The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-01
GRANDMOTHER'S SIGNS.
Her Prediction Concerning the
Baby, and What Happened.

Her Prediction Concerning the
Baby, and What Happened.
We were all very glad when Grand
mother Ryder came to live at our house.
She was my mothers mother, and one
OF the best-intentioned little old wom-
en- in the world. When grandfather
died, my brothers and sisters, as well
as myself, were afraid that grandmoth-
er would make her home at our Uncle
Mats or at our Aunt Mary's, and there
was great rejoicing when the letter
came in which she wrote:
." l did think at fist that I'd better
go to Mary's, but the grounds in my
coffee-cup never pointed favorably to
it, and last night / had a dream that
I've dremp three times running, that
made it clear to my mind that I'd bet
ter come TO you. l would start to-
morrow if it wasn't Friday, and l
sometimes think the Friday sign runs
into Saturday, too; so will not start
until Monday, which will bring me to
your house on the day the moon fulls,
and l take that to be good sign"
An amused smile came into fathers
face as he read this letter aloud to us
children, and he burst out laughing
when | said:
I'D just like to know what coffee
settings and dreams and the moon
have 20 do with it?'
Nothing, my dear; nothing at ALL"
said mother, laughing softly. but
grandmother has odd notions that we
need not say any thing about, or mind
at all, when she is here"
We lived in the country on a splen-
did farm. On the next Wednesday
afternoon, to our great delight. we saw
father driving up the long lane leading
to our house. with Grandmother Ry-
der seated on the spring seat by his
side. She waved her handkerchief,
and six eager children set off on run
to meet her. We had not seen her for
three years, and as soon as we were
near enough TO hear, she began say
ing:
why, bless my soul, how YOU hare
growed! | declare, don't know 10th
er from which, but l guess that's Ber-
tie, and that little girl with the ruffied
apron is Mamie, and that's Tommy
with the red ribbon to his neck.
Looks 'zactly like the ambrotype of him
I've got. Bless all your little hearts,
anyhow! I'll know which is which
fore two hours"
When father helped her out of the
wagon, she struck her foot on some
thing, and would have fallen had he
not caught her.
Mercy on uSr' she said. I'm
glad l stubbed my right toe. If it had
been the left, it'd been Il sure sign |
was going where wasn't wanted"
You know that you are wanted
here no matter what the signs saw"
said mother, as she took grandma
into her arms and kissed her many
times.
Yes. dear. know it, l know it."
said grandma; "but all the same, /
couldn't have helped worryin' some if
ii had been the lief: toe"
We soon discovered that grandmoth-
or had sign for every thing that
happened, and tor much that didn't
happen. When any thing unusual
occurred, grandma suddenly recalled
the manner in which she had pre-
viously been forewarned of it. The
fact that her signs and predictions gen.
orally failed of fulflment did not dis |
turb her in the least
One day 1 overheard mother say:
=" Don't you often notice, grandma,
that your signs do not come true? |
You said yesterday. when you saw the
cat scratching the fence, that it would |
rain. sure, before night; but there was
not cloud in the sky all day, and not
4 drop of rain FELL
"Why, Susanm cried grandma, in
a tone of great surprise. The
morning paper says there was per-
feet flood yesterday down in Ala
bama-"
The proof was incontrovertible, not
withstanding the fact that Alabama
was fifteen hundred miles from our
home.
My youngest brother was but three
months old when grandma became a
member of our family. She was very
fond of baby Danny, and was gratifed
to know that the signs she had had re-
garding him were favorable to his
future happiness.
" If he lives to grow up" she said.
"he'I be smart and rich man.
See that mole on his neck. That's
splendid sign. And he's going to have
a 'cow-lick, too; that's another good
sign. hope to goodness. Susan. that