Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-22
RALPH's GREAT GRANDMOTHER.

Miss Eastman the pretty drawing
teacher at the academy boards in our
family. Some time ago she CHANGED to
take up an old faded picture Of my
grandmother. She proposed copying
1T and lovely picture in crayon Of
RalpL's great-grandmother, Is the re-
suit. 49, "
My grandmother was ninety years
old when the likeness was taken; yet
she appears in it erect and, vigorous,
sitting in her high-backed chair with
her knitting work in her hand. She
wears a snug cap, and a plain Quaker
kerchtef folded smoothly over her
black silk dress.
Naturally we have talked much
about her; and my boys Ralph and
Fred, who have happy faculty for
drawing me out, have we'll nigh ex-
hausted all my memories of their great
grandmother.
Cant you think of something else
about her? Fred pleaded, few nights
ago when tired of his books and
games, he had seated himself COM
fortably before the fire. eyes," re-
piled, II have been thinking of another
story as I sit here knitting. It Is
about going to South Hampton on a
canal boat.
ooh, that's splendid, know" said
both boys in breath. Hurry up and
count your stitches quick, mamma. I
paused moment to knit to the seam
needle and then began:
"My father and mother lived in West
field, on the banks of the New Haven
and North Hampton canal. My grand
mother lived in South Hampton, the
town next north to ours. She too,
lived near the canal. We children
used to think that the trip We often
took from our home to hers was like
a journey through fairy land. ~
"The first time / ever went out from
my mothers wing was with my grand
mother, who took me from home with
her one bright June day. I was a
little sober on parting with my mother,
but the negro cook, on board the boat
a fat jolly looking woman, took me
under her special care.
81 went down in her cabin. and she
gave me cookies and great puffy dough-
nuts, and a pink stick Of candy and
watched her while she cleaned the
lamps. "Is that all?" said Ralph as
stitch in the red stocking. "Oh no
indeed!' say as I 60 on
ely and by my grandmothers fam
| lily were all scattered. My grand
father died and left her sad and lonely
but, she still lived in the old home
stead. 81 can see her room now.
There were four windows in 1.-TWO
looking east, toward Mt. Toms and
Holyoke and two south, over lovely
old fashioned garden filled with tulips,
hollyh >cks. southernwood. thyme, Gin
ramon, roses, spice pinks, lavender,
white lilies, and v1olets.
There was an open Franklin stove
in the room. and little chubby black
teap' always stood on top. One
sunny south window was filled with
| flowers. Grandmother always carried
bunch Of flowers to church with her,
and she had black velvet bag, in
which she carried sugar-plums, to give
to us drowsy children on Sunday after
noon when the minister preached one
of his long sermons
st one story more" said Ralph
as I again paused to observe what
progress I was making in my knit
ting. .s... ......
"Will you premise not to ask for an
other tonight " We promises certain
sure said Fred "Only tell long one
for the last" every well,'. said l.
Once my grandmother made party
flor a circle of cousins We, counted
mine cousins in all when we took our
seats at the supper table"
| What did you have for SUPPER
observed Fred.
"We had nice seed cookies cut into
hearts, diamonds, leaves and rounds