Year: 1861

the unirequcnted road to the south, which was
traversed mostly by persons coming to the
mill, for my grandfather made the -four for all
the neighbourhood round about besides max
ing cornmeal or Johny-cakes, and "chops" for
the cows.


He was an old man now, with tall, athletic
frame slightly bent, thin locks white as the
snow, and deep blue eyes full of fire and nte!li-
gence, and after long years of uninterrupted
health and useful labor, be was suddenly strick-
en- down, with no prospect Of recovery.


II hope he is better" said my mother, hear
ing the rnmbling OF the mill-wheel. She might
have known my grandfather would permit no
interruption of the usual business on account
of his illness-the neighborS, he said, could not
do without bread because he was sick, nor need
they all be idle, waiting for him to die. When
the time drew near, he would call them to
take his farewell and his blessing, but till then
let them sew and spin, and prepare dinner Just
as usual, so they would please him best He
was a stern man-even his kindness was un-
compromising and unbenaing, and | remember
of his making toward me no manifestation Of
fondnesS, such as grandchildren usually receive
savr once, when he gave me bright red ap.
pie, without speaking word till my tmd
thanks brought out his Save your thanks for
something better ~ The apple gave me no
pleasure, and even slipt into the mill to escape
from his cold, forbidding presence.


Nevertheless, he was good man, strictly
honest, and upright in all his dealings, and re-
spected, almost reyerenced, by everybody. l
remember once, when young Winters, the ten
ant of Deacon Grangers farm, who paid a
great deal too much for his ground, as have
head my father say, came to mill with some
withered wheat my grandfather filled up the
sacks out of his own -four, while Tommy was
in the house at dinner That was 4 good
deed, but Tommy Winters never suspected how
his wheat happened to turn out so well.


As we diew near the house. it seemed TO me
more lonesome and. deSOate than it ever look
ed before | wished | had stad at home
with little Harry. So eagerly | noted every
thing that | remember to this day, that near
a tough of water, in the lane, stood little
surly looking COW, Of red color, and with q
white line running along her back. | had
gone with aunt Carry often when she went to
milk her. hut-day she seemed not TO have been
mIlked Near her was a black and white
hcifer, with sharp short horns, and q square
board tied over her eyes; two horses, one Of





tail, were reaching their long necks into the
garden, and browsing from the current bushes
As we approached they trotted forward a lit
lite, and one Of them, half p'ayfuIIy, half
angry bit the other on the shoulder, after
which they returned qnictly to tleir cropping
OF the bushes, needless of the voice that from
acroS, the feld was calling 10 them.


/ flock Of turkeys were Stunning themselves
about the door, for no one came to scare them
away: some were black, and some speckled.
some wiki heads erect and tails spread, and
some nihbing the grass; and with Il gabbling
noise, and staid and dignifed march, they
made way for us The smoke arose from the
chimney IN blue, graceful curis, and drifted
away to the woods; the dead morning glory
vines had partly fallen from the windows, but
the hands that tended them were grown care
less, and thcv were suffered to remain black
ened and void Of beauty as they were. I'm
der these, the white curtain was partly put
aside, and mJ grandmother, with the speckled
handkerchief pinned across her bosom, aud
her pale face a shade paier than usual was
looking ont, and seeing US she came forth, and
ia answer to my mothers look of inquiry shook
her head aud silently led the way in. The
room we entered had some home made carpet,
about the size Of a large table cloth, spread in
the middle OF the floor, the rema ndcr of which
was secured very white; the ceiling was OF
walnut wood, aud the side walls were white
wasAed--a table, an old-fashioned desk, and
s7me wooden chairs, comprised the furniture.
On one OF the chairs was leather cushion !;
this was set to one side, my grandmother
neither Offering it to my mother, nor sitting in
i. I. ,f ,ir,1- oh
| suppose. sha took off the black ribbon with
which her cap was trimmed. This was more
simple process than the reader may fancy, the
trimming, consisting merelyof ribbon, always
black. which she tied around her head alter
the cap was On, forming a bow and two ends
lust above the forehead Aunt Carry, who
was of what is termed an even disposition,
received as with her usual cheerful demeanor
and then, re.seating herself comfortably near
the fire. resumed her work, the netting Of some
white fringe.


| liked auat Carry, for that she always took
especial pains to entertain me, showing me
her patch work, taking me with her to the
coward and dairy, as also to the mill, though
in this last fear she was little selfish; how
ever that made no difference to me at the
time and | have always been sincerely CRATE
fnl TO her: children know more, and want
more, and feel more, than people are apt to
imagine.


On this occasion she called me to her, and
tried to tench me the mysteries of her netting,
telling me must get my father to buy me a
little bureau, and then could net fringe and
make a nice cover for it. For little time
thought could and arranged in my mind
where it should be placed, and what should be
put into it, and even went so far as to inquire
how much fringe she thought would be neces-
sarv never attained to much proficiency N
the netting of fringe, nor did ever get the lit