New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-18
GRAMS THANK-OFFERlNG.

the hot stcamy breath OF soapsuds, ONIONS an"
green water -.
rnrcpcucrate and sinewy urchns, in costumes
ratioral enough as far az freedom of llInp wa
concerned. settled lonE standing dl"'I'n'Th
mcrcilcssly In the dust: VINE "n''e-ho"u.u;
noisy babes crJwcd Justify before the parental
H. htaticn their garments aprart ntIy longer
Suffering from repeated washing thah me sur
tanned faces Of their owners. The ladies 81
"Pot,cr's Piece" in different stages o. a process
krnNn To them as "clcanine, whether arIle"
t. persons possess IONS. screamed cohi"I"n
places across their respective raIlhss' '"'eI
soerscd with judcious threats ana WARNINGS
10 tho olive branches without; while Diners
either advanced in or indifferent to the execution
O! domestic duties. solcmnly discussed the pi"o-
abilities of The recent dry season.
"Nur wet nur vine" quoth a pleasant -Voi'eo'
rosy checked woman, addressing h.'seIi III
friendly accents to her ncighbor, I oodh
make nur II ha'porth o difference TO &C. iran
exon"
The individual for whom thcse words were IN
tended raised her quantity niehi-ohrrcd hcad
and nodded knowingly; then placing her recent
" cmpticd basin on the ground beside h'r sh'
fell to contemplating the result OF hcr eSpec'"'N
bestowed care and attention
Upon "A gcntlo slope before her. surrounded by
a trailing wreath Of crisp. hairy. green I''tN'7'
rcIoscd a eiea: tic marrow Just TINS one iiuI'
b. some stranpc fate had formed and ripcn"d on
the luxuriart and sturdy plant. but II hau al
tanned such perfect form and enormous rt"pof-
tons that !; had almos: served TO SATISFY us
oWncr-no easy matter. as IA general rue me
harsh lines that time discomfort ana disc"n.
tent had stamped upon the scared Ola i4'' NAN
hidden beneath her frill"d cap soitened some
what as she contemplated the lordlN produce
OF her garden patch.
lie do be a vine ulHrret'" continued tho pleas
ant voice IN its ncighhnrly tones. Tina il never
eat he IN = week o. Sundays Gran
The old woman looked W sharply something
very like smile quiN"rcd FOR minute space
upon her thin. ducrulous iiis
"Rl,,s 'co" came the shrii pip" of an enter
Irsinc youth from tn" roadway. ~" ho "a e"!n
TO eat ne al the buryln. W hc
,sl.rs "A
might have passed uuhced'd had not Gran
chosen to put personal application on ,hr
event mentioned as il WAS doubtless intended
She should
green viruIont light flashed IN her faded
eyes and she made ready 10 reply ~ language
worthy Of her reputation while th' women
paused cxpcctantly IN their work. and in' chill
drcn waited In h.caihless anticipation "i inc
Inevitable.
sim silence. The eyes 81 the onl""korf
wandered from Gran 10 tho dusty lane beyond
A glimpse OF swinging black coat tails had hr-
como visible in that direction informing M
watchers that their curatc. tho Rev Frank HI
ton. had turned the corner OF rioters ficc',
and was fast approaching.
Grams mouth closed with decided snap as
though the effort had cost her something, which
indeed. IL had.
II is n beautiful idea. :ho fact Of "A string OF
oaths dying away on tho lips of this hardened
old reprobaie az the young clcrgymans prcs"nc"
became known 10 her. and II would nave been
still more beautiful had not Grams name h''n
the first OF the list Of applicants for blankets
as usual this winter. Gran would nave pre-
ferred to have received the reverend gentleman
In her chair by the fircsidc. for she had her own
reasons for not wishing to display too great ac-
tivity; however il was too late to beat "A retreat
At present. and after having satisfied her resent
cnent by shaking her hs, at her young tor
mentor she leaned more heavily upon the STICK
she carried. and moved fecbly toward tn" gate"
starting in somewhat exaggerated surprise
when TIE curatcs voice was heard exclaifning
checrily:
'"rhat's right Gran. I'm glad to see you out
this fine day, The rheumatism Is better
hope 1t is isn't it, ne added. she nodded
a grudginr assent; and suppose that. under
the circumstances. W. are feeling rratcful|
But Gran die not propose to feel anything of
the Kind. At her time of lifc dispositions are
not readily changed and Gran had not the least
intention Of d,velopnf any such s"fi-heart"d
virtue as gratitude.
1T be OWN to thccy blessed drouth" she
mumbed ungraciousy 1T De ruinin' the crops
II be-"
An almost impcrccgiihlc shadow Of sadness
stole across the young mans fac" ~ her words
His profile clear cut against the white back
ground Of the house wall. was somewhat
Grccian in its outline ar shown in the broad
intellectual forehead. almost directly IN line with
the finely chsellcd. sensitive nose beneath
Again the curved firmly cIC scd lips earnest and
purposeful. formed tn mouth Of an enthusiast
while the chin though perhaps tiine weak in
position was well proportioncd and character
istc.
Heart and soul ne had devoted himself To his
Masters work and 10 the many failures ana
dsappOintincnts necessary To- exalted cndcavors
he had long accustomed himself But to Gran
was IT really quite Impossible TO reach the
heart OF this sullon. i'll tempered old woman.
who accepted all mcrcies AZ matter Of course
grumbling and sneering at the many blessings
dispensed to her? Not that he was discouraged
or lacking In the faith necessary for the ante
ipaton OF some change In this erring but ven
cradle soul but il had occurred to him, as he
looked compaseionatey down at the feeble.
tnff inc old hn1v hDfn i'm hat ,.rhu