranquil, old eyes
that were as blue as when she was q
girl of sixteen.
care you sure you have considered
the matter well-thoroughly, my boyY"
Her voice was sweet and quiet, and
she herself was the daintiest imaginable
ideal OF darling old grandma; slim,
trim, always dressed in black silk and a
white Spanish lace half-handkerchief in
winter time, and queen's-gray silk and
a dotted Swiss haf-handkerchief in
summer, with pufs of gray hair, on
which lay tiny cap, and string Of
solid gold beads around her neck.
And Jack, lounging on the gay Gre
tonne-covered sofa at the opposite side
of the room, was her special pet and
idol Of all her score of grandchildren
handsome, happy Jack, who never failed
to make grandma do exactly what he
wished her to do. -
And just at the present moment the
highest object Of his ambition was to
reconcile Grandma Wellington to his
engagement with Viva Morris, and, in
return for his lover-like enthusiasm on
the subject, grandma had laid down the
blue silk sack she was knitting for
little Florie. the latest grand-baby, and
looked over her glasses and p4qt1 n t1T the
question: nsus
care you surs EGl - a61l -
the mattsr 8eelal, s8Eea:
"I have never consi dered it at all
when it comes to that" he said. 81
have firm conviction that such things
are settled by destiny too high for
poor mortality to consider"
"But poor mortality is expected to
suffer if experience proves destiny
made mistake" she said, with little,
laughing twinkle in her eyes.
Then grave, troubled look spread
all over her face. She shook her head.
sit would break my heart, Jack, if
you didn't marry wife every way
worthy of you" 49,.
"And you mean you think my little
Viva is unworthy. What do you call
a 'good wife, grandma I mean one
good enough for me, you know-a first
class A l, no mistake"
His splendid blonde head lay lazily
on his folded arms, and he looked with
a mischievous glance at the old lady,
who resumed her knitting serenely.
"I mean sweet, pretty, happy
natured, good-tempered girl, who will
be content in her husbands love, when
there is no prospect of a new dress Or a
sealskin sack, and who can settle down
restfully to quiet country life, and not
pine herself away, and torment her hus-
band for the follies of city dissipation;
girl who is sensible, economical, not
ashamed to do her own work, if needs
be-who will save what you earn, and
think herself green among women
because she is crowned with your love
and honored with your name"
"And you do not believe Viva pos.
sesses those qualifcations?"
"How could she, unless you take ex-
ception to the first essentials9 She is
sweet and pretty; but what's that by
itself? She is her mothers own child,
and Grace Moore, the girl, and Grace
Morris, the woman, was vain, extrava-
CANT, idle and aspendthrift. She ruined
her husband financially, and I solemnly
believe drove him to drink and his
death. Like parent like child, if they
look alike and act alike as much as
Viva and her mother. If you must get
married why don't you marry Retta +?
She's the stay and support of the Nor
rises, and as good as gold"
Jack could not restrain "a little nod
of disgust.
"Marry Retta Storms? Not if she were
angell I don't like her for cent,
ina only Iknowyou detest slang.
,am !; love goes where it is sent
tie black-eyed Viva or nobody
~ think it'll be nobody"
IA her knitting down
anxiously, thought