Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-01-15
A BuGBEAR.
Grandmother's Story Of How She Over
came Her Foolish Fears.

AL diu " ~ up-StdlLS III LILO udAh s
said Bob Morris; IF that isn't just like
girl! Now, that's what call real
downright sillyr'
Poor Betty's lips began to culver, and
grandma, seeing there was about to be
shower, said:
swell, now, children, that reminds
me of a story
Frowns and tears alike disappeared,
as the children gathered around Grand
mothers Chair, in delighted anticipa-
ton, and SO she began:
when I was = little girl / was very
foolish and silly-indeed, q great deal
more so than Betty-and the evening
was a time Of great trial to me. My
brothers and sisters were all good deal
older than I. And we were no sooner
gathered around the fire in the even
ing, than they would begin to say: oh,
Sis, run up and get US some corn to
pop!' Bring me my slippers. little one,
or Run down and get us some apples;
there's good girl!' was an obliging
little thing, and had not the heart to re-
fuse, and so 1 would go in fear and
trembling, and come running back
pale and breathless; for all of the dark
places-cellar, garnet, long shadowy
hall and bedroom, had their terrors for
me.
Il had never told my fears to any
one, for my mother was too busy to
have much time to talk quietly with me,
and, as for my brothers and sisters,
they would have laughed at my
troubles.
THAT dear old kitchen! can re-
member just how pleasant it looked in
the winter evenings.
'.My mother usually sat knitting or
sewing by the light of a candle at a lit
tie stand, and the children gatherd
around the hearth, popping corn, eat
ing butternuts, roasting apples and
telling stories.
ITO all this was obliged to say fare
well at seven o'clock precisely. Our
bedrooms never knew the warmth of a
fire, and the bare painted floors were
only covered here and there with a
strip of rag carpeting for rug. Hav-
ing said my prayers at my mother
knees, I bounded up the narrow stair
way by the faint light from below, and
sprang into bed. The door was left
open little crack until l was sup
posed to be asleep, then it was closed,
and all communication cut OF. Children
have their trials and discipline as well
as grown people.
ss.And the door was shut. For many
years never heard that portion of the
parable of the foolish virgins without q
vivid picture of that fireside with all
light and warmth, and the cold sense Of
Punishment coming over me as them.
'sAbout this time l read a story which
took strong hold of my fancy. / do moi
remember the title, but it was about a boy
who was naturally timid, and who deter.
mined to overcome his foolish fears ano
be very brave. The way in which al
his hobgoblins melted into thin air, OF
proved to be some familiar objects seen
In a new light, when he marched up to
them, was very amusing and encourag-
ing. This story made a deep impress.
sion upon me, and resolved not to be
outdone by this boy.
81 now began to discipline myself to
90 about alone in the dark, and if / saw
anything mysterious, to go boldly up to
and examine it.
ssThere was a closet opening out OF
my room, and one night, after l had
gone to bed, saw that the door was
open, and just inside there seemed to
be standing a tall, queer shaped old
woman. Though / was very much
frightened, Il hesitated but for Moment,
and then jumped up and ran toward
the closet, thinking whatever she might
be, l would slam the door in her face
and shut her in; but as / came near to
her, I saw that my old woman was
nothing but big portly rag-bag hang
ing from nail, over this hung a stiff
log cabin sun bonnet with long cape,
and beneath the bag protruded an old
pair of boots.
s.Many laugh did my brothers and
sisters have over my old woman, when
told them about her Tom named her
Mrs Tripit,' and said he thought she
was remarkably well developed for a
lady who fed entirely upon cold
pieces
"a few experiences like this gave me
great courage, but the worst was yet to
come. One warm summer night, had
been out to play with friend, and
coming home late, had gone to bed tired.
It must have been in the middle of the
night that / woke with start-perhaps
from bad dream and saw tall,
white object at my bedside. In the dim
outlines, but it would advance and re-
cede, and then stand still. 1t was a
mysterious appearance, and well cal
culated to frighten child, and my
FIRST impulse was to cover my head
with the bed-clothes, but that had re-
solved never to do again.
Now is the time to be brave!' / said
to myself, and though my heart seemed
TO stand still, and grew cold from
fear, yet with resolution which even
now / look back upon with wonder,
gathered myself up and sprang at the
object. Whatever it was, / determined
to do battle Before reached the floor,
the mystery was made clear to me.
There was terrible crash, and the
voice of my mother from below, called;
s.My child! what has happenedP"
s.Nothing,' / answered, only fell
over chair, that's all. =
Eyes, it was only an old high-backee
rocking-chair, over which q sheet hac
been laid to air, and the summer nigh
wind had gently waved its long folds tt
and fro, and out of this my fears ha6
conjured strange and ghostly figure
As elambered back into bed, half cry
ing with the pain of my bumps ane
bruises, and half laughing in the OK
element of triumph, l resolved that il
future the darkness should have no ter
ror for me.
..And how about Mrs. Tripitp' sait
| Bob.
WELL said grandma, Mrs. Tripi
| and / were on very intimate terms for .