The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-02


dinner, and merry romp or game
before eight o'clock and bedtime
came
Grandpa had been great traveller
in his day; and many thrilling tale
of adventure he had to delight Valen-
tines ear, and to fire his Imagination
with the desire to travel in strange,
foreign countries and see the curious
sights that grandpa had seen.
And now grandpa had been ill Tor
several days, and the doctor didn't
know how serious it might prove to
be. He seemed to have taken heavy
cold. which would not wear OH.
Every day his cough grew worse ana
his LUNGS grew sorer; and he was
weak and sometimes feverish. How
ever, he would not own to being Ill.
Oh. no! "Just laid up for day or
two" was all he would acknowledge.
Every day about eleven he would
insist on being helped up and dressed;
and then, with the aid of grandma on
one side and Walls stout little shout
der on the other, he would come
slowly downstairs, to sit all day in the
sunny library. in great sleepy-hol-
low chair, with cushions behind his
back. or to lie on a soft, broad couch
by the Preside.
Val was very proud of grandpa.
He was handsome old gentleman,
tall and straight, with snow-white
hair and a heavy military mustache.
In spite of his weakness, he was
as careful about being properly
dressed as if he were going down
town, and would not wear even an old
coat. Grandma and Val assisted at
his toilets, and it gradually became
quite ceremony.
Nothing like having valet" said
grandpa, laughing, one morning, as
Val ran to bring him an especial pair
of slippers.
"And you have two" said Val, re-
turning. Least, I'm your valet; and
grandma is your valet-tress."
Grandma laughed.
"I'm certainly we'll provided for;
Bring me my cravat now, Sir Valet
and hold my shaving-glass while |
put it on. No: this is frayed one,
though. Bring me another, please"
"Give him this one, VAL said
grandma, going to the drawer. "Why,
my dear, your cravats are in state!
must see about some new ones"
80 grandpa, wait moment" cried
Val, darting from the room in frantic
haste. He returned, breathless, in
moment
'Here, grandpa, this is my best
fourth hand; and ! want you to wear
it to day, please. 1t will look just
splendid on you"
Now, Valentine wore, usually, Of
course, soft Windsor ties with his lit
tie sailor suits, for his eight years had
not vet been promoted to the dignity
of a "four-in hand" But last Christ
mas his auntie had sent him fine
one, dark blue, with tiny white flowers
on it. This was the pride and delight
of his heart, and was worn only on
gala occasions. Val seemed to learn
by intuition how to whisk it into
shape; for small boys seem to have
an instructive feeling for neckties,
Just as little girls have for long
dresses.
A tiny girl lifts her short skirts at
a crossing as naturally as boy I'M
derstands the mysteries that, to a
feminine mind, shroud the necktie.
In Walls love for grandpa he could
think of no greater pleasure than to
lend him his treasured tie for day,
since grandpa actually did not own
one.
''But, my dear, little boy, / don't
know how to tie it" expostulated
grandpa, quite overcome by the
honor; for he knew how dear to the
little boys heart was his precious
four-inhand.
sob, I'll tie it. It's just as simpler
said Val, with an air of easy superior
ity. Least" he added politely, lest
grandpa should think he was casting
reflections, "you can easily learn how.
See, you bring this long end over this
short one, and cross it round it again;
and then bring the same end through
here and pull it down, and hatten it
out 80, and there it is" finished Val
patting it lovingly into final shape
and stepping back, with much pride,