Telegram-herald., 1889-09-12


white head an unnecessary time over her
drawer. She felt hurt-I know she did.
She was not a vain old lady, but her tastes
were nice, and she knew as well as any Of
US younger ones that her bonnet had lost
its freshness.
Grandma took her knitting work present
ly, and seated herself by the south window
in her armchair. AS watched her, fell
to wondering If her thoughts were going
back just now over the years TO The
time when Aunt Maria was baby. They
were poor, then, and had heard grandma
tell how she did her own work, and made
shirts for several families 10 make the ends
meet Was grandma recalling how she
had sat up nights and sewed to earn money
enough 10 buy cunning little white hood
made of satin and swans down for her
baby girls Or did she remember how
many weary stitches it took 10 earn that
fine, broad brimmed straw hat trimmed
with white ribbon, that her thirteen-year-
old daughter might be "like other girlsl"
Perhaps her mind dwelt on a story she had
often told me; how, when Aunt Maria was
nineteen, there came an invitation for her
To 20 to Boston and spend a month.
maria felt bad" grandma's story ran,
wear. / had bonnet made OF a splendid
piece Of velvet that my brother sent to me
from Paris. l didn't say word TO any
body. / just slipped upstairs and ripped
that bonnet up, then / got your grandfather
10 take me to town. l had some money /
had been saving up good while to buy me
a new bombazine dress, but l thought
cheaper one would do just As well; so just
took some of that money and went TO the
best milliner in town. / bought long, black
feather-I knew Maria liked em-and | told
her to make me hat At to be seen in Bos-
ton / never let on to any body what I'd
done. But you ought TO IA seen Maria
when that hat came home II she wasn't
happyl It was beauty The long, black
feather curled around her golden hair, and
Just touched her shoulder In front there
was little white tuft, with some tall birds
o'paradise feathers waving in il. The milli-
ner said It needed that, so got II besides.
You've no idea how handsome she looked,
and | enjoyed that hat forty times better
than when had it for mine"
Was grandma thinking: "And yet Maria
begrudges me little new ribbon for my
bonnet, as well of as she is, tool" II any
such thoughts disturbed her, they did not
appear on her placid face as she patiently
knitted on.
It was only fortnight from that day, and
we gathered again n grsndma's room.
There was DO merry talk. There was that
strange hush which but one presence
brincs, broken only by low. sad strains Of
music, and words OF consolation spoken In
subduod tones.
Grandma slept peacefully There lin-
Ill # . ~
der sInilo she had given Us az parting Fair
flowers were al about her. ard I noticed. as
l bent above her for tho lasttime, how pure
ani fresh the white ribbon was which tied
ho- cap. aud then with pang remembered
her old bonnet strings. Dear grandma,
she had gone where garments are without
suct or wrinkle How she would enjoy the
whi g raiment the purity. thc unchanging
freshness Of the Heavenly land
VIC al loved grandma dearly; for time
it seemed a. II We oould not 50 On without
her Ore dav towards evening a longing
seiz,d lac % look once more into grandms's
roou,. s0 went across the street, stole
around % the le door, which opeued d.
rec.fy into her room II was a'sr and I
stcroed sof-lv in Grandrna's armchair
oup-7-stood bv the window. I leaned orer
it, trying % picture Scr as hao seen her
So zen sitting 81 dusk b-lam ug her favor
ite lynn:
" Sua of ~ son. Thou Saviour tesr.
Br- The sound Of sob5iog reached nv
car. and, looking up. saH in fre shadows
a. IRE further ed - the room An Maria
staining ~ The bureau. Grsndus's bon
ret vas 81 her bani she turned it sbout
and Looked - j. as 4 she wosld torture her