Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-12-24

ions, Witty retOrtS, racy anecdotes, 1ell
one after another from her lips, aston
ishing and charming her listeners.
Well" said Mr.. Saunders, as he drew
enjoyed myself better. Mother,
ment." The old lady laughed
Thanks" she said. 81 appreciate the
compliment, Andrew, but l fear this
will be the last time" ooh, mother"
interrupted John, you must not say
that. Andrew, invite you and mother
to lunch here with me during the holi-
days. 1 will have Philip and Thorn
ton, too. but mother must be the only
lady to entertain us four boys.'
Come" said Mrs. Garth, cit is time
we were going. | will not forget the
appointment, John, and know l will
enjoy it if / can meet YOU"
or an hour viii bring forth. Dear old
terrain her ''boys' at rs.
But / digress. When the old lady ar
rived at home after her exciting day
she was very much fatigued, and begged
that she might not be expected down
stairs again that evening. Mrs. John
Garth herself carried her cup of tea,
and saw her comfortably in bed. "My
dear" she said, as her daughter-in-law
assisted her to don her night-dress,
"show John Philips letter this evening,
and ask him to join you in an invitation
to Andrew and his folks for our Christ
mas dinner"
"Will it do any good, mother? 1t is
six months now since they have
spoken"
''Try it, dear. You never know what
h,> ,,r+H ~,
good night. | feel quite worn out; but
[ feel that / have done a good days
work"
"Good night" said Mrs. John, going
out and softly closing the door. She
stood while in the hall thinking. "Of
course" she said to herself, 81 will try,
as mother SAYS. Dear old woman, it
troubles her, i know; and I don't think
she will be with us long. l ought to tell
John that / notice that she grows fee
bier; but hate to worry him."
That night, in the privacy of their
own room, Mrs. John gave his brothers
wie's letter to her husband, saying, as
she did so: cit will be good to see
from our own grille; she is coming, too,
and will bring our grandchild Isn't it
odd, John, that we are grandparents /
think your mother will be proud of her
first great-grandchild."
Mr.. Garth looked up from the letter
he was try ng to read. Sarah" he
said, solemnly, 81 am proud of my
mother"
"And SO you ought to be- rejoined
his wife, heartily. "And, John, you
can give her great pleasure by forgiv-
ing Uncle Saunders, aud inviting him to
dinner Christmas. 1t may be her last
Christmas, John"
''Don't, Sarah; / can't bear that Dear
old mother, | am ashamed that gave
her that trouble in her old age. But it
is all over now, and we will have q
merry Christmas, all together-parents,
brothers, sisters, children, and' he
laughed, ''grandchild."
Then he told his wife of the scene at
the restaurant. ooh ~ said Mrs. John,
81 feel as if could not wait until morn
ing to talk it over with her. How she
must have enjoyed it; and how good, oh,
how good she u.s."
All me, such days as that Christmas
Day at John Garth's come all too sell
dom, and yet it is generally our own
fault. We might have SO many happy
days if we only would. God is good.
He gives US such glorious opportunities
for happiness if we only would accept
them.
That day at John Garth's everybody
made the most of their opportunity, and
consequently everybody enjoyed them
selves. And when Grandmother Garth
sat with her first great-grandson in her
arms it was hard to tell which woman
was proudest. The great-grandmother
with her ,wrinkled face and snowy hair,
the grandmother in the beauty of mid
do oro nitb foyu roo6c Of ci1ro 4
mingled with the brown, or the young
mother with the bloom of girlhood still
tinting her cheeks and smiling lips |
another John GARTH" said the great
grandmother as she lifted the boy to |
her breast. "John Garth Law renee.
gran ma" said the young mother.
ayes, yes, dear, I know" said the old !
lady, "and the best [ can wish his father
and mother is that he may be as much
comfort to her as the John Garths have |
been to me-"
In the evening when dinner was over,
and all were gathered in the spacious
parlors, the children insisted on having |
what Philip Saunders, Andrews oldest |
boy. called a little fun; SO music and
dancing began, and was kept up until
some Of the little ones grew tired and |
sleepy. Then said great-grandmothe
Il believe l will play tune for you,
the sweetest tune; it was my John
Garth's special favorite. | have never
played it since he LETT me. Come, chill |
dren, you must sing the words" She
seated herself at the piano. Twenty |
years had passed since any one had |
seen Grandma Garth seated in front of
the piano, and all the children gathered |
about her. Slowly, and with wavering
fingers she touched the chords, and |
faint and sweet into every heart stole
the strains Of CLONE, Sweet Home
AS the player went on she gained con-
fdence, and soon the room was filed |
with harmony. Then Mrs. John Garth
signaled for her daughter Nellie, and
the clear young voices of the children
joined the music to the beauti I'll tamil
lar words. AS the last notes
died away grandmother arose.
John" she said, ''you and Philip
and Lucy and Amy remember this was
your fathers favorite song; now must |
say good night, dear children. Sarah"
to Johns wife, "will you let Lucy and
Amy see me to my room tonight"
M rc Tobu nodded her head. Gho c0uId |