Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-03-29

looking-glass yet"
~ don't know. I'm sure" said |
mother.
"Why, Susan, cried grandma, "he
must not see himself in glass until
his first birthday! You'll never raise
him if he does. Tn glad he's already
tumbled out of bed; it's a sure sign
he II never be fool"
Grandmother's signs and omens
were 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 meaningles
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 fell
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 wellP" asked father.
Il hope this whole family may keep
as well for year to come as ! am
now," she said, mysteriously.
Baby Dan sat in his high chair by
grandmas side, and in the midst of
the morning meal she suddenly
dropped her knife and fork. threw her
arms around the baby, and burst into
tears.
: why, grandma, what is itp' cried
mother, in real alarm.
> Poor little dear" she cried, she
amt long for this world! I've dreamed
three nights of white colts. / told
you, Susan, whatd 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
e that all signs fail at times"
= milne DON'T said grandma, in a
+ tone of deep conviction. "And as
j was laying in bed this morning, lit
i tile bird flew in at the window, and
c lighted on my bedpost. l know what
Q that means, Susan. Danny amt 60
r ing to be here very long; you'll SEE
that he isn't. And the worst of it il
II that he'll be took off sudden, and il
y some uncommon way"
o No reasoning could shake grand
Vt mothers conviction in the least, ant
1t her continued depression and gloomy
t. predictions made us all feel very un
j. comfortable. Indeed, so strong is
l superstition that not one of us children
IS could help looking upon dear LITTLE
It Dan as a doomed child, in spite o
o mothers arguments to the contrary.
$, Grandmother had other unfailins
signs indicating Danny's early demise
S A white kitten came to the door ON
Is day, and grandma shook her hea,
g gloomily.
But | have always heard that i
ee was a sign of good luck to have kit
N ten come to the house." said father.
mot unite kitten" replied grand
!" ma. "a black or gray kitten is
ut good sign, but white one is a sig
We Of" She stopped over, caught Damn
I'd up in her arms and hastily left tn
room.
n An old white rooster that we ha
ny crowed on the doorstep that day, an
w grandma ordered his instant execr
~ ton as the only means of averting hi
v share of the disaster threatening Danny
lis Grandma's signs multiplied fast, an
If, were of a positive, never-failing chal
IN acter. She came down. to breakfas
or one beautiful June morning, bowe
re down with the dreadful convictio
" that the end would come that yer
day. Danny's condition did not wal
ue rant an expectation of death from Iii
h ease, at all events. He seemed to b
,r- swapping his little pink fingers at a
ed kinds of signs as he'lay in his cradle
ny kicking up his heels and growing gle,
*. fully. He was almost q year old t
i'm this time, and grandma had said
is, would never live to see his first brit
CHI day.
During the forenoon we were yisite
he by some of our relatives who ha
le- driven distance of ten miles to spen
he the day at our house. We were d,
lighted to see them and gave ourselv,
m up to a day of enjoyment Eve
ad grandma joined in n,u pleasure, seen
| l ing to forget her daleful prophecies
what the day would bring forth.
ed After dinner, which was the gre,
;" event of the day, the entire famil
ma with the exception of grandma al
ny baby Dan, strolled outinto the orchal
with our visitors. From the orchal
+" we went on over bit of meadow lar
/ in search of wild strawberries, whic
, if were abundant. Then we went up
grassy hillside and into little grove
tn oaks and elms. There we all sat dow
lat on the grass and enjoyed what v
MT called "a real sociable time" UNI
nal father bethought himself to look at i
ed watch, and said
re- why, it's nearly four O'Clock.
he have been away three hours. Dan,