Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-09-27
A KNOT IN THE SKEIN.
BY MRS. NORA MARBLE.

They made pretty picture, did
grandmother and little Dot. Grand
mother sat in her low rocking chair,
with her glasses pushed back above her
forehead, and before her stood Dot
holding outstrctchcd brilliant skcin of
wool upon her chubby little hands.
"llurry up, drandma,' said Dot,
with slight frown, 'you's so slow"
Grandma took no heed, apparently,
but went on with the utmost precision
Slowly the yarn rcclcd over the chubby
thumbs, slowly went on the winding
about grandmas ball.
Dot stood first upon ono foot, then
the other, like a blrn-yard fowl, and
gave at intervals tremendous sigh rs
evidence OF her WEAKNESS.
"You's 'zaspcratin'," sho at last
broke out; ''rcally and truly, Grandma,
yous old 'zaspcratin' hisself."
"WhatW cried tho startled old ladv
who had been intent upon her winding
or perhaps lost in rcveric of other
dnys; "what is that you arc saving,
Dot2"
81 said you was 'zasporatin' old
poke, replied Dot firmly. 81 is most
tired to deaf, and there you go on
windin jcs' MS if you was asleep"
"Well, L never" gaspcd the old lady.
l pretended to be- intent upon the
work before mo, yet could scarce refrain
from laughing aloud.
'"Tircd, cha" qucrcd grandma, with
IA twinkle in her cyc "well, We will
soon be through, and you can lie down
and rest"
"No, I'm going out to jump rope
incautiously said Dot. "with Willie and
Rose. They're jumping now, don't you
hcnr them, drandma?"
"Ah, you are going to rest your
weary limbs by jumping rope" replied
grandma. "Wcll, SO that you won't be
entirely used up, suppose you sit on this
chair" pulling one bcsJdc Dot.
Dot sulkily complied. but MS she did
so dropped her hands III fcigncd wcari-
ness.
See, eric grandma, ''you are let
ting strands of the wool drop over your
fingers. Hold up your hands, dear, and
we will soon be through" and on went
the old lady, placidiy and slowly winl-
ing as before.
Dot for space looked tho picture of
youthful resignation, but soon her impa-
iencc returned.
''lIurry up" sho cried vehcmently.
"You'rc enough to 'zaspcrato the pa
ticnce Of job, F." and again I saw her
slyly drop loop or two from her fin
gers. as she moved rcstlessly upon the
chair.
Grandma looked at her rcprovingly,
but fastened somewhat her movements.
There was pause presently in the wind
ing. The old lady brought her spccta-
Giles down from her forehead, and pccrcd
ut the skein of wool.
"Thcro's q snarl," she said, s'doar,
dear, how did that Gomez"
'It's an awful hard knot" CT Ger.
fully sail Miss Dot, after grandma had
made several attempts to discntanglc
the snarl. 81 dess you had better get
it all right. Grandma, and we'll wind
the ball mother time"
ooh, no, Dot, we'll get it all right
now" replied grandma, with a jerk.
Snap went the strand. Several min
utes were consumed in Strengthening
the skoin, and grandma carefully knot
ted the broken threads together before
resuming her winding.
The sounds of laughing and Jumping
outside, tho window came borne in upop
the stiffness of the room. Another pct
ulaat movement from Dot.
II is so nervous 1 can't hold still >
she next exclaimed, impatiently tuggine
at the wool.
Dear, dear, another knot" cried
grandma, pecring over her spcctaclcs a
Dot. "Why, at this rate VIC will neyel
get through"
| But at last it was done, and away
scampered Dot, every vcstigc of ill
humor vanished from her pretty face.
Grandma's glance met mine.
| .'Tho wool is for her own stockings, )