Daily Republican., 1884-02-23
ORIGINAL.1
IN TIL + OLD TEAPOT.
BY MINNIE TRYATT.


, old grandma Norwood. Father hat
practiced law In New York until hi
/; fortune was nearly made and his healtl
well nigh gone.
Then grandma Norwood wrote TO
him TO bring mother and bis little girls
and make his home with her the re
mainder Of her days. Mother being al
only daughter, grandma had neve
been reconciled to her living 10 far
away, especially as she was growing to'
old to run down to New York three
or four times year TO see us, a. hat
been her custom.
Grandpa Norwood died before any ot
us were old enoughto remember, and
left to grandma large estate and Q
very substantial bank account. When
grandma's letter came just remember
that we children were shut out Of the
library for whole long afternoon, and
at tea time we were asked how we
would like to 60 and live with grand.
ma Norwood.
We all shouted with delight.
Could such good new WI really be true ?
WAS 80 poor In New York we must
change our home, and as grandma was
lonely, father thought 1t best to do AZ
she wished, 40 we were all going to
Norwood hall in few weeks. Then
remember weeks of confusion with big
packing boxes In the halls and strange
men tearing up carpets, and taking
down pictures, and the next thing we
v ent tn great hotel Ou Broadway to
stay until the arrangements were CON-
pleted.
Finally, one bright morning, we
took the train, and after pleasant ride
of six hours along the banks Of the
beautiful Hudson, we reached Albany,
where we stopped for the night. Next
morning Wa went on To Schnectady,
where grandma's coachmsn met us
with luxurious, though ld.fashioned
Norwood hall.
We were heartily welcomed, and
soon forgot that we had ever had home
other than the hall. Father assumed
charge Of all grandma's property for
her, and although h- iot tue law severe,
ly alone, he was known for miles
around ~ "the judge" or Judge Mans-
field, a. some called him.
Five years passed quickly and we
were very happy at Norwood hall.
Grandma was the dearest, sweetest old
lady, but she had some peculiar
whims, and although the weslthiest old
lady In the neighborhood, she was prob
ably the plainest. She owned, among
other jewels, q beautiful set of dia
monds, which had been her mothers,
but nothing would ever induce her to
wear them, nor had she ever allowed
our mother " put them on. She said
she did dot wish to see any one near
them, and while she lived no one had
the chance, but she promised one Of us
girls should have them after she was
gone.
Joy thought she ought to have them,
being the eldest, but l thought they
ought to be mine, az was named for
grandma. Gertrude thought she ought |
to have them because-but she alwaysl
stopped there and didn't give any rea-
son, so l suppose 1t was because she
wanted them.
Joy, Gertrude and were taught at
home, father and mother not wishing
TO be separated from us, He had mas.
tels from New York for our music, |
painting and language lessons, and q
resident governess in all other branch |
es. One Of grandma's notions was that
we should not grow up ignorant of
work, 80 besides our lessons, she insist |
ed that we should each d,a certain por- |
tion of housework daily. Every even
ing she had US take low chairs by her
side and tell ner how much We hadlac-
complished. SO we learned to sew and |
bake, and sweep and dust, just as
though there were no - family jewels,
and 10 fortune in the future coming to /
us.
She gave us each little garden plot,
and let ny plant whatever flowers we
choose, but once planted she obliged us
to rear and tend them ourselves OIL
course we could 80 to Henry, the
head gardiner, for information or ad-
vice, but we must do all the work our
selves.
Grandma loved old-tashioned flow
ers, and had her own plot in the garden
which she tended with her own hands
as long as she was able. When she
grew too feeble, the work. was divided
among us girls, for we could not bear
that hired hands should touch the
work that dear grandma had 80 loved.
She always seemed 80 pleased and CRATE.
full when we carried handfuls Of the
sweet blossoms to her and were able to
tell how each plant was thriving.
Gradually we realized tdat grandma
was filling.
"My work is done" she said one
day; "my only service now is waiting,
oply waiting" l.
One morning, about the middle of
June, Joy came in with lovely bunch
of flowers for grandma. She took them
In the thin, white hand, which had 80
often rested on our heads in blessing,
and thanking Joy for them with a
bright smile, said "Grandma won't
be here much longer to enjoy her posies,
dearie. I have loved them so-these
dear, old fashioned flowers. wonder
who will plant them when l am gone-I,
the marigolds and pansies and the blue
forget. me.nots." Then as we all
gathered closely about her bed she said !
My darlings, If any of you care to
keep the little garden as grandma has
kept 1t these many years, you will find {
the seed all in separate papers, tied and
labeled, in the old silver TIA pot, which
stands in the right hand corner on the
top shelf in the closet In my ROOM"
We all promised that among US we {
would keep the garden a. grandma l
loved to have 1t, 30 long as we lived at
hall.
That night grandma died. After the I
funeral We all gathered In the drawing-I
room to hear the will read. Item after
TEN was read, and yet no mention was
made of the diamonds. BreathlesslyI
We lisrened as we saw lawyer Fargon i
neared the end, but no diamonds. Fl. {
nally came the best bequest-"To the
,ne who shall plan: my garden plot. a
have hequeathed the seeds In the old :, !,
;eapot." IL
Houses and lands, bank stock and
mortgages and bonds, but no
liamondai And hOw uueer to mention I