The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-30
A DAGUERREOTYPE

was happy, oh, so happy, and l
hummed a gay little tune as l busted
myself with my usual Saturday morn
ing task OF darning the stockings for
the family. Now as n usual thing de-
test darning, but this morning l went
about it happily, for it was my eight
ecnth birthday and was TO be a never
forgotten one.
Why, do you ask? Because at dinner
l was to receive my grcat-grandmoth-
er's old daguerreotype. What is so
wonderful about that? Just wait until
you have heard my story, and you Will
know.
My rcat-grandmOther had been the
wife of a general in the Revolutionary
war, and because she desired to enter
into her husbands life she became n
nurse. When an operation was being
performed. she stood by and held the
sufferers hand. and because of her
bravery won for herself the title OF
"The Soldiers Friend" Her bright face
and sunny smile was always welcomed
AT the bedside Of every soldier, while
she worked swiftly, silently and skill
fully. saving many and many life.
When the war was over, the soldiers
decided to give their "friend" some
token of their deep gratitude, as they
knew they could never thank her with
words. SO they asked her for a late
picture of herself. and she gave them
this old daguerreotype. And on her
eighteenth birthday, as II CHANGED to
be- they presented her with this same
picture in case of gold and hung on a
heavy gold chain.
My grandmother wore this around
her neck until her death. and on her
deathbed she put 1t into the hands of
her eldest daughter. saying: Put this
carefully away. Mary. and when youl
sister Lucy is Is years Of age put 1t
around her neck, with her mothers
blessing, and tell her to wear 1t until
her death, or should she have daugh-
ter give II to her at the age Of Is. l
want my youngest daughter and her
youngest daughter and so on through
the family to each receive ii on her
eighteenth birthday"
So that is why | was so happy on
that day. for it was my time to wear
the locket
At dinner my mother put the long,
handsome chain around my neck, and,
lifting the locket. was about to gaze
upon the face Of the girl when sudden.
ly gave a gasp of surprise. My moth.
er had not told me that the lOcket wa
set round with diamonds. Truly 1t W
q handsome thing.
Then let my eyes travel from the
diamond TO the beautiful oval face OF
my great-grandmOther.
The hair curled softly above the low,
white forehead. and beneath II looked
forth a pair Of clear blue eyes. Then
came the small. straight nose and the
rosebud mouth, around which played
one Of her rare sunny smiles. What a
beauty she must have been,
CHANGING up into mothers face, l saw
liidt sue was nNA uSbilhb h1AN W hNtH
back the tears.
Dear mother" 1 cried. you wear II
awhile longer. Surely that is the best"
But she pushed me gently from her and
answered: mo, dear. Only take good
care Of it and remember that was
very fond of it, more so because my
mother looked so much like it."
Twenty-Five years had passed since
the day l received the beautiful old
daguerreotype, and now the time had
come for me to part with it. But, oh,
how times can change in % years!
At noon Margaret came in. tired and
cross. though she should have been
happy on her birthday. She had not
been darning stockings, but had been
making calls.
Very few girls Of this age and day
have to darn stockings. l do not think
that Margaret's white fingers, loaded
with jewels, ever held a needle. When
/ put the chain around her neck and
her eyes fastened upon the diamonds,
she gave a low laugh and cried. "Oh,
won't Alice DaZe envy me thesep
Then she looked up and saw the tears
in NY eyes. "Pshaw, mamma" she
cried, you surely are not SO foolish
as to cry over this. An old woman
like you are too" Then she added as
she carelessly dropped the locket: by
the way, believe promised to 60 to
grandmamma's with you today. Well,
promises are like pie crlst-easily bro
ken. shan't be able to 60"
Yes, times have greatly changed. For
instance, my great-grandmother was
called nanny, my grandmother ma,
my mother mother and myself mamma.
But, after all, I'm greatly blessed, for
have my dear old mother to go to,
and went to her that very day and
poured into her sympathlzing ears my
sorrow over Margarets GOODNESS and
my sorrow Overhaving to part with my
great-grandmother's daguerTeotype.-