Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-07-25
GRANDMOTHER PARTY
sy JANE OSBORN.


whatever else they might have had on
and accepted. This was not be-
cause of the fact that Grandma Bliss
was quite well-to-do. and had the
only considerable fortune In the en-
tire Bliss family, but because, in her
own quaint way, she was one of the
most entertaining and refreshing lit
tie ladies in the world.
So on the occasion Of her seventy
seventh birthday. when she issued in
vitationS to her grandchildren for the
evening at the hotel where she lived
with her companion. the whole six O
them turned up-Nina. the plump
beauty of the family; Tom, also ro-
tund and ease loving Bob. who was
studying law and Margaret. a spoiled
child who had never really accom-
pllshed anything in her twenty years
Of girlhood And there was Mar
garet's brother, Ned, and laughing
eyed Rose, the poorest of the cousins.
Grandmother sat on her cushlcAed
divan after the dinner was over.
s'We are going to play little pen
cil-and-paper game she began. "And
before I tell you anything at all about
it I am going to ask each one Of you
TO write down on a piece of paper just
exactly what he or she would like
most to do IN the world-an ambition
as yet unqualified. Don't hesitate to
be frank grandmother went on, for
no one but I viii see the answers"
Then the young heads around her
were bent in thought, and, before five
minutes had passed grandmother had
all the pieces Of paper in her hand.
ssNow the game begins" she said.
'sYou know I have quite a little for
tune that is rather more than have
ever needed to take care of my own
wants. As you know, you children
are my only heirs, and some day shall
each have your share. But 1 am only
seyenty-seven, and I want you to en-
Joy q little Of it before / have gone.
zone thing I have noticed lately
since you have grown up grandmoth-
er went on, SIS that you are not quite
contented. want you to find the con-
tentment that comes of accomplishing
your ambition. and in order to find
out what that ambition is I have drawn
you into my little trap.
'sNow want each one of you to
set about to achieve this ambition.
Fol everyone who does there viii be
five thousand dollars at the time of
the achievement. For the first one to
achieve it within three months of the
present date there viii be ten thou
sand dollars"
4 month later Rose sat in the rough
" furnished waiting room of Mrs. Nc
Ginty's employment agency. A look
Of real encouragement was on her face
and in the chairs around her sat other
discouraged looking ones.
Cooks were scarce, and Mrs. Nc
Ginty had made many calls, so before
the day was spent Rose had again
found a place" AS she went out of
the door, just bit faint from her long
wait, she saw her cousin Ned.
isn't it funny how often see your"
Rose began. ''Only two weeks ago /
met you this way-after I'd been dis
charged from Mrs. Bentonson's. I
never used to see much of you before
before grandma's birthday party"
Nothing more was said of Grandma
Bliss or her scheme till Rose had been
refreshed by tea and toast. Then
Ned's curiosity got the better of
him.
II am sure whatever you are doing,
you are doing in order to carry out
you1 ambition-but what that ambi-
tor has got TO do with hanging round
employment agencies is more than
know"
"Oh, didn't want to tell you" Rose
said. 81. was such a foolish ambi-
ton, and don't want the cousins to
know. You see. had got so tired of
working in Offices that wrote down on
the slip that my ambition was TO make
somebody think I was perfect cook
I suppose it was silly, because
have never had much practice, and Of
course I didn't mean to go out as
somebody's cook"
What did you meang' persisted
Ned.
Rose b1ushed a little. 81 suppose
that I meant to be somebody's wife.
though Of course / couldn't go out and
marry the first man that asked me.
and be miserable al the rest Of my
life just for the bonus"
Just for q second Ned looked even
more confused than Rose. Then he
talked quick and low. Couldn't you
possibly marry me? I didn't think I'd
ever have the nerve TO ask you
You're $50 wonderful
But, Ned, I couldn't marry you just
10 get the money. That isl think
would be willing TO marry you and
cook and everything. and make you
think I cooked beautifully-but
couldn't do + just to win the bonus.
Then I'd never know whether you
really loved me-
That's easy enough" Ne6's voice
was triumphant you see wrote my
ambition thus: TO marry Cousin
+ =