The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-07-07

1
have me around, and she says l muss
up her work basket and that don't
keep my fingernails clean, and that
my hair ought to be braided tightly
instead Of being curled and tangled. So
| Grandmamma Ball could never, never
be real sure-enough granny, either,
for real grannies don't look at your
fingernails nor your tangled hair, nor
they don't mind your mussing their
work baskets, for they are sort Of
like children themselves. Nellie's
granny is-only she's very old and
sweet. And when she smiles into your
face you think of taffy, she's SO nice.
oh, I'd love granny like her."
well, my love, you will know some
day that old people cannot all be like
Nellie's granny, for when they have
lived so many years, suffered so many
disappointments, so much grief, SO
much sickness, and ever so many such
! hard things that come with time, they
forget their own childhood days, and,
thus forgetting, cannot understand the
desires of the little folks growing up
| about them" So explained little
Gracie's mother to her.
But Oracle shook her head, saying,
Il don't know anything about what
makes grandmothers different to gran
MES, mamma, but do know | want a
granny. | want my grandmothers, too,
for they are very dear and good; but
most Of all want dear old granny
that tells stories and doesn't mind
noise, dirty fingers and tangled hair"
Then Bridget, the cook, knocked at
the door to ask permission to show her
old mother over the house. "Sure, an
Mrs. Donivan, it's such foine house
that you've got that I'd be afther
showing 1t to me old mither what's
come in to spend the day with me.
You know, she's from the country
fifteen mile away-an' seeing your
foine house would rest her bit, I'm
thinkln. She's that tired, num-
Certainly, Bridget, show your moth
er over the house." consented Mrs.
Donivan, glad to grant so simple a re-
quest from her good-hearted and
worthy servant.
May go with Bridget?' asked little
Oracle, eager for any variety in the
home life.
Certainly, DEAR" smiled Mrs. Doni-
van. And now | shall run across the
street to chat minute with Mrs.
Brown. She's been quite i'll of late,
and l must go in and help cheer her
up"
Then the house was left to Bridget,
her old mother and little Oracle. And
as the three walked about the rooms OF.
the pretentious home Oracle watched
with pleasure the happy expression on
the old lady's face "Ah, how beauti-
full" she would exclaim. AN may I
lay my hand on that sofy?" she asked
admiring a beautiful sofa in the re-
ception hall
Come, sit on it beside me-" cried
Oracle, liking the pleasant-faced cid
lady. Come, sit on it. Its very nice
and soft. And do you know any
stories? love stories, do"
The old lady sat down beside Oracle.
smoothing her frayed frock with her
workworn hands, smile Of unexpect-
ed pleasure Frightening her counten-
ance. Eyes, 'dearie, | know many.
many stories, but they are all of auld
Ireland. Ah, an there we had the
foine times when / was a little one
like yerself, sure. All, but it is nice
to have dear little one like yer in
nocent self about. pray the time
may come when bright little grand
children will be about me knee, a-beg-
gin for stories.'
"Oh, come mother!" laughed Brid-
get. But If you're goin' to sit here
on the sofy like foine lady I'll be
goin' back to the kitchen to look after
me fowl what's in the oven" And
Bridget hurried out of the ROOM
Then Oracle took hold of the old
wrinkled hands and looked tenderly in
to the sweet aged face. Won't you be
my granny?" she asked in soft whis-
per. Il have grandmammas-two of
em, but have no real, sure-enough
granny. You are just the kind OF
granny l want. Will you be mine?"
Tears gushed from the eyes of the
dear, sympathetic old Irish woman,
and impulsively she stopped and en-
braced the beautiful little lady-girl at
her side. "Ah, you are an angel, darl-
int" she said. But it's not fittin' fer
the loikes of me to be your granny. I'm
too old and plain"
You're not declared Oracle when
you smile it looks just lovely, and
you're very, very good and kind. And
| want you for my granny. Please do
not say no."
Then I'll be your granny, my little
one, if yer own dear mither will permit
such," smiled the good old woman.
And now, shall tell you story OF
me own childhood, when | lived in
dear auld Ireland? Them was the
foine days, me darlint."
"Ah, yes, story, a story" cried
Oracle. "Ah, knew you would be a
sure-enough granny! Oh, I'm so hap
py to have found you! And I'll love
you always and always, and I'll go to 2