The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-03-13
Selert Sturv.
The Three Grandmothers

"And you would marry this fellow,
said Grandma Won B eeks Won Sarch
In her bassooniest (lhar is the only wore
can think of with which to describ'
them) tones, "if you could ?"
"Yrs, maarn, repiiei Gertrude, meek
" but firmly.
"The idea is simply preposterous 7
declared Grandmother Hutiey's ifelik'
voice
"P. eposterous, indeed" responded
the bas, Don. "More than preposterou'
-disgrsc .iul! A mechanic! common
workin. .man! house painter y
"H's a fr SEQ painter" timidly cor
rec,ed Gertrude
"Which amounts to the same thing
grosned The hassoon.
"M chael Angelo began Gertrude
.Heaven preserve u.!' shrilled tn.
fife she is bringing some Irishn an int
the di-cussion now! Be silent miss
Well not hear smother word from you
And und, rstand distinctly, once and fol
all, that if that person calls here to-
morrow, which no doubt lie will have
the imperlinence TO do, you are 10 dis
miss him instantly or we will"
"And endeavor to begin the nes
year"-tbe ba>soon took up the strain
again-in manner hitting the de.
scendant of the illustrious General Won
Breeks Won Starch, whose unexampled
bra ery made him and Bergen up-Z,om
the city Of his birth famous not only
throughout Holland, but the entire
world, at time when you were moi
dieaued Of"
As for Grea' Gran Peekv, she had sal
softly rocking to and fro In her cushion.
ed rocker, munching her caraway bis.
cuits-a stcre of which she always car
ried in little satchel suspended at heI
side-sleepily regarding the group oi
takers, and saying not word herself
But that was nothing strange for her
She scarcely ever spoke save in mono.
syllables, and never even in them when
Madame Won Breeks Won Starch and
Mrs. Huffey were laying down the Law
IA favori,e occupation Of theirs, blythe
ny to servants, trades-peop!c, or grand
daughter Gertrude. And the last thing
that could have occurred to either OF the
lawmakers would have been the idea o
az pealing to the old lady for an opinion
on any subject whatever. 1t suf1ced
them that she paid without erumbline
the greater part of the expenses OF the
house hold out of the income which va:
to cease at her death, and yet allowed
them to manage all things pertaining tc
i, iE their own way.
Gertrude-so named by Madame vor
Breeks Won Starch in honor Of the sain
OF Bergen. .op-ZDom-had lost both her
parents in infancy, and her father having
heen reduced to poverty some time be
fore he died by various gentlemanl,
vices, she had been left wholly depend
ent upon her three grsndmothers.
Of these Grest-gran Peeky was thu
mother of Grandmother Hufey, who il
turn was the mother of Ger.rudes
mother, while Grandma Won Breeks vor
Starch held the same close Relationship
to her father.
The bassoon grandmother was at thu
head of the American branch Of be-
family (she had been Won Breeks vor
Starch herself, and had married cousin
of the same name "a family of grea
prowess and many bags of gold in ,heil
ia,herland some century and half ago
She was tall, stout and solid, with I
round face, big black eyes, abundant iror
gray hail, and carriage that immedi
ately suggested TO the heholder the las
syllable of her aristocratic name.
The fife grandmother, five wears hel
junior. was directly her'opposite, being
short, slim and timber, with q sbarp-cut
face, extremely thin, fair hair, and faded
blue eyes.
Great graz eeky,notwitbstanding bel
eighty-three years, was by far the best
looking of the three (thnugh she die
look, must confess, when muching he
carawsy' biscuits, somewhat like yer,
Eice medi,ative old rabbl,.) Her snow,
white tresses waved pretiily above hel
still dark eyebro VS., beneath which beam
ed with a mild, dreamy light her sof
brown eyes, and pleasant winter bloom
fingered on her wrinkled face
1t was from her Gertrude. had received
all the picture-hooks and sugar-pluma
almost always bestowed in perfect 81
lence, that had frightened and sweetened
her childhood, Grandma Won Breeks vol
Starch supplying the lessons in deport
meut, aud Grandmother HuRey (let M
whisper ~ the punisbments usually in