The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-04-12
CRANpMoTHERs SIGNS

She vss my mothers mother snd one o.
the best inteniionea little women 10 the
world. When grandfather died. my
brothers aud sisters, a. we'll ~ myself.
wsre sfrsid that grandmother would make
her home At our Uncle Mats or at our
Auni Mays. aud there Was great reIoic
ing when the letter came 10 shisb sht
wrote:
II did thipk at firsi that Id better 40
to Marys. but the grounds in my coffee
cup never pointed fsvor.bly 10 u. aud
lar hight dfemp. three iimes running,
that made Il clear 10 my mind that Id
better come TO you. would start to-
morrow il 1t wasn't Friday. aud some
times think the Friday sign ruus into
Saturday. too; so will not start until
Monday, which will bring me to your
house on the day the moon fulls. aud !
take that TO be good sign."
An amused smile came into my fathers
face as be read this letter aloud to his
children, and he burst out laughing when
| said;
'tI'd Just like 10 know what aoiise set.
things and dreams aud the moon have to
do with II !"
Nothing, my dear, nothing at all,
said mother. laughing softly. But
grandmother has odd notions that We
need not say anything about. or mind at
oil, when she is here
We lived in the country on splendid
farm. On the next Wednesday afternoon,
TO our great delight, We saw father driy-
ing up the long lane leading to our house.
with Grandmother Rhyder seated on the
spring seat beside him.
She waved ber handkerchief, aud SIX
eager children set Of on run to meet
her. We had bot seen her for three years,
and as soon rs we we're near enough to
hear she began saying;
why, ble.s my soul, how you have
groved | declare, don't know totber
from which, but l guess that's Berthe, and
that little girl with the ruified apron is
Mamie, aud that's Tommy with the red
ribbon at bis neck. Looks 'zactly like the
mbrotype OF him I've got. Bless all
your little hearts, anyhow I'll know
which is which afore two hours
When father helped her out of the wag
on she struck her foot on something and
would have fallen had he not caught her
"Mercy on us r she said. I'm glad
stubbed my right toe. II it had been the
left it would have been sure sign | was
going where / wasn't wanted"
You know that you are wanted her, no
matter whst the signs say, said mother,
as she took grandma into her arms and
kissed her many times.
.'Yes, dear, know it, know it" said
Grandma; but all the same should
have worried some II il had been the left
toe."
We soon discovered that grandmother
had sign for everything that happened
and much that did mt happen. When
anything unusual occurred grandma sud
denly recalled something in the manner in
which she bad previously forewsrned oi
II. The fact that her signs and predic
tlons generally failed OF fulf ment did not
disturb her in the least.
One day | oven heard mother say:
Don't you often notice grandma, that
your signs do not come true ? You said
yesterday when you saw the cat scratch
ing the fence. that 1t would rain, sure. be
fore night, but there was not cloud in
the sky all day, and not drop Of rain fell.
why, Susan y cried grandma. in q
tone OF great sursrise. The morning pa
per says there was a perfect food yester.
day in Alabama.
The proof was iucootroveriibe. not |
withstanding the fact that Alabama was
fifteen hundred miles from our home
My youngest brother was but three
IN onths old when grandma became mem
ber OF our family. She was very fond Of
baby Danny, and was grsiided to know
that the signs she bad regarding him
we're favorable to his future happiness
II he lives 10 grow up" she said. "he
will be smart and rich man. See that
mole on his neck. That's splendid sign.
Aud he's going TO have COW lick too;
that's another good sign. Ihops to good
ness, Susan, that you haven't allowed him
to look in a looking glass yet.
Il don't know. I'm sure, said mother
"Wby, Susan cried grandma, "hc
must not see himself in the glass until bis
frat birthday You'll never raise bin il
b., does I'm glad be has already tumbled
out Of bed; it's sure sign bell never be a
fool"
Grandmoiber's signs aud omens we're
. 1urce OF uneasiness TO herself only.
NJ ,ther early took occasion. privately. to
in struci us old children on the subject
8 he told us dreams had no meaning, and
thst signs" we're silly aud meaningless
inv epiions We we're not, she said, to
mind wLst grandma said, but to love and
respect her under ell circumstances
Baby Dan was winning little fellow,
whom We oil loved so dearly that We we're
elsi ersndma's omeDs did not porieDd
disastrous 10 him eyen though
W. did 90, believe 10 signs Bu, one day
grandma came down 10 breakfast without
her u.nal morning smile and cheery greet
ias. She looked very solemn and spoke
! Jberly when she spoke At ALL
Are you not we'll y nsked father
II hope this whole family may keep as
well Tor year to come M | am nos" she
said. mysterionsly.
R.hy D4n sal In his hish chair tjf