Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-06
A
Grandmotner's Story OF How She Owe
came Her Foolish Fears.

CaIne f1eT FOOLISH r GafSS
"Afraid to go upstairs in the dark"
said Bob Morris; ''if that isn't just like
a girl! Now, that's what I call real
downright silly!!"
Poor Betty's lips began to culver, and
grandma, seeing there was about to be
a shower, said:
"Well, 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 l was a little girl 1 was very
foolish and silly-indeed, a great deal
more SO than Betty-and the evening
was a time of great trial to me. My
brothers and sisters were all a good deal
older than I. And ws were no sooner
gathered arc7,nd the fire in the even
ing, than they would begin to say: oh,
Sis, run up and get us some corn to
pop!' Bring MT my slippers, little one,'
or Run down and get US some apples;
there's a good girl? 1 was an obliging
little thing, and had not the heart to re-
fuse, and. so L 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
II 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! I 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.
'.To all this I 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 a rug. Hav-
ing said my prayers at my mothers
knees, L bounded up the narrow stair
way by the faint light from below, and
sprang into bed. The door was left
open a little crack until I was sup
posed to be asleep, then it was cl,eed
and all communication cut off. Chifdre1
have their trials and discipline ~ wei
us grown people.
".And the door was shut For many
years L 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.
"About this timeI read a story which
took strong hold of my fancy. I do moi
remember the title, butt was about a boy
who was naturally timid, and who deter
mined to overcome his foolish fears and
be very brave. The way in which al
his %hobgoblins melted into thin air, OF
proved to be some familiar objects seer
in q new light, when he marched up tc
them, was very amusing and encourag.
ing. This story made a deep impress.
sion upon me, and I resolved not to be
outdcne by this boy.
81 now began to discipline myself te
90 about alone in the dark, and if Isaw
anything mysterious, to go boldly up tc
and examine it.
"rhere was a closet opening out Of
my room, and one night, after l hat
gone to bed, / saw that the door was
open, and just inside there seemed tt
be standing a tall, queer shaped ole
woman. Though I was very mucl
frightened,I hesitated but for a moment
and then jumped up and ran TOWARD
the closet, thinking whatever she NIGH
be, l would slam the door in her face
and shut her in; but as l came near te
her, | saw that my old woman wa:
nothing but a big portly rag-bag hang
ing from q nail, over this hung a stiff
log cabin sun bonnet with a long cape
and beneath the bag protruded an ole
pair Of boots.
"Many a laugh did my brothers ant
sisters have over my old woman whel
/ told them about her. Tom named he
Mrs Tripit' and said he thought she
was remarkably well developed for s
lady who fed entirely upon cold
pieces
ga few experiences like this gave me-
great courage, but the worst was yet tt
come. One warm summer night, l hat
been out to play with a friend, and
coming home late, had gone to bed tired
1t must. have been in the middle of the
night that 1 woke with a start-perhap:
\ from q bad dream = and saw a tall
white object at my bedside. In the din
starlight 1 could not distinguish tn,
outlines, but it would advance and re
cede, and then stand still. It was /.
mysterious appearance, and well cal
culated to brighten a child, and my
first impulse was to cover my heat
with the bed-clothes, but that I had re
solved never to do again.
"'Now is the time to be brave!' I sale
to myself, and though my heart seemed
to stand still, and 1 grew cold from
fear, yet with a resolution which ever
now l look back upon with wonder.
gathered myself up and sprang at thu
object. Whatever it was, l determined
to do battle. Before | reached the floor
the mystery was made clear to me
There was a terrible crash, and TIL
voice of nv mother from below. called