The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-30
GRANDFATHER'S BOOTS
An Octogenarian Who Wanted to
Marry and Whose Children
Were Trying to Pre-
vent Him.
By 8. RARING-GoULp.

4. By 3. BARlNG-GOULD. !.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I
Mr.. Woolway was retired manufac,
turer Of a ripe age. He was over so and
had retired on a very handsome income
the fruit of his Industry and intelli-
genee. He had lost his wife, but not be-
fore she had blessed him 9TH a large
family Of sons and daughte& Most of
these were married, and NJ Woolway
was n grandfather.
With him lived his daughter Hephzi-
bah, the only one of his children who had
not found a mate. AS she put it, she had
sacrificed her prospects Of a settlement
in life for the sake of her father, whom
she ministcred to in his old age.
For some time the sons and daughters
Of Mr.. Woolway had lived in trepidation
lest he should marry again, in which
event there was no saying but that he
might be blessed with q second family,
when his capital would eventually be di-
vided between his children by the first
wife, his children by the second and the
widow. Very naturally tie former pre-
ferred that it should b. partilioned
among themselves lone
Very grateful did the married sons and
daughters feel toward HcphZibah that
she Kept house for the old gentleman and
also kept sharp lookout upon him.
1t is not at all an unusual thing for pa
triarchs to become seized with an amor
GUS fit, and that at time when they
ought to be preparing for their grave, in
stead of fitting themselves out in laven
der pants and yellow gloves for the by
mencal altar.
The sons and daughters of Mr.. Wool
way visited him dutifully and brought
their little ones to see him and attract his
attention.
Hardly ever did one of the brothers or
sisters leave the house without n whis-
pered communication to Hephzibah: My
dear, do be careful that father don't in
his old age make Il fool OF himself You
shall not regret it. We will remember
you eventually over and above what is
left to you individually"
Thomas" said Hcphzibah to one of
her brothers on certain day, "I'm not
books. mostly goody goody books, to old
Miss Farwell. | am afraid ne thinks too
much of her"
you keep lookout on the old gentle.
man."
Eyes, but these books elicit notes of
thanks and comments from Miss Far
well. l have tried to get !; sight of her
letters, but lie is too sly. He secretes
them somewhere"
Not near his heart, l trust?'
81 cannot say. You cannot tell what
an old man may do when lapsing into his
second childhood"
You do not let father go out alone?"
"No, Thomas; he is too feeble for me
to allow him to do that. But he goes
nowhere except en- Sunday evenings to
chapel, and then | always accompany
him. l have been thinking, Thomas, if
you were to send Poppy here more fire.
quently it would impress his age and re-
sponsibilities on father, and he would
think of himself as a grandpapa more
than l fear at his time of life he is dis
posed to do"
Poppy was the daughter of Thomas
Woolway. She was q bright, romping
little miss, aged Z.
"You will have to send the governess
with her, Thomas, because l cannot be
always with him in the house, and the
child might become burdensome and
tease him, and that would never do"
Every well; will see to it. Poppy
shall visit him every day"
A fortnight later something said by
Hephzibah struck CONSERVATION into the
hearts Of her brothers and sisters and
necessitated the assembling Of a family
conclaye in the house Of Thomas.
ut is a fact" said uephzibah. 81
could hardly credit it, but fact it is. On
both these last Sundays sitter chapel
service in the evening l have missed IA
Their. / did not know where to look for
him the first time he slipped away, but
last Sunday evening-that is to say, the
day before yesterday-I went round the
chapel and found father and Miss Far
well together under an umbrella in close
conversation, and il was a wet night
drizzling."
"At his age" exc! Timed Mrs. Thomas.
"And she, such an old cat said Mrs.
John.
"There must be no open opposition"
observed Mrs. Foley, married daughter.
81 know father. l! you Il mpt to drive
him one way he will 20 the other. If you
seem to interfere with him he will resent
it and become most stubborn"
mo, there must be no open opposi-
tion," said the rest. eve know father
also.'
1t was decided that another Sunday
should be allowed to pass, and the old
gentleman should be observed again. The
conclave was adjourned to the ensuing
Monday.
On that day, at the appointed hour, the
brothers and sisters met again to receive
the report from Hcphzibah.
"Hc went around to the back of the
chapel again. He slipped out while was
saying my final prayer and was gone like
an eel. l went after him and found him
with Miss Farwcll once more. This time
u bitter east wind was blowing. OF
course, this morning father has bad
cold and is hoarse."
"What is to be done?" asked Thomas,
looking grave.
81 have already done something" said
Hephzibah. FEATHER has got only one
pair OF Doots-ne neeus only ore par
now, as he goes out 81 very rarcly-anc
as they were wet yesterday | put them
over the kitchen fire and kept them on
the rack till the soles warped and burst
the stitches, and ROW he cannot put them
on again."
"ue will hardly be measured for new
boots at his time of life said Mrs. John.
81 trust not. Bat he is an obstinate
man." said Hephzibah.
"Thomas," said Mrs. John, excuse my
speaking, but we do not quite relish the
way in which you are thrustng Poppy
on father. 1t locks as though you were
endcavoring to steal an advantage on
u.s."
mot at ALL" said Thomas angrily. II
send the child to him by the advice Of
Hephzibah. 1t abstracts his mind"
'But we have children also" observed
Mrs. John. % h..sa. : y
ESend. them m Svellur nIr