The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-11-10

Sunday afternoon was always story
time at Reddington. When dinner was
oyer mother used to gather her brood
round her and tell wonderful, true
tales of the things she saw and did
when she was little girl.
First of all Marjorie or Dan. or VINO
ever had the turn, was blindfolded and
escorted by all the rest OF us to the
attic, and to the far corner where STOOD
mothers old brown chest. The lid
thrown up disclosed to the rest OF us
a grand array of mysterious bundles,
each carefully wrapped and tied. Into
the chest, the blindfolded one thrust
4 hand. The first package touched
was drawn out and carried down to
mother to be unwrapped, and whatever
relic of her girlhood it contained was
the theme for her tale that day.
Endless were the stories that came
out of the old chest. Sometimes II
seemed as If even the old china plate
she ate from when baby had enough
traditions clinging to it to have lasted
through year of Sundays.
Its very legend, For Young Ar
tist," in gaudy letters round the rim,
which mother declares she had always
read "Y-o-u, you, n-g. ing, you-ing'
brought back to her memories OF
.sspell-downs" and of school adven-
lures
But best of all the packages we loved
+. sturdy bundle which contained moth
ing but an old wooden dress.
1t was dingy, faded dress, much
mended, yet neat in spite of it's age and
service. 1t was truly one OF mothers
girlhood frocks, but more than that 1t
was the dress she wore when sre
visited Queen Victoria, and we loved to
hear the story mother always told with
1t. of that time when she wore 1t on
her trip abroad.
First, you must know that mothers
father was not born in Canada, but
came across the water from COM
Portable home in Germany to New
York, and up into what was then the
wild northwest. He was the youngest
son, and came out to seek his fortune
and to build name for himself in the
New World. Here at Reddington he
built up just such prosperous and
.ontented colony as he had known in
the old country.
His Oldest brother. Great Uncle
Fritz, was in the army, great man
-~I~.-. +ho K;pr Of Dr,,ccio h0nOrad
with his friendship. His sister, moth
er's Aunt Ottilie, had been summoned
to England to become the German
governess to Queen Victoria's children.
Great-Aunt Ottilie is dear, sweet lit
tie lady whom we all love we'll, re-
Numbering her from famous visit she
made to us in Canada She was very
young woman when she went to Eng
land, full of fun and of straightfor-
ward, German honesty, and there were
no better friends in the land than she
and her pupils.
OF all her family grandfather was
her favorite, and at Windsor or on the
Isle of Wight, or wherever she might
be living with the queens family. she
spoke often of her beloved brother
Emil and of the new home he was
making for himself When grand
father was married to Canadian girl,
she was all Impotence to see the bride,
but that could not be- But when
mother was born she adopted her-by
her written declaration sent across
the sea-as her special charge and god
child.
Her enthusiasm over her far-away
niece was contagious, and her loyal
charges were soon as interested as she
In whatever word came about the baby,
Whenever she was sending gift they
added something to it; so 1t happens
that among the bundles in the old
chest in the attic at Reddington there
is one which contains the daintiest
white stockings and shoes baby ever
wore,-mother's first,-which the Prin-
cess Beatrice sent her. And there are
some containing lighthouses and other
toys the young princes made in their
little workshop and sent across the
sea.
There were many other cousins and
uncles and aunts beyond the ocean
beside Aunt Ottilie who longed to see
little mother. SO when she was four
teen years old grandfather and grand
mother made up their minds to send
her over for summers visiting.
Neither of them could go with her
farther than Quebec. but she was a
courageous, self-reliant girl. and they
had little hesitation in letting her go
the rest of the way alone.
Grandmother journeyed east with
her. and took her aboard the steam
ship, lying at its dock under the shad-
ow of the mighty cliffs of the ancient
city.
Nov, Marie" she said, just before
the. final parting. remember to wear.
all the way across, this old dress You
have on now. 1t isn't fit to wear
ashore. but you cannot tell what will
happen to 1t aboard ship. and it is
clean and neat and warm, so it will