The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-31
THE GRANDMOTHER
Good Nafured, Old Fashioned, SHrei- Hair
ed, Solicitous for ~.
Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press.

Good Notured, old Fashioned. sHrer"Hoir
ed, Soiicitous for Al.
Detroit Free Press.
SIS she dead yet?'' .t.
/ should grieve to hear that she was
| am referring to the good-natured
ever-ready, old-fashioned grandmother
of days gone by. She was my grand
mother and yours, and, indeed, every
body else's, when one was needed.
remember her as gray-haired, wrinkle
faced, and hands crippled with the
hard work of pioneer days. remem-
Der her sympathetic voice and soft
touch-her steelbowed spectacles heI
quaint old snuff box-her hustling look
and anxious tones as she came in the
back way and called OUT
''And so that boys had to give up
and go to bed, Ell? Dear me! but it's
too bad, though | guess it's nothing
serious, and | hope you won't worry.
Let's see him. Album Stomach out
of order and he's got some fever. Had
my children taken this way dozens of
times and in two days they were out
playing"
1t was worth months sickness to
see her hustle around after horse-rad-
ish leaves to make drafts for the feet,
cloths to wet in cold water for the head
mustard for the back of the neck-a
bit of rhubarb to sweeten the stomach,
and to hear her say:
"Well, now, who'd thought it; but
don't worry! Mercy on mel but my
Dan'l has been sck'n that fifty differ
ent times and isn't dead yet, Just you
90 right down and finish your baking
and leave me to take care of him. l
Just dote on sick folks!"
And didn't things turn out just as she
predicted? And three days after didn't
she come down into the back lot where
was eating sour crabapples and fling
up her hands and exclaim:
''For the lands sake! but does this
boy mean to kill himself afore the sum-
mer is out!''
If mother had pain in her side she
ran over to see grandma. If father
went lame it was grandmother who had
remedy. Not in our family alone,
but in dozen. Not in one case, but in
hundred.
Who had catnip and smartweed, may
weed and oak bark and spice bush and
mustard? Grandmother, of course.
Who knew what was good for earache,
toothache, jaundice, languor, loss of
appetite, rheumatism, billiousness, and
a hundred other ills? Grandmother.
And if her remedies failed to arrest
disease and the doctor was sent for
how kindly courteous he was! Every
thing she had done was professionally
H. IL
that she hadn't worked cure and de-
prived him of his fee. He would take
the case and warrant cure, but of
course must depend upon her to great
extent. Such compliment was worth
more than new house to her.
And if death came grandmother was
there to weep with the family and to |
console all others. 1t was her poor old |
fingers which closed the eyes-which |
helped to make the shroud-which ar
ranged the lifeless hands. 1t was her |
voice which kept whispering: 'There!
there! poor thing-don't take it so
much to heart! He's far better off than
we are and you must live on for those
left behind" She was with the mourn
ers-at the grave-back to the house to
cheer the heartbroken and leave them
at night with feeling that it was for
the best.
And it was a holiday when grand
mother came over with her knitting or
sewing for an afternoon visit. She had
the big rocking-chair and the contest
and no queen was more respect
ed. She remembered the war with
Mexico, and the fall of stars, and two
Or three earthquakes. She recollected
what everybody had dreamed, and how
It came out, and who married whom,
and how they prospered. She had seen
TWO or three presidents; been to New
York and Niagara falls. She was
medical college, an encyclopedia, and
| book of adventures combined, and
Ter going away at night left vacancy
hat she alone could fill.
Is she still living? If so, may the
world reverence her. Is she dead? If
10. may the sunshine of heaven have
made her the happiest angel of them
III