The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-08

upon tho ground. q
What vas that he said stopping u
swing ~
F"She laughed that be should have asks
such thing That Was tho thrush, d
said. He ID not usually 20 much afraid.
"He lifted her out Of the swing, and Oh
went to the trellis There lay the dar
yellow fruit amid the foliage.
"'Your thrush has given you treat
no said.
"She shook her head and laid beaut
full apricot In his hand. YOU she sai
softly
"Now your great grandfather came BAG
to the garden again. Take care, said hs
You will not easily get ridof her. The
he spoke Of business matters, and bot
went Into the house !.
SIN the evening little Barbara was al
lowed to sit ct table with them. The kin
young man had asked for her Thing
were not quite as she could have wished
The guest sat at the head beside her father
but she was only little tirl as yet an,
had to sit down at the foot next the young
est clerk, and that Is why she finished he
supper so soon. Then she rose and stol
to her fathers chair, but he was talkinI
80 earnestly with the young man owe
premiums and discounts that the latte
had no eyes for the little Barbara. Yes
yes, 1t is 80 years ago. But the old grand
mother remembers we'll how impatient Lit
Ito Barbara grew at that and was not Il
be propitiated by her good father. TIL,
clock struck 10, and now she had to say
good night. When she came to your grand
father, he asked her, Shall we swing agair
tomorrow and Barbara was quite happy
once more. He makes fool of himself
over children, said your great grandfather
but In reality he was himself unreasonably
fond Of his little girl
1.-The next day toward evening the young
man went away.
Then eight years passed In the win
ter time little Barbara would often stand
by the glass door and breathe on the FROST
cd anes Then she would look out through
the peephole down into the snowy garden
Of the dancing leaves and warm sunshine,
and the thrush which always made Its nest
in the trellis, and how once the ripe april
cots were shaken down upon the ground,
and then of one particular summer day OF
which she always thought when she
thought Of summer at all. So the years
went by. Little Barbara was now twice
as old-in fact, she was no longer littld
Barbara-but that one summer day was
always bright spot In her memory. Then
at last he came again." |
"WhoP" asked her grandson, smiling
"The summer day2''
Eyes" said the grandmother. "He was
a veritable summer day."
"And them"
"Then there was a betrothal, and little
Barabra became your grandmother who
now sits among you telling old tales. But
1t had not yet gone quite so far ms that.
First there was wedding, and then your
great-grandfather had this hall built. With
tho garden and the flowers all was now in
deed over. But he had no longer need of
them. He soon had living flowers to en-
liven his noon hours. When the hall was
finished, the wedding came of there It
was merry wedding, and the guests
talked about 1t long afterward. You who
sit here,you were not present then, 1t Is true,
but your fathers and grandfathers, your
mothers and grandmothers, were, many
of them, and they were people who could
put In their word. Those were quiet,
modest days. We did not seek to know
more than the kings and their ministers,
and he who thrust his nose into politics
was called by US state tinker, and If he
were shoemaker we gave his neighbor
our boots to mend The servant maids
were all named Urine and Slime, and
every one wore dress which suited his
position. Now you even wear mustaches,
like young squires or cavaliers What
would you have, pray2 Do you all want to
rule too2"
"Yes, grandmother, said the host.
"And the nobility and the high gentry
who arc born for that, what is to become
of themP"
"Oh, nobility" said the young mother,
looking up into her husbands face with
proud, loving eyes !,
He smiled and said: abolished, grand
mother, or we shall all DO barons, all Ger
many, man and mouse I see no other al
The grandmother made no response to
this. She only said: Sat my wedding
there was no talk about state history The
went on its even gait, and
we were Just as happy as you in your new
tangled companies. At table amusing rid
dies were propounded and doggerels COM
posed. At dessert we sang, Your health,
my good neighbor, till empty the glass;
md all the other pretty songs that are now
forgotten. Your grandfather clear tenor
voice was always to DO distinguished.
People were more polite to each other in
those times Disputing and clamor were
regarded as very unseemly In fine COM
pany. Now everything has come to be diff
'erent, but your grandfather was gentle,
world. He went on before me- 1t is time
hat followed him."
The grandmother was silent moment
No one spoke-only she felt her hands
'eized. Every one wanted to hold them.
A peaceful smile fitted over the dear old
ace. Then she looked up to her grandson
md said: Here in his hall stood also his
'offin. You were at that time only years
I'D and stood by the coffin weeping. Your
ather was an austere, undemonstratiye |
man, Don't cry, little oneI' he said, and |
lifted you upon his arm. See, this Is the |
way an honest man looks when no is dead, |
nd then he secretly brushed away the
ears from his own face. He had always
reat generation for your grandfather.
low they are all passed over, and today I
ave now stood as godmother to my great
and you have given her the
ame Of your old grandmother May tho
God God suffer her to arrive as happily
nd peacefully at my age!'
Tho young mother fell upon her knees
efore the grandmother and kissed her
oft hands.
The grandson said: Grandmother, we
Ill tear down the old hall entirely and
" out flower garden again. Little Bar
ara Is here, too, once more. The ladies'
~ she Is your exact image. Sho shall sit
gain in the swing, and the sun shall shine
pom the golden, childish curls. Perhaps,
len, some summer afternoon the grand
Ither, too, will come again down the little
hinese stair Perhaps
The grandmother smiled. "You are
said she. "Your grandfather,