The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-03-02

Ibe wcrld uss sN vbits sb1 nesuutu'
COOS covered the htids snd meadows Tar
iH,o the bori.op, where the sun vas sink
ioe 10 bic crimson glory.
II .ss twilight everything us spi' snd
dreamy, aud tho tick Of The old cloek
seemed 10 my eirli,b mipd to repssi the
words h,d heard my mother cay lsush
lissiy 10 my is,htr after soms tender Jest
OF bis: Loves . lover = tick -,oek loves
loyefl
Iwss 10 . bis old i,shiobed ball, there
we're the broad los stsirs leading 10 The
rooms above. the tall mshogsny clock
With its deer old face that us like .
friead 10 me. Whist deal IL could tell
Of oil thst bad come end eooe sioce u
stood 10 its dim recess. Tales OF the first
kiss btneath the misiletoe, OF the sweet
words ubi.pered on the stairs. OF the
stories told sround the bltzins Yule logs.
oil memories OF other dsys-wheo grand
mother vas young like me.
Tick took. loves lover. tick tcckl l
turned toward the clock; the q eiow
from the outer world lieh,e mp its face
Sarel | was not dresmiuRl The face
seemed TO be smiling ut me. aud the
sords chsnaed into "little girl little
sirl, ss IL bali plying me because was
lsft alone
/ hesved sigh. and before il bad we'll
passed my lips the old clock seemed t.
say. I've seen msny things. and II little
girls would keep their ears open they
could learn from almost everything about
them. We don't ssy much, with hall
point OF hand toward the big old book
case. which gave eroap in snswer) But
We wstch and lssrn great deal more than
people give Us credi, for. can tell you
you about your grsndm other and how /,
by what you would stupidity call an scci
deot, changed her whole life.
1t gave me a strange feeling to hear the
clock which had loved and listened to
from baby hood spesk so plsiply to me.
Before this had always known 1t could
tell me so much II could only under
stand, and now. quite suddenly, | under
stoo inst as il The old clock. with its
slow end steady tick took, tick tock,
spoke 10 my own language.
lwas Just little nervous and did not
like to answer. but ! guess the clock saw
the half smile on my face, fer IL went on
after few moments: Yes. it is many
years ago when your grandmother was
young; sweeter lassie never trestbed.
| dream sometimes in the night, when !
alone OF ell the house am awake, OF see
ing her Inc gliding down the stairs in
her light gray dress, with it's many yard
ed skirt the dainty lace collar fashioned
with the big brooch, her hair, with the
tresses that would not quite ktrsighten
ont, drawn down over the ears, like cur
tsins Of gold to set a her nowerlike face.
She would always heed me. / myself
vas youug Their, the old clock sighed. !
| told her when TO rise so ss 10 surprise the
flower when fresh with dewdrop diamonds
when she must study and read so as to
be able to hold her own with the best.
These things she did not mind, but she
would look at me quite wistiully when
would tick out. Tick, took, o'clock-9
O'Clock. but up the stairs sbe would dissp
pear and dark would be the house till the
little lady appeared in the bright sun
shine the neIt morning
One day there was stir and ~ excite
ment-sll preparations for your grand
mothers first ball. Silks and lsces we're
every here. ID the flowers that filed the
little window yonder heard all htr hopes
aud dres m as she bent above them 10 her
daily care.
As evening drew on the sleigh bslls
we're betr coming across the country to
the door. there vas q crowd OF servants 10
the hall, each one peeriDg esgerly over
snother's shoulder to see the little mis-
lfess in her white elk, which rnsiled ss
she moved snd set fl so we'll her shining
eyes.
Ah, me, that wss the beginning OF 1t
ali. for II was rot the same little girl who
looked into my face nett day. and listen
ed With oil my strength IS she whispered
fresh hops and fears to the sympathetic
flowers.
Many gentlemen DOW came TO call, and
N osi frequently 40 older and q ersver on,
~bo said little, but seemed 10 bide bis
time. There was younger one on whom
my little mistress seemed TO smile, and
Who wbi,pssed sll sorts Of pretty nothines
10 her ear; 9 handsome led. but somehow
liked not be shifting Of bis eyes.
Many 10 the light kept my old frame
creskipg with snXiety. Sometimes /
would ny to pu, in . wcrl to the little
one ss she sat where you are, only she
never seemed TO bear me, A smile ~ss 90
her lips spd her hesrt was far away.
Thugs weit 90 tbs, way Tor some time,
till one day heard ter fathers voice
raised 10 siefn,r tone than be bad ever
used TO the little mistress. The heavy
library door xss op, ned hastily by her.
aud ss the pushed pact me up the stairs !
ay how flushed aud bot h,r cheeks we're
burning
Then osue q t,ns sbtn the set snd
brooasd 10 The window. The youus usu
cane 20 more. spd the elder mao VS.
tiais, than ever. bu, oil 10 90 tutpcse;
the yuans girl aid 10, sseu TO know ,hst
b. u,sn,sr. Ahtrssrd shs seemed 10
,orn 10 me Tor synpsthy and soald
catch nv lace 90 stfiou.ly | did not