Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-10-20

DEAR OLD DAYS.

Days of the grand fireplaces, the huge.
smouldering backlogs. the foresticks
resting in patronizing way across the
and-irons, as if they We're yeritable
Atlas. and could bear up a world OF
cracking, blazing wood from dropping
into the red Goals Leneath; days when
the crayOn was swinging over the kitch>
en- hearth with its decorations Of pot
hooks and trammels. like so many Blue
boards wives suspended in the tradlt'
ional closet; when the finder box was
in the cupboard, and the settle in the
corner. and best of all when dear old
grandmother went pattering about, do
ing q little here and little there, and
finally resting her sweet, dainty self IN
a straight back rocker, just such as l
now occupy. while my eyes are looking
ont upon the sunshine and blue sky, and
my thoughts are going back 10 the like
bright mornings long ago, when | was
n little child.
I recall the food of sunshine that
came in at the east window OF the old
sitting room. touching the graceful fig
ure of the always busy little lady as she
sat by the CHEEKY fire, knitting warm
socks for her beloved. The same rays
shone upon the reverend head of my
grandfather, and fell so warmly upon
the bright flowers in the carpet, that l
used to wonder with my childish Won
der why they did not grow.
That was a grand. beautiful house
where these two were drilling with
their litrle family around them, nest
which tine stalwart young man built for
his bird after they mated, and where
i'm the great halls and four windowed
rooms in all these long years. baby
voices had laughed and cOOed. boyhood
had ramped and studied, girlhOod had
learned TO play and work and glorious
young manhood had lain down to die.
There We're four boys and two girls
came TO that beautiful home; CT the
former one. the fair haired and blue
eyed. went to sea. and never came back
10 the kindred watching and waiting for
him. he went TO sleep ON the shores OF
Africa. and never a friendly hand to
smooth his dying pillow. think a
sunny curl was cut from the splendid
head ana sent home. for have seen my
grandmother kiss such one and lay
Il away in her little Bible.
Then two more of those boys looking
so brave and strong to bear. folded their
hands and passed quietly TO the better
land: and | recall perfectly the sweet
troubled face and words OF that blessed
grandmother when a friend came 10
her. laden with love and sympathy:
My boys have gone home. Oliver, Hen
~ and Nat-and hut one out OF my
beautiful. brave four is left me now.
All this happened when | was so very
young that my heart did not sorrow
much for the great trouble which had
come 10 that hitherto happy home, and
could play under the grand old horse
chestnut trees. and shout in wild de-
Light whenever / espied a shining
brown nut hidden IN the grass. ! would
like to describe that house 50 you too
could see it. if it were possible. but II
is not. The hall extended from the
wide hospitable front door, dressed in
POLISHED RmOcker. TO the porch in the
rear. and i'm this broad hail stood my
arandfather's organ, an old English
pine organ. full to the brim OF sweet
ness. lie used TO sit before it and play
his own beautiful compositions, sing
ing with 4 voice so melodious that !,
lntle one that | was. would stand by
his side rest my head against his arm,
and wipe my tears away. Music
touched me then as now; and in that
family we enjoyed it much, and wear
led of it, never.
The younger of the two girls. my be-
loved Aunt Ibby, was a famous singer
for those days and the zone boy that
was left" my honored father, lent his
perfect tenor. while the older daughter
sang her sweet contraltO; so | was liy-
ing in an atmosphere so musical,
grew TO love music better than play
and TO this day an old. familIr air, rs
ii used TO be sung by those dear voices,
all quiet nOw-all save one-will start
my tears and carry me back to the old
days that | am writing about.
OF the two daughters | must tell you
4 little, for they were attractive and
fair, and were taught by their wise
mother to make all kinds of womanly
duty easy. although there was never a
need for them to GO more than was
pleasant and agreeable The elder
auntie, my precious Anne, found the
greatest delight in working in her low
er garden. What a glory of great pink
roses was there-real June roses as
blushing and sweet as a maiden's fair
face And pinks for borders, with all
sorts of Old fashioned flowers making
such a pretty show; larkspur and scar
let peoples, waving phlOX and fragrant
mignonette. Then about the porch on
the east side of the house were tall sun
flowers turning their faces to the god
of day; and many colored hollyhocks,
dear old home flowers, rarely 10 be
seen in these days, unless they adorn
some humble home far far away inland
that can boast also of its "old oaken
bucket that hangs in the Well
The fruit trees, cherry and apple
peach and plum. the boys used to
climb and toss down the rich, ripe
fruit: and the vines were heavy with
clusters of purple and white grapes
lars upon Jars of black and red currant
iellv were arranged along the large
store closet shelves, the fruit of the
range of bushes growing against the
fence and one towering Balm OF Gilead
tree Welded fragrant healing buds for
all the bruised and manned humanity
upon the hill, where the old house
stood
Then there was a barn with a horse
and COW in it, and one morning / found
a little calf asleep. With such delight
and wonder as I remember even now.
rushed into my grandmother to ask her
for bit of blue ribbon or something as
pretty. that | might decorate the little
creatures neck, but she told me
might have ~ rag bag. and decorate
her as much q. l liked, but that ! would
-. -lt....ul IL cnr.lc litfIn lahN 50