Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-07-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE WAY 1T GOES.
GRANpMOTHER's HEROIsM.

GRANDMOTHERS dEhUlSm.
1t was a comedy sight to look
upon. There she sat, knitting as
though her whole existence depend
ed upon Intervening a certain
number of stitches within a given
time. She would do it.
1t is my grandmother of whom |
am speaking.
Ours has always been a long-lived
family, and my grandmother is no
exception to the rule. My father
has turned sixty, so you can readily
believe that his mother, who did
not marry till she was passed TWEEN
ty, is not so young as she was when
Canal street was considered out OF
town, and journey to it was look
ed upon as trip into the country.
But it is not that of which ! wish
to talk.
There are, no doubt, many peo-
pie now living in the goodly City
Of New York who remember when
Washington Parade Ground was
nothing but Potter,s EiellGa. re
the northwest Of this battle-ground
for paupers, almost on the site where
Jefferson Market now stands, stood
an old frame house, in which-so
the legend Washington once
slept.
OF this old house my grandmoth-
err loves to talk. 1t is her hobby,
and l delight to hear her prattle on
her favorite theme. | often-for
she is Eighty at times-when her
speech becomes incoherent, inquire
the history of her adventures in the
old house at the foot of Rich
mond Hill, when she Immediately
becomes consistent, and with apleas-
ant smile relates her story.
On this occasion she put aside her
knitting, complacently stroked the
folds of her apron, called me a
'great goose" and affirmed in the
most positive manner her utter in
ability to comply with my request
| knew all the time she intended
telling it to me, so not a word, but
looked anxiously in her face.
Finally she folded up her knit
ting carefully, placed it in the wick.
er basket by her side, wheeled hel
chair, with my assistance, closer tc
the fire, and commenced:
at was a terrible time; | really
thought | never should have sur
vived it. Yet | did, and though
laugh at it now, it made me trem'
BILE then"
Knowing she wanted to be asked
what was "a terrible time," | put il
to her.
"What! don't you know Of that
fearful episode in my life?"
shook my head in the negative
but | simply did it to please her, az
| knew the story by heart.
"Well, then, I'll tell you the story
to please you; but mind, you mus,
not tell anybody else"
This | readily promised, for
knew the whole of the family cir
Gle of acquaintance were as con-
versant with this episode in my
grandmother's life as ] was myself
After taking off her spectacles
wiping and re-adjusting them, sht
resumed:
81 was but a girl; my father was
in business in Beaver street. He
was furrier, and his private resi-
dence was in Beaver street. Oh
course his family lived there too
and on a summer evening we oc'
casionally walked as far as Beekmar
street, beyond which point was the
open country.
AT this time Alvina Van Deuser
was my only friend and companion
We had been schoolmates, and a
more than ordinary friendship had
sprung up between us. Neither Of
us was happy unless in the Others
company. She was the only daugh'
ter of widower, who, like my
father, was In the fur trade, ant
who frequently made excursions
Westward in order to traffic will
the hunters who had been fortu
nate enough to obtain good supply
of skins.
zone day-my father had alst
gone on a trading expedition re
ceived a note from Alvina 9Th,
man-servant bringing it on horse
back) requesting me to visit Rich
mond Hill and spend the day ant
night with her, as she felt lone
some.
Nothing 10th, consented, ant
set off in high glee, to have, as
though, pleasant time with M,
friend.
"Arriving at the house, after
| 4. Il l.