Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-05-27
GRANDMoTHER's LARK.
She Visits the Fair With Bob, Her
Grandson, and Renews Her Youth.


waving her hand vallantly while the!
all drove Off They all" were her son
John Deering his wife, Emmeline, an'
their children. They were gonl
to the state fair at Mlller's Grove
They had not asked grandma 10 20
nor even whether she wanted to go
but they had said, laughlngly, as the,
packed themselves and the big luncf
basket into the carriage, ITS lucky
grandma isn't going, because there
wouldn't be room In the democrat
During the weeks that the air ane
the conversation had been so full OF
fair" grandma would not admit, ever
to herself, that she wanted TO go; but
somehow those words, ITS lucky
grandma isn't going" struck n chord
that vibrated strangely.
When the last little ilutterine
handkerchief had disappeared around
the corner grandma turned from the
window with a sigh, The whole. long
day was before her. She looked about
| the cosy parlor in which were many
things brought from her own house,
keeping In the old-fashioned place
where she had reared her children.
There was her husbands picture, OIL
painted, In an oval gilt frame, and un-
der Il the wreath which had lain on
his coffin. Emmeline had had the
wreath waxed and mounted for her
mother-in-law. There was her hus-
bands solid mahogany easy chair
which Emmeline had cushioned with
that bright colored velvet. II had been
hard, so hard, to break up that old
home and the wisdom of doing 1t was
not clear for grandma even now. To
be sure, she was all alone. Jennie
and Laura were married and living in
a distant state, and John and Emme-
line did not care to live in the old
house.
Yes, she was all alone, but still she
was strong. Strong enough, at least,
to look out for herself and do her own
work in her own leisurely fashion. She
had never been a rusher like Emme-
line. But John and Emmeline said she
got tired or rather Emmellne said so,
and John agreed. But what II she did
get tired? Didn't she have all the time
she wanted TO rest? Vain question:
ing and useless logic when Emmeline
had made up her mind.
Grandma came to Johns and
brought some OF her things but she
never could tell whether It was pain
or pleasure she felt at seeing them
there In that new style parlor. II was
like Emmeline's brisk conscientious
ness to put them there to show that
Johns mother was welcome 10 the
best Yes, Emmellne meant to be real
kind. only. There was a sudden
loud knocking at the back OF the
house Grandma stood transfixed. The
was repeated.
1T most seems as II II was a warn
In to me for bein' so unthankful for
all my mercies" she murmured
/ wonder who It can be.
Everybody knows it's fair day, and
they're all gone"
hi. hi, hi HI, hi hi"
Grandma Deering almost doubted
Ter own ears but she hurried to the /
,ack door rs that you. Bob?" She /
INQUIRED. cautiously.
Reassuring response came In a boys /
hearty imperative. Course It is I
open the door, quicki"
When this was done a sturdy figure 4
n a golf rig took a flying jump and
anded In the middle of the kitchen, <
making the empty kettle on the cold
tove hop with surprise, and causing
row Of bright tins stand
ng primly on the dresser to slide
1T,
Bob, Bob" laughed grandma, rs
he ran to set up the covers, you
top your capers. What did you come /,
ack for?"
YOU" The lad took two strides
carer the dresser thrust his hands
eep into his pockets, and watched TO
ee the effect OF this piece OF news.
The effect It had was to twist grand
m about in a hurry, to set a stare
ash quite a pretty shade Of pink ,
ito her cheeks. ME? Me?"
"Youl" beamed the young fellow, /
! supreme enjoyment OF the scene,
Me-" Grandma repeated the word
with vague feeling
nat this must be one of Bob's jokes.
he steady gray eyes looked honest !
rough. :
Yes, you, you, youl You wanted
, go to the fair. l saw it in your :
yes when we all drove off, and l just =.
lid to myself, She shan't stay there :
lone, all day, not if l know it, so | /,
lme back for you"
The pink flush deepened into Grim J
m, Il didn't mean that anybody a
lould know. rd-Td just as lief stay
ome. What will your mother say?" .
20, she won't say anything. | just c
Id them that I'd got 10 go back
the house for something and that =
ley needn't wait, because I'd go on !
e electric" Bob took his hands out
his pockets and Strengthened his .
Dad shoulders with the air of cap a
alist. He hadn't been bell boy in !,
e big hotel all summer for nothing
And was l what you came back =
r?" Grandma put the question p
1t was all so strange, so :,
ry strange. II
you see" the big boy was twirlins :,
s plaid cap by the button now and !,
oking decidedly shy. 1t wasn't so :,
ny easy for a fellow to come to the =
int and reveal himself. after all. :
-ou see, there was an awfully nice :,
l LADY, mean a lady at the hotel :,
is summer, and she somehow made =,
: think of you-only she was differ :.
t. somehow. She had a grandson =,
}. about my age and they were a.
eat chums. They used to go off to- -
Their on some lark or other every ~,
Y. She always wore a short skirt -
d a shirt waist, except when she ~,
mt down to dinner, and she went =