Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-05-25
'GRANDMOTHER'S PARTY:
By JANE OSBORN.

Whenever Grandma Bliss invited her
grandchildren to party they gave up
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 or
them turned up-Nina, the plump
beauty of the family; Tom, also ro-
studying law and Margaret, a spoiled
child who had never really accom-
plished anything in her twenty years
of girlhood. And there was Mar
garet's brother, Ned, and laughing
eyed Rose, the poorest of the cousins,
who worked downtown in somebody's
office, wore Margaret's old clothes
made over.
Grandmother sat on her cushioned
divan quite in state after the dinner
was over.
1--WE are going to play little pen
cil-and-paper game" she began. And
before / tell you anything at all about
1t / am going to ask each one of you
to write down on 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 | will 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.
"Now the game begins" she said.
"You know l have quite a little for
tune that is rather more than l 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 l am only
seventy-seven, and l want you to en-
Joy little of it before l have gone.
Zone thing l have noticed lately
since you have grown up" grandmoth-
er went on, sis that you are not, quite
cOntented. l want you to find the con-
tentment that comes of accomplishing
your ambition, and in order to find
out what that ambition is l have drawn
you into my little trap.
"NOw 1 want each one of you to
set about to achieve this ambition
For everyone who does there will 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 will be ten thou
sand dollars"
A month later Rose sat in the rough
ly furnished waiting room of Mrs. Nc
Ginty's employment agency. A lOoE
of real encouragement was on her face
and in the chairs around her sat Other
discouraged looking ones.
Cooks were scarce, and Mrs. Nc
|
the day was spent Rose had agair
found place" AS she went out o.
the door, just a bit faint from her Ion:
/; wait, she saw her cousin Ned.
isn't it funny how often l see your
Rose began. 'Only two weeks ago
met you this way-after I'd been dis
charged from Mrs. BentOnson's.
never used to see much of you befOr,
, before grandma's birthday party"
Nothing more was said of Grandm;
{ Bliss or her scheme till Rose had beer
I refreshed by tea and toast. The
, Ned's curiosity got the better o
, him.
: 81 am sure whatever you are doing
{ you are doing in order TO carry on
your ambition-but what that amb
ton has got to do with hanging roun
employment agencies is more than
know"
"Oh. didn't want to tell you" Ros
said. at was such foolish amb
: ton, and | don't want the cousins
l know. You see, | had got so tired {
NoIhllS III oiilNtS lldl NIOlc uoN III "
the slip that my ambition was TO max
somebody think l was a perfect cook
l suppose it was silly, because
= have never had much practice, and {
course l didn't mean to so out {
. somebody's cook"
what did you mean?" persiste
= Ned.
Rose blushed a little. 81 suppo:
= that l meant to. be somebody's wifi
y though of course l couldn't go out ar
" marry the first man that asked m
-. and be miserable all the rest of n
!. life just for the bonus"
:. Just for a second Ned looked ev,
more confused than Rose. Then
talked quick and low. Couldn't "
possibly marry me? 1 didn't think ]
ever have the nerve to ask 70
You're $3.50 wonderful"
IN But Ned, l couldn't marry you ju
u to get the money. That isl think
II would be willing to marry you al
ne cook and everything, and make y
81 think l cooked beautifully-but
N couldn't do it just to win the bon,
Then I'd never know whether y
really loved me-"
That's easy enough" Ned's vol
. was triumphant. 'You see l wrote I
- ambition thus: TO marry Cou.
~ Rosev Grandma knew 1 loved you.