Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-19
Grandmamma's Fortune.
"One Hove, two I loye,
Three / love, l saw.

IHe children, youths and maldenS,
gathered close about the roaring fire,
, for the snow had grown very deep
without. and the frivolous old wind
shrieked with delight as it lifted the
snow white folds and piled them in
drifts.
| Claw Miss Bessie" calculated little
black Joe, as he kneit en the rug she'll
ing popcorn, hope [ indie if you
amt bu'nIng the corn"
! The young girl laughed naerrily at
her small servant, while she ans
Wered:
"WeIl, Joe, you are safe, for [ am
burnlng it shockingly. Suppose you
take the pepper while I have my for
tune told; it was for that I was getting
these seeds out when the fire took ad-
vantage of my corn"
Yes'm, said Joe, apropos of moth
ing in particular, as he obeyed and
tried TO watch his task with one eye
and the fortune with the othcr. Vari-
Gus games were in progress about the
room, for nuts, apples, cakes, ETC.,
were making yoang hearts glad. But
Miss Bessie had an absorbed air, as
with quaint gravity she turned to her
handsome cousin to name her apple
seeds, and began counting: Gone I
love, two l love, three I love, !
say"
Grandmamma in her chimney cor
ner had been watching the games, and
now caught the zone [ love-" etc.
Dropping her knitting she rested her
head against the tall back of her cosy
armchair and listened, while the words
took a new meaning as they stepped
across the threshold of her brain. She
made a sweet picture in the freight,
which albeit was sad, too, she seemed
SO near the shadoway border land of
another world. There was sublime
peace On the dear, wrinkled face, and
the soft hair was whitened with the
''dust of life" gathered through many
heart breaking sorrows and wistful
struggles. Grandmamma's thoughts
were swiftly traversing the long lapse
of years, and were down again at the
springtine of life, reading once more
from the great book of experience.
And sbs wondered who wrote the wise
little legend that pretty Bessie was re-
peating, .''Some old dame like my
SELF 6Ae unused and smiled when she
saw how meaningless the words were
to young folks "Ah yes, one I love. "
Her thoughts fingered tenderly about
the tiny, curly haired laddie who
trugtd beside her and carried her books
to school. At the first dawn of know
ledge we begin coming the sad old
| lesson set for Eve to learn la paradise,
and eagerly refuse to- believe that it
takes years Of experience and sorrow
to reveal the true, deep meaning to
us. She turned the sunny leaf of
memory and Two I love" she MUIR
INJURED, as the picture rose before her
of the frank, manly fellow with his
laughter loving blue eyes. Half sadly,
half amused, she remembered how
she had outgrown him in her preco-
cious way and had come to look down
upon him as ''too young" ''Three I
love, say" grandmamma repeated,
forced to acknowledge that this was
a premeditated Irritation. She saw
a courteous man bending to do her
homage in a spirit Of idle jest, she re-
membered how her bosom swelled
with injured pride when she discover
ed that in his estimation she was only
a child, bagatelle, toy. Her
childish faith sklivered in the first cold
blast of the reality, call is not gold
that glitters," and she determined to
be revenged. A merry smile lurked
about the corners of her mouth at the
thought of how earnest her lover had
grown and how he had remained
faithful for years. An, grandmmama
sig he'd at her youthful frivolity ty-she
had learned the secret of her lover
On she turned the record of her years,
and tears were Ia the sweet voice that
softly whispered: -Four I love with
all my heart" She pondered long
over this picture. Here the young
girl, who had suddenly forgotten her
bitter worldly knowledge, stood
among the glowing, blushing roses,
breathing the delicious sunshine,
looking perfectly fairy of happiness,
and dreamily building ''castles in
air, )" when the fatal news of her
lovers death crushed the joy from her
heart. Aye, and years passed ere she
recovered.
Five cast away" Yes. Still
the sobbing OF her bereaved heart
would not be stilled. She could not
listen TO another. "Six, he loves, y
and yet she could not think on such
things without pain.
At last the loving soul reached on,
sympathy and comfort Seven, she
loves. He seemed brave, true, and
good-a gallant lover, forsooth.
Weeks, months sped on, and then
one evening ne came 10 say " good
by" The morrow was his wedding
day. Would not his dear friend
wish him God speed9" The proud,
sensitive mouth quivered a moment,
then TO all outward seeming 1t was
over; she was his friend.
She lived on as usual, but anon in
the inner life it took many years to
fill up the grave of that experience to
the level of her customary serenity.
In the full bloom OF womanhood,
with that richness of knowledge and
experience with which she vainly
hoped to build bulwark of safety
L I.