The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-01-05
A Pair Of Weddings
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.
"You don't say SOP"

~ GU don't say sol?
Grandma Pine looked sharply ovel
her spectacles at pretty Nanny Camp
bell, who sat at her feet on an old
fashioned Cricket" the, blaze Of the
open fire playing on her bright blush
ing face. and lending a richer shade oi
gold to the crown of fluffy hair tina
hid her white forehead.
Nanny had come up to Traverse tc
spend Thanksgiving with her grand.
parents. She came the day before
but her father and mother could noi
leave till the next morning. DIR
Campbell was too busy man to spare
more than a day from his practice
and Nanny was glad to come alone
for she had a great piece of news to
tell grandma. Yes, with deeper
glow than the freight on her droop-
ing face, she impaired the wonderful
intelligence that she was engaged to
Jack Norton, and was going to be
married on Christmas. Now grand
ma was not really much surprised, for
Jack Norton was the son of DR. Camp
BELLS oldest and best friend,
and the children had known each
other always. Grandma, with the
forecasting wisdom Of old ladies, had
prophesied to herself this result years
ago, yet she thought she was surprised
to find her prophecy fulfilled.
Perhaps it never would have been
had Nanny and Jack lived next door
to each other always; but when they
were yet children Mr. Norton had left
left Ridgefeld and gone to Boston to
live. And Jack, moreover, had been
sent to Germany for his preparatory
studies, aud to England for his COL
legiate education, so he was as a stran-
ger when he came home to share his
fathers business; and when he saw
pretty Nanny, who had blossomed
from a plain angular little girl into a
lovely young woman, he fell in love
with her after the good old fashion,
and she returned his passion with all
the faith and fervor Of a girls first
serious affection.
They had been engaged several
months, but Nanny had not announced
the fact to any but her father and
mother. She was both shy and eau
tious, so she waited to tell grandma
until the wedding day was set.
Grandma was ready with congratula-
tions; yet, as she drew the fair young
head down to her knee and stroked
the bright hair with tremulous fingers,
she sighed, for she had lived too long
not to dread life for the child she
loved so well.
I'm kinder pleased" she confded
to grandpa, in that grand committee
of two' which married people hold
on matters that interest them or their
neighbors, land I'm kinder distressed
too. don't like his bein' lawyer;
t never seemed as though twas re-
liable business, nor one thet d real
honest, straightforward man could fol-
ler."
"Well," said grandpa. thoughtfully,
you've got to take things by and
large, Elviry-by and large. The's
some lyin' in all business. You don't
sell all the big p'tatoes nor all the
sound apples in the same barrel eff
you're farmer, nor you don't tell
man how old your critters be-not to
day. Do you s'pose Tatum sells his
dry-goods and groceries on the square
always? Don't we get poor drugs for
high prices down to Deans? An
come to fine it down, Parson Pitcher
don't write a sermon every week, now
| tell ye. There's suthin' bad to every
thing; 'tain't a heaven on earth down
to Bosting, no more'n 'tis here to Ira
verse"
well, I don know as It's" replied
grandma with sigh; ''but anyhow l
wish t she wasn't goin' to be married
in December y
And while Nanny was bustling
round in the kitchen the next morn
ing. stirring cold milk into the Indian
pudding that to-day had the great
oven to itself, basting the huge tur-
key in the roaster, garnishing the
tongues. keeping an eye on the chick
EN- pie that stood on tripod in the
chimney coaner to keep it hot after it
had been drawn from the aforesaid
oven, and doing for grandma all the
little odds and ends that are so much
work for old people and so little for
young ones, grandma was revolving
in her mind certain good cuunsels for
the girl, which might or might not be
accepted and acted upon; for grand
ma had old-fashioned ideas. She spoke
at last, her fingers meanwhile busy
pairing potatoes for the pot that stood
bubbling to receive them:
$50 you're goin' to be married
Christmas Day, be you, Nanny?"
No, dear-Christma Eve.
Seems pretty cold time for we'd
DIM" said grandma, taking up anoth-
er potato.
"Well, yes. Jack would not wait
till June, when | wanted to have it;
he said he never believed in long en-
gagements. And mother thinks just
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