Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-11-21
The Use of One
Grandmother
BY Frances Harmer.

out the dish towel with vgor which
marked all her actions); Il appre-
sciate your asking me. but my party
days are over. You young folk make
merry without me-
Grace and Gladys Carter looked at
her despairingly. but Grandmother
Carter looked like a person accus-
TONED to have her own way, and they
turned from her and walked out into
the garden.
They had spent the last three
months with her that they might at
ltend the high school, and, having
come from home in which the cid
Iers were at least as prominent as the
iyoungers, they had been as much
puzzled as distressed at the promln-
ience Of their position in the new home.
They had left a grandmother, but she
was very dainty old lady, who wore
white lace caps and beads, and whose
circle of friends commanded their re-
.spect and stirred their admiration
lShe was their mothers mother. Grand
mother Carter, with whom they were
Ito spend the next year. was very diff
'ferent. She seemed to regard them
las requiring many luxuries she denied
herself, and even waited on them till
they were embarrassed. Their own
efforts to wait on her had been scoffed
| into discontinuance. She wanted no
tfootstool. no shawl, no attentions!
81 really can't do it, said Gladys.
l"Give a party and not have any
lgrown-ups to help us carry things on!
| I don't like the idea at ALL
sThe others have done it, answer
ed Grace. cat the Graysons and the
Newtons' and the Cars the mothers
all seemed to be in the kitchen, see
ing to things. That's what grandma
will do, suppose.
But we'll see to things before
hand" protested Gladys, land one OF
us can slip into the kitchen for hot
water. and to make cocoa. | want
grandmother as hostess
81 wonder" suggested Grace IF she
has party clothes?'
They ran back to her.
Grandmother pleaded Gladys,
.please don't think that We want to
bother you or ask you to do for us
things YOU don't wish to do, but we've
gone to SO many parties. and we want
to show little return hospitality
ITO be sure" agreed grandmother,
| cordially. l WdhI you " w ~ ~
I'll see to a nice supper for your
friends"
Grace sat down at her feet.
But we need you; we can see to
the supper she said. 20 Grand
mother. Don't you understand?
We'd feel so cold and lonely and I'M
supported without YOU.
Mrs. Carter looked down at the
bright young faces. A pretty pink
color rose to her faded cheeks.
Bless the children she cried.
believe they mean 1t!
'Why, of course we mean it.' chor'
used Grace and Gladys. why
shouldn't We mean it?'
j 81 thought you were being nice TO
!. me-" replied the old lady, trying 10
make me feel I was still-somebody,
and you needn't, my dears. we eiders
have slipped into our places do"h
here We are ornamental no longer
but quite useful, when it comes 10
pies and cakes
GLADYS rose and leaned over her
grandmother's chair; Grace knelt up
and put her hands into her grand
mothers lap. :,
1T would be quite dull without you,
she explained. Were used too
props, don't you seer
"Wel if you want me- (Mrs. Car
ter spoke thoughtfully), "of course
that's another matter; but l don't see
what can wear"
ooh" they spoke together. let us
make over your things, Grandmother.
You won't know yourself from a ores
den china duchess.
Mrs. Carter laughed. and turned the
talk into culinary discourse, but the
Urls as soon as they could, set. 10
work on the traditional black SILK
which she handed to them.
They paid visit to the store, ana
} came back armed with lace and laven-
) der ribbons. AS they fashioned a cap
and a fichu, Grace said:
.J wonder how all the grandmothers
there are plenty of them here-all
sank into such state OF 'lnnocuous
1 disuetude'?'
~ don't know said her sister,
j thoughtfully. ITO much unselhshness
\ first. and then-laziness, l shoulon
wonder. Wait till they see ours!
The girl members of the various
families-the Cars, the Newto/s, the
Graysons, with some others-opened
their eyes when they came to the Gar
ters' party. Grace opened the door;
J GLADYS conducted them to room
where they could deposit their wraps,
and then escorted them to the sitting
, room where Mrs. Carter received
them. The formula of presentation
! was always, Grandmother, may in
. troduce my friend, Lily Grayson!' ana
! 50 on: and Grandmother Carter, whose
snowy hair was actually marcelled un-
/ der her dainty cap, and whose face
| was pink from excitement, looked as
one the girls said, like the picture OF
i q oueen!' The party went off very
we'll indeed, and was none the less en-
iovable that grandmother's presence
kept the revels from degenerating at
any time into romp. Before long,
indeed, some OF the girls had found
plenty to say to her, and she had
found plenty to say to them.
81 wish we had a grandmother like
> that said Lily Garrison, frankly, 10
! her young hostesses; "but you can't
tempt ours out of the kitchen when
there's cOmpany She says she's too