The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-01

you haven't allowed him to look into a
looking-glass yet."
81 don't know, I'm sure" said
mother.
"Why, Susan" cried grandma, "he
must not see himself in a glass until
his first birthday! You'll never raise
him if he does. I'm glad he's already
tumbled out of bed; it's a sure sign
he'll never be fool"
Grandmother signs and omens
were a source of uneasiness to herself
only. Mother early took occasion,
privately, to instruct us older children
on the subject She told us that
dreams had no meaning. and that
"signs " were silly and meanin gless
inventions. We were not, she said, to
mind what grandma said, but were to
love and respect her under all circum-
stances.
Baby Dan was winning little fel-
low, whom we all loved so dearly that
we were glad grandma's omens did
not portend any thing disastrous to
him, even though we did not believe
in signs. But one day, grandma came
down to breakfast without her usual
morning smile and CHEEKY greeting.
She looked very solemn, and spoke
soberly when she spoke at all.
"Are you not well?" asked father.
Il hope this whole family may keep
as well for a year to come as am
now" she said, mysteriously.
Baby Dan sat in his high chair By
grandma's side, and in the midst of
the morning m2al she suddenly
dropped her knife and fork, threw her
arms around the baby, and burst into
tears.
why, grandma, what is it?" cried
mother, in real alarm.
Poor little dear" she cried, .'he
amt long for this world! I've dreamed
three nights of white colts. l told
you, Susan, what'd happen if you cut
his toe-nails of Sunday. or let the
other children raise your parasol in
the house. ! told your
Grandma's distress was so evident
that none of us felt like laughing, and
mother said:
Don't worry. mother. You know
that all signs fail at times
mime don't" said grandma, in a
tone of deep conviction. "Aad as l
was laying in bed this morning. lit
tile bird flew in at the window, and
lighted on my bedpost. l know what
that means, Susan. Danny amt go
ing to be here very long; you'll see
that he isn't. And the worst of it is
that he'll be took off sudden, and in
some uncommon way"
No reasoning could shake grand
mothers conviction in the least, and
her continued depression and gloomy
predictions made us all feel very I'M
comfortable. Indeed, so strong is
superstition that not one of us children
could help looking upon dear little
Dan as a doomed child, in spite of
mothers arguments to the contrary.
Grandmother had other unfailing
signs indicating Danny's early demise
A white kitten came to the door one
day, and grandma shook her head
gloomily.
But l have always heard that it
was sign of good luck to have kit
ten come to the house." said father.
Not a s0hite kitten" replied grand
ma. "A black or gray kitten is a
good sign, but white one is sign
OF" She stopped over, caught Danny
up in her arms and hastily left the
room.
An old white rooster that we had
crowed on the doorstep that day, and
grandma ordered his instant execu-
ton as the only means of averting his
share of the disaster threatening Danny.
Grandma's signs multiplied fast, and
were of positive. never-failing char
acter. She came down to breakfast
one beautiful June morning, bowed
down with the dreadful conviction
that the end would come that very
day. Danny's condition did not war
rant an expectation of death from dis
ease, at all events. He seemed to be
swapping his little pink fingers at all
kinds of signs rs he lay in his cradle,
kicking up his heels and growing glee-
fully. He was almost a year old at
this time, and grandma had said he
would never live to see his first birth
day.
During the forenoon we were visited
by some of our relatives who had
driven distance of ten miles to spend
the day at our house. We were de-
lighted to see them and gave ourselves
up to day of enjoyment. Even
grandma Joined in our pleasure, SEEM
ing to forget her doleful prophecies of
what the day would bring forth.
After dinner, which was the great
event of the day, the entire family. |
With the exception of grandma and |
baby Dan, strolled out into the orchard !
with our visitors. From the orchard |
We went on over q bit of meadow land |
IL search of wild Strawberries, which |
we're abundant. Then we went UP a |
grassy hillside and into a little grove Of |
oaks and elms. There we all sat down |
IN the grass and enjoyed what we
salled "a real sociable time" until !
.ather bethought himself to look at his |
watch, and said: