Mexico Missouri message., 1905-11-09

grandma and. throwing bach her head,
she laughed tin she cried. A grand.
mother go skatingl
But when Eleanor came dancing in
with a navy blue skirt, confident that
the matter was quite settled, Mrs.
Hoyt hesitated moment She
glanced at her trim, almost girlish
figure, e. her pretty little foot and
ankle, and yielded. It was a rldicu.
lous thing to do, Of course, but she
need not try to skate. She could stay
on the bank and watch the children.
There was no reason why she should
spoil Eleanor's pleasure by staying at
home; she we'll knew that the child
was too obedlent and too hospitable
to go away and leave her alone.
A few moments later q radiant lit
tie figure stood in the sltting.room,
laughing at the girls surprise at her
transformation. The dark blue skirt
hung in graceful folds almost to her
ankles; the scarlet sweater, with a
tam-o'-shanter to match, set off her
black eyes and soft gray hair, while
the excitement of the moment had
brought an almost girllsh flush to her
cheeks.
She'll be the prettiest girl there!"
cried Clara, enthusiastically. "we'n
pull her to the pond on your sled,
so that she won't be tired before the
skating begins"
Upon the sled they bundled her, and
away they raced to the pond.
There was a ripple of excitement
at the appearance Of the gray-haired
girl" but It soon subsidized. The chill.
dren were too much interested in their
own skating to pay much attention to
anything else.
Such glorious sport as it was! The
air was just frosty enough to pre-.
vent the ice from melting in the bright
sunshine.
Perfect weather and perfect ice!"
cried Clara, ecstatically, as she fas-
tened on her own skates, and then,
with Eleanor's assistance, fitted the
extra pair to grandma's feet.
Lets put her between u.s." sug.
gested Eleanor. r"We'll slide her
round for awhile, till she feels like
trying It herself"
By this time grandma had so en-.
tered into the spirit Of the fun that
her intention to stay on the bank
was quite forgotten. The trio
skinned over the pond; then grand.
ma wanted to try her skill alone.
Down she went, with a suddenness
that quite took her breath away; but
by the time the frightened girls had
helped her to her feet she was ready
to try again. assuring them that she
was only out Of practice.
In the meantime young Mrs. Hoyt
had returned to the deserted house,
and was wondering what had become
Of her mother-in-law and Eleanor.
Could It be that grandma had allowed
herself to be taken to the pond to
watch tire skaters? Eleanor ought to
know better than to sacrifice the poor
old lady to her childish pleasure.
Her mind filled with such thoughts,
Mrs. Hoyt started for the pond The
merry shouts OF the skaters reached
her ears while she was still some dis
lance away. There was no lonely lit
tie figure on the bank. Mrs. Hoyt
quickened her pace, sudden fear pos,
sessing her. What had become Of
grandma?
She caught sight Of Eleanor, skat-
ing with Clara and another girl, whose
skirt and tam-o.shanter looked
strangely familiar. Just then the three
turned, and the. bright sun shono fun
on their faces.
Mrs. Hoyt took a long look, then
sank down on the bank with a little
gasp. Eleanor had caught sight Of
her, and skated up in some alarm.
But before her daughter reached her
Mrs. Hoyt had recovered her self.
possession and had risen to her feet.
"Eleanor Hoyt," she exclaimed,
what does this mean?"
Eleanor, uncertain what she ought
to say, gazed helplessly at grandma
and Clara. who had just overtaken
her.
Grandma looked like the spirit of
winter, her cheeks flushed with exer.
else, her eyes glowing with excite.
ment, soft little eurls tumbling about
her face.
"It means" she replied, smiling at
her daughter-in-law's amazement
shat 1 have found something
thought had lost forever"
You'll find a good attack Of rheu'
matism," expostulated the younger
woman; but grandma shook her head
emphatically.
II am never again going to find
anything that goes with old age" che
said. "It will have to find Ble-and
hunt for me, too."-Youth's compan'
ion.
A PSALM OF FARM LIFE.