Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-03-20
$'irgiuia FREE gress.
". W.B. GALLAHER, Editor.
~ s''esto,on, Jefferson County. Vest "
March 30. 1895.
on Groicing Old.

The wind was blowing pleasant in a
the window of a room where an elderly
lady sat at her desk opening the letters
which the mail had brought her. The
lady's hair was white and wavy around
her temples. and it was an afilicton tc
her artistic eye that the knot at the back
Of her head was undeuiably brown. Thi;
contrast seemed to her type of her life
the brown hair lending her an imagina
ton and aspirations which the gray would
never let her carry out. The silver
strands seemed ever holding her back like
silkcn threads.
As she opened her last letter there fell
out two cards, one bearing the name oil
Mrs. James Tuckintgon Carroll, and the
other-a tiny card tied to the large one
by a white ribbon bow-read, Edith
Tuckington Carroll.
"Now," said the lady, aloud, Mrs
Carroll never sent me that Nobody but
her father would have thought of me-
Dick knew should be interested in hear
ing of his grandchildren old Dick !!
And this sent the white-haired lady:
thoughts back along the vista of years
alas how many ?-when her hair wa;
all brown, and she and Dick had passed
so many happy days together, both SC
young and buoyant.
"Dick dear" she wrote, you sent me
this card, know, and it was good of you
but how do you like being grandfather
Y You did not in the least look like a grand
father when remember you. Are you
gray? Do you like growing old, Dick
I'm growing old, too, and | don't like i
at all. That is, my feet are growing old
but my heart thumps and bangs arounC
as young as it ever was That is the hor
rid part of it. If all of me grew old to
gether | could bear it better. Bat
think too should like to have a grand
child to hold in my arms, It's huggine
the babies that keeps lis fresh, and {
woman's heart Amy age-loDgs as de
voutly and legitimately for a grandchilC
as ever in younger days it cherished th'
thought of maternity"
Dicks reply was not long in coming
Dicks replies never were long in coming
"My dear -" he wrote, 81 was de
lighted to receive your sweet little note
am bearing my new honors with muci
dignity. Should you ever reach the ag'
and responsibility of becoming a grand
mother, just amble along at your natura
gait, do just as you have always done, anC
nobody will ever know the difference
This is the advice of fellow who ha.
tried being q grandpapa for month, anC
knows what he is talking about Am
gray Well, yes, little, but you would
not know it across the street. Ny arms
are getting little short for reading, ex
cept in a good light When the light j:
bad put on pair Of eye glasses. Moth.
ing the matter with my eyes, but It's easi
er on my arm, not having TO hold it out
so straight. don't stoop worth q cent
You complain of your feet not keeping
up with the juvenility of your heart
Well, dearie, when | tried to play game
Of baseball on the fourth Of July, | found
that it was my legs that wouldn't keep uE
through the nine innings with my juve
nifty. l mad record on FIVE innings
as a sprinter a The same, but for a week
afterwards { mt sprint cyen little bit
Hereafter am going to make my juve
nile heart keep pace with my underpin
ming, or pu; check rein on it.'-Har
Der's BGzGT