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5*^

HIS GRANDMOTHERS

( Vj

CHAPTER I.

WHO, WHEN, WHY AND HOW.

" There ia something very delighful about
French family life," I said, looking up from
Littell to my husband. "It is singular that
this people, who we say have no knowledge
of hiimes, yet do what the Saxon apparently
cannot, live not only peacefully, but happily,
under the same roof with mothers-in-law and
grandmothera-in-law. Fourgeuerations some-
times and never a broil ! How do they do
it ? Though really I tliink myself half the
trouble in families ia needless ; stupidly
so. li, is oidy to let one another alone ; and
probably the French, more volatile and easy-
tempare I than we, never see nor feel small
chafes and rubs as we do. What do you
think, Winthrop? I believe you are not at-
tending at all."

•' Then you believe you could do it ?
Suppose (irandmotherOgJen should suddenly
descend upon you ?"

A chill ran through me. "Don't," I said.
"If it were Grandmother May, now. She
ia Kood."

" Suppose it were both."

I looked up again, Winthrop held out to
me two letters, and looked puzzled, amused,
disturbed, all at once.

" What you wdl think about it, I don't
know." he said. " The two bombs fell to-
gether thi-< aft-rnoon, and whether to place
them before you toniglit or not, I have
doubted a good deal. It's inevitable, how-
ever. I knew this couldn't last."

Hooked mechanically at the two envelopes,
one, a sickly yellow one with the address
Btagiiering up hill; the other, dainty cream,
with letters like old copperplate. I opened
the yellow one and reau: —

" My Dear Grandson,

" This is to let vou know that my niece,
Maria, havini; expired this day fortnight,
»nd her affairs being all settled, I am ready
to take the home with you, you promised
wheu I WAS a miod to come. I shall be there

one week from to-day, and my goods will go
ac the same time.

" Your grandmother,

" M. OODEN.

" P.S. You need not meet me. I ain't
sure what way I shall come. I know my
own way well enough."

" I never shall know mine again," I gasped,
"I am blind and dumb."

" Read the other one. It will serve the
same purpose as the second jump into the
bramble bush, to quote from your favourite
author."

I braced myself up. " The other one! It
can't be any worse. Now !"

" My Dear Grandson Winthrop,

" I had counted, as you know, upon spend-
ing my last days in my dear old home, which
your mother loved to the hist, but it is willed
otherwise. Through old CuUigan's careless*
ness, the kitchen took Hre yesterday, and
from it the rest of the house. My life was
spared, though I am greatly overcome liy
the shock, and some of my furniture was
saved. The neighbours think it very wrong
for me to have lived almost aloi)e so long,
and now that my home is yo'ie. I am ready
to take the one you oifered when I should
need it. I have furniture enough for a bed-
room, and will bring it unless you had rather
I not. Write me what will please yon beat.
Pell Eleanor, with my love, tliat I grieve to
bring my old age and inlirmities to her, but
that it will not be for long, and I shall try to
be as little trouble as possible.

" Your loving Grandmother,

" Sibyl May.
" P.S. You always wanted the old side-
board and clock. Both are saved, only th«
sun and moon part of the clock is gone. '

" Poor soul ! What a loss for her ! What
a shock !" I said. " I have never seen that
old house after all. She has some sense of
fitness, (grandmother Ogden does not even
mention my name."

" She doea not very much recognize the
existence of any woman but herself," Win-
throp said, lookiug at me encouragingly.
" She ia a type of a great many New £^gUnd

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

women- Whateyer a man does is likely to
be right; wkateTer a woaan, alwavs except-
ing herself, probablj wrong. She is my
father's asother, and I am bound to say has
always been good to me, as she was to him.
She worked herself almost to death to help
him through college, a thousand times harder
than he witdied or would have allowed could
he have helped it, and yet she spoiled my
mother's life in good part. I have a curious
mixture of feelings toward her. Believe me,
I would not have her here if I could help it,
but you see I cannot. She has always been
with me till father died and Maria needed
her. Speak it out, Eleanor. Don't let any
cousjiderations restrain you. Vs e will con-
sider her a purely impersonal grandmother,
who can be criticised without hurting any-
body's feelings."

" 1 never saw her but once," I said, lage
and mirth struggling together. "Will we
ever forget it ? Horrid thing ! And to think
she is coming here to live ! I never heard
anything pleasant about her, except that she
worked herself to skin and bone for people,
and that is not strictly pleasant. What shall
we do?"

Winthrop looked at me reflectively.

" If you only had two, things would
balance better," he said. "It's a calamity
that you have no relations. Can't you think
of one ?"

" Only poor Aunt Anna, in Washington,
and she hates the north so, no power could
bring her here. These ' presumptuous vil-
yuus of Yankees.she is always railing against,
would kdl her in a month. Winthrop, she
will want breakfast at six and dinner at
twelve. I shall go wild."

" Set your mind at rest on those points,"
Winthrop said, a little c;lint of resolution in
his eyes. " We will keep our home the same
as much as we can. It won't be so bad.
She always did stay in her room a good deal.
She has the old clothes of sevcal genera-
tions, and mends them periodically. How-
lucky that we have plenty of room and need
not crowd !"

" But the house is bursting with furniture
now, and those very rooms are pretty as
possible. We shall have to store it, if they
bring theirs. Suppose we leave both as they
are. Perhaps they will like them well
enough not to change."

" No such good luck," said Winthrop,
"The attic is enormous, I never knew why
before. Now it will be full. We shall feel
that we came over in the Mayflower. Do
you know these letters were both written the
same day. To-day is Moi iay. Grandmother
Ogden will be here on i<riday. Make the
most of your time, Eleanor. The othe** G.
had better come at the same time, hadn't ^he,

and let her boxes follow ? The two shocks
may as well be taken together as singly. I'll
telei^raph her to-morrow to have old Cole
padk all she wants to bring, and start herself
on Friday."

"Don't. How can you ! Friday, when
you know something would be sure to hap»
pen. Thursday or Saturday," I said, half
asha^ied of the superstition which would
hold, no matter how well argued down.
" There will never be anything but trouble if
they come PViday. Thursday is the Thomas
Rehearsal, but 1 shall be back in ample time
to meet them."

" Very well ; as you like," Winthrop said
absently, looking about the room as if he
wondered whether its cheeriness would last
after the two old people had taken their
places there.

" There is Fanny too," I went on, a new
phase occurring. "What will she think
and what will they think. We meant to
have such a lovely time together with our
music and all, and now everything must give
way. I told you long ago I was selfish,
Winthrop. I knew it tolerably, but I am
aghast to see how intensely I do not want
this to be, ^ e are so happy and comfort-
able, and if there is an earthquake in the
kitchen nobody knows but ourselves.
Grandmother Ogden knows all the house-
keeping that ever was, and I'm afraid the
other G. does too. They will see all the
weak spots in my armour, and I shall bristle
with airows thrust into my tenderest points.
' Quills upon the fretful porcupine ' will not
be a circumstance to my future appearance.
Oh, me ! "

" I admit everything and all besides so far
as Grandmother Ogden is concerned, Eleanor.
But the other — by the way, have I told you,
1 don't believe I have, that in strict fact she
is not my grandmother at all ? "

" Not your grandmotner ! Then who is
she? Why, she is is coming here?" I
almost screamed, amazement and indigna-
tion sending my voice up to its most detest-
able pitch.

"She is grandfather's sf o md wife, but she
brought up all his six children, and no own
mother could have been more devoted. My
mother never thought of any difference, and
I never knew till a few years ago that the tie
was not one of blood. She is a pretty old
lady, and grandfather potted her like a baby.
She loves young people, and flowers and gay
caps, and in sacred conHdence, Eleanor, she
is as irrelevant as Mrs. Nickleby, and talks
out the whole of her simple old mind."

"My stepgrandmother-in law," 1 said,
quite unable to recover from this last shock.
" It's absurd. There is no room for senti-
ment, or duty, or anything. Hasu't she any

ehocki

?iy- I'll

Id Cole
b herself

r, when
! to hap"
aid, half
1 would
1 down,
irouble if
Thomas
pie time

ii'op said
as if he
ould last
en their

u, a new
[le think
meant to
ivith our
nust give
3 selfish,
lut I am
aot want

comfort-
Le in the
urselves.
e house-
fraid the
> all the
ill bristle
it points.

will not
}earauce.

es so far

Eleanor.

told you,

fact she

[1
ere

who

indigna-
nt detest-
but she

no own
;ed. My
!uce, and
at the tie
iretty old
e a baby.

and gay
anor, she

nd talk*

1."

1 said,
st shock,
for senti-

t she any

WHO, WHEN, WHY AND HOW.

money ? Hasn't Mrs. Ogden any money ?
Can't they hoard somewhere? "

Winthrop ran his fingers through his hair
despondently.

" No, to all the three questions. At any
rate, not enough for that. Grandmother
Ogden has two hundred a year and pays all
her expenses rigidly. Never <»llows me to
pay even a horsecar fare. Grandmother
May rented half her house and boarded with
the people by way of payment. She cannot
have more than a hundred a year, now that
is gone. She had a good deal of her own,
but grandfather's brother, the family scamp,
spirited it away, with plenty more. "

" I see that it's inevitable. Please be
perfectly quiet, Winthrop. I'm going to
think, and whenever anything particularly
awful occurs to me, I shall tell you at
once. "

I leaned back in my low chair and looked
about. Nothing grand, but everything so
comfortable and homelike. The cheery open
fire, the sort light from the German student
lamp ; books and pictures all about. Ruben-
stein, the family cat, on his cushion, and lazy
Nap stretched out on the rug, evidently,
from sudden starts' and snaps, worrying an
imaginary cat, as he longed to do with
Rubenstein, whose presence was a source of
anguish to his doggish soul. Five years be-
fore I had l)een a teacher in a great school.
Winthrop had never seen me, and this very
room was a stifling piece of splendour, opened
and used for state gatherings, never at any
other time. Then we met at Mt. Desert. I
could recall every least detail, antl when my
next term closed, my resignation was given,
and we c inie home to the old ]'lace, which
had been rented ever since old Mr. Ogde)i's
death. Winthrop had boarded in New York,
and at first proposed our living there, but
finding our joint incomes would mean ve»-y
little in city housekeeping, decided to try the
Country instead.

Grandmother Ogden had come to the wed-
ding. She was seventy-one then, but looked
not over sixty. It was in church, but a
remote country church, and very (juiet and
cimple. She looked me through and through
unsmilingly. In point of fact, she glarcl,
only I was too preoccupied to think nmcli
about it. We took boat up the river that
afternoon, having said good- by to the party
of friends at the depot where we separated.
It was a burning July day. The deck was
crowded, l-.ut VV'intlirop secured two arm-
chairs, and I sat, looking down the long
cabin, and waiting for hij return. 1 am just
near-sighted enough to insist upon not carry-
ing glasHes, and as I looked, would not for a
moment believe my eyes. There, pushing
her way through the crowd, the same grim.

black bonnet, the same little musty black
l)ag which had come to the wedding, came
grandmother Ogden, looking on every side,
and making a dash forward as she saw
Winthrop.

"I couldn't let you, I couldn't !" she said
in an agonized sort of voice which fixed the
attention of all about us. " You've taken
away my grandchild and I can't get over it.
Yon meant well enough, ^ut I can't and won't
let him go alone !"

Now as Winthrop was then thirty-one and
I twenty-six, it might reasonably l>e sup-
posed safe to let him go alone. There
was a general smile. How could
any one help iti, as the tall, dignified man,
fiery red as to face, but composed in man-
ner, seated her in the reserved chair, as
if nothing could be more natural or fitting
than to take one's grandmother on one's
wedding journey.

I flew to my stateroom, wishing I could
drop her overboard. Then a degree of pity
for the lonely old woman came over me. I
determined to make the best of it and re-
turned to the deck. Evidently Winthrop
had been speaking his mind. There was a
subdued sniff now and then from Mrs, Og-
den, who, however, tried to make herself
agreeable. We parted next morning at Al-
bany, and I expected, with inward dread, to
find her at Glenville on our return. Fortu-
nately for us, her only other relative, an in-
valid niece, sent a pitiful appeal to come and
care for her last days, and she went. The
days ran on into months and years, and I
ha<l almost forgotten our time was to come.
^^ e had never met again, and save for the
duty letter sent two or three tiines a year,
she was never in my mind. We had come
home to the old place, which was greatly out
out of repair, Vnit with all sorts of possibili-
ties. Mr. Ogden had bought it ten years
before his death and made over a small house
into a larger one, with many curious and un-
expected ups and downs, where old and new
joined. The rooms most used had been
two small ones in the old part, the new
pirlour and library being far too tine for or-
dinary wear.

Here Mrs. Ogden had revelled in work,
at fiiPt insisting on keeping no servant,
and spending much of her day on her
hands and knees, for moths attacked the
shut up rooms, and she waged constant war
against them.

Happily the carpets, a nightmare of ma-
genta fruit pouring from blue and pink horns
of plenty, wi.re eaten threadbare, and my
first act was to order them to tV.'?' bam,
where Tecumseh took them with a sigh.
Tecumseh " went with the place ;" had been
there when Mr. Ogden bought it, and so far

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

as I conld tell, would continue years after
M'e had resigned it. He was Yankee to the
core ; had pronounced views on all points,
and answertd to the name of Tea.

In the kitchen I fouiul another permanent
inhabitant. Catherine, an orphan, Inought
up l)y Mrs. Ogdon ; a sphinx-like and terri-
ble creature, who ordered me out of her
quarters and threatened to complain of nie
to my husband.

" I am mistress of the house," I said. " If
you (dioose j|to stay and treat me as such,
very well. If not, you can go."

She went, much to her own astonishment,
with an attic-fnl of property left her by Mr.
Ogden, and liberty and its price, eternal
vigilance, began. 1 had theories by the
dozen, and knew the household wheels could
move eas-ily, but oh, what screeches and
groans were the result of their revolutions
for many weeks ! Without one atom of
practical experience and with five new cook-
books, 1 fought my way to siiccessful living.
My poor VV inthrop ate abominations of all
sorts with an equanimity which I consider
now simply marvellous. I would learn to
cook, and I did, and then, having Lione
through a series of miseries with Bridgets
and Noras and Anns, I took a yc.uug Ameii-
can girl of seventeen and determined to train
her. This piocess was stdl under way and
the rei~ults becoming daily more maiked.
We were far from rich. Only " comfortably
off," and if we kept a man and horse could
afltord only one servant. A good deal of
work thus fell to my share, but I did not
care. I loved my liome, every inch of it ;
tor had 1 not laboured and suftered, till the
stifi'nei?s of years gi dually passed away, and
a sense of haruKmy , 'vl comfort tilled every
room ? The great pari r had become library
and sitting-room in one. The former library
proved the brightest of dining-rooms, and 1
aeliberately locked up the two on the other
side of tlie liouse and put away the keys.
They were simply more space to be dusted
and swept, and I did not want them. The
chambers overhead were to be the two grand -
moiiitrs', for only now and then had they
been rilled with guests, the spare room propei
being over the library and next my own
room.

v» e were in spotless order, having just
undergone a spring cleaning, and I rejoiced
that we should begin so. Fanny, my pet
scholar, now a lovely young woman, was to
be with nio all sumuier. I thounht of our
boating, our music, the cooking school, for
Fanny professed she was coming to take
lessons ; the cold blue eyes that would watch
it all, and the complications ahead, till my
spirit failed within me aud I sat up with a
groan.

" I thought it would end in that way,"

said Winthrop. " I have been watching you,

and your face is dreary enough to darken

even the firelight. Come, Eleanor. We are

not South Sea Islanders. We can't knock

our aged relatives on the he-d and then make

a meal of them, I know it's a pull, but be

thankful they are not paralytics or lunatics."

" If they only were, we would hire a

good nurse and 1 would watch her .'icverely,

or if they were very deaf, I might

practise and not feel I was spoiling their

naps. There is no use in thinking anv more.

I suppose we were having too uood a time,

though t'-uly we had gone through a good

deal to secure it. They will want green tea

and feather beds, and the thermometer at

ninety degrees all winter. W^intlirop, it is

simply awful ! 1 wish Mrs. Ogden was

going to an Old Laflies' Home, and we could

try one at a time, say six months apiece. It's

no use, I don't see how I can bear it. Yea,

1 do, too, you dear old thing ! Don't mind

the scolding. We'll see. only 1 feel as if

Sam Weller's double hextra magnifying glass

were going to be pla>:ed over me and my

omissions and commissions. There's another

thing. Mrs. Ogden thinks the house is just

as she left it. She'll become rigid as Mr.

F's aunt when she enters this parlour. On the

whole, I am glad Fanny is coming, because

her being company will partially protect

me."

"Come up stairs," said W^inthrop. "I
want to look at the space and see if grand-
mother will have room to stand if she brings
all she wants. We'll have the old clock on
the landing. Where shall the sideboard
go ?"

"Not another thing about auythii.g to-
night, "'an' you love nie, Hal. ' My brain
is a mere sieve. I'm actually exhausted.
To-morrow we can plan. "

CHAPTER li,

TEA.

Keflections on duty ought to come at this
point, and the record that, with early morn-
ing, a sweet spirit of self-sacritice tilled my
soul, and I Icmged for the moment wherein I
might embrace both grandmothers. Truth
compels an opposite statement, and 1 mean
to be strictly literal as I can. But truth and
light being synonymous, and light taking the
colour of whatever medium it passes through,
you will see that I, being blue as indigo
within and purple with indignation without,
that a change must be made, to say nothing
of a suspicion of green in the way of jealousy
that anyone had a right to Winthrop but
myself,mu8t necessarily makeaparti-coloured
statement. I did keep my worst feelings to

TEA,

at way,"

iiing you,

3 darken

\^'e are

I't knock
ben make
1, but be
lunatics."
M hire a
.severely,
[ might
liny tiieir
mv more,
id a time,
;h a good
preon tea
) meter at
rop, it is
;(len was
we could
jiece. It's
'• it. Yea,
)ii't mind
feel as if
ying glass
e and my
's another
se is just
:d as Mr.
jr. On the
because
y protect

irop. "I
if "rand-
;hri brings
clock on
sideboard

thiijg to-

My brain

iiausted.

at this
ly morn-
tilled my
therein I
Truth

1 mean
ruth and
king the
through,
indigo
without,
uothing
jealousy
irop but
coloured
elingB to

myself, and <'irove Winthrop to the depot as
usual, returning slowly as even Prince's soul
could desire, and thinknig all the way. On
the way down the great express- waggon pass-
ed us, but I did noL bok up. Usually, unless
rainy, I drove straight up to the barn, for it
was one of the tacitly understood laws of
the pla'je. that unless perfectly convenient
for himself, Tea should never appear at such
times, or indeed any times. This niornino:
the doors were open and a strange array till-
ed all the available space. Tea stood in the
midst, and his small eyes twinkle 1 as he
lookeil from them to me.

"It's Mis' Ogden's things, Mis' Win-
throp ; the things sh« took when she went
to Mariar," he said, "and here's her letter
to me about 'em. .She says she shall bring
boxes with her, but tiiis bed has got to be
set up ill her room before she gets here. She
can't sleep no way on anything but a sackin'
bottom, an' she s^s I know jest what used to
be in her room, an' I'm to set 'em all up the
way I know she wants 'em. Fact is, she'd
hev a tit in that roem the way you've got it,
with your frills and fuss and' what not, au'
pictcs an' the rest, she's got pioters, but
they ain't your kind. Where'll I put your
things so's to begin ?"

"I will let you know when I am ready to
have you come in," I said with dignity. Tea
looked at me critically. It was always a
debate in his mind whether we were friends
or foes. Foes certainly, when it became a
question of altering anything indoors or out.
Ten years with the Ogden family had con-
vinced him of the perfection of everything
belonging to them, and my five years' reign
seemed to him utter anarchy and upheaval.
Still there was a sense of humour in the man
which sometimes played over his leathery
countenance, and lighted up his melancholy
brown eyes, and at heart he was kindness it-
self. No mummy could well have been
leaner. His bones seemed to creak as he
■jyalked. His best fitting clothes flapped
wildly in the wind, aud his worst were
merely bags in which he lost himself each
morning, and hitched promiscuously all day
in pursuit of stray bone which might help to
fill out an arm or a leg. His house was at the
upper end ot our eight acres. In it dwelt
his fourth wife with three children, the
youngest, a weasened and attenuated baby,
so Btartlingly like Tea that it was as if we
viewed him through the small end of an opera
flass.

" I've hedfour sorts o' wives," he said one
day in a burst of confidence. "All kinds
you might say. None of 'em was healthy,
but then the chills wouldn't let 'em be. Seliny
was the fust, and as smart a gal as ever you
■ee. Mis' Winthrop. That was when I was in

Vermont yet with my own folks. She hed
gallopin' consumption, an' die<l an' left two,
an' the old folks took 'em an' I mis^ht jest as
well not a had 'em. That sort of broke
me up an' I went to Illinois. Hed the shakes
so I couldn't stand still long enough to be
married, so I went up into VVisconsin an' so
back an' forth for fifteen years. Burieil two
out there an' didn't mean to try" my luck no
more, an' I came east. Then up to one o'
my brother's-in-law in Penn. when I went up
to get Prince for Mr. Ogden, I hed this chance
for an edtlicated one, an' I took it. She was
a ttjachin' then ; leather work, an' wax
flowers, an' paintin' an' sich, an' her folks
thought it was astepdown for her cosi wasn't
ve''y forehanded. So I brought her here an'
she's done pretty well considerin', only folks
aiut sociable an' she don't no ways like it,
that I don't set np for myself. Nigh sixty
years old an' a hired man hain't no business
to go together, she says, an' I tell lier out of
a song she sings, that " the lightnings may
Hash an' the loud thumler rattle" everything
to smash, but we've got our house an' our
reg'lar pay good as any minister up country.
Squash bugs nor potato bugs, nor none of
the forty bugs that's after apple-tree forty-
one, the Agrioulturist says, don't none of 'era
cut us short. Mr. Win, he says I shall end
my days here. I'd like to see any common
Irisher runnin' that steam furnace o' yourn.
It's bad as a high pressure engine on the Miss-
issip. The Gay's man would blow you high-
er'n a kite before he'd been at it ten min-
utes."

Poor Tea ! Never was there a more shift-
less, hopeless lump of incompetency and pre-
tension than number four, chosen for her
"eddication." Dirt reigned. Even Tea's
strong bump of order could do but little ,
against fhe hopeless confusion which tilled
what might have been a comfortable and
pretty home. The children were miracles of
dirt ; and I won Mrs. Fuller's undying en-
mity by giving Norma Annette a bath one
day and sending her home clean. She was a
pretty child, and 1 could have been very
fond of her. Even the baby would have been
better than nothing, but they all smelled and
felt alike, sticky, clammy and generally un-
pleasant. Winthrop would not let them
come near hiin, and we satisfied our con-
sciences by filling their stockings profusely
at Christmas. Mrs. Fuller rockecf all day
aud perhaps all night, and what mind ishe
may have had in the beginning bad beon
wagged back aud forth till useless for any
practical purpose. It camo over me strongly
at times that something ought to be done,
but what? Here was Home Missionary work
at my door, yet a chronic disinclinaoion to
meddle with anybody's private lif«, kept me

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

from speaking my mind. Tea had the sturdy
Yankee independence, asked no favours and
made no complaint. l^e was aii ardent
Methodist ; something of a Spiritualist ; had a
gift in prayer, so they said ; was an Odd
Fellow, a Good Templar, and a Grahamite of
the old school, a firm believer in patent
medicines and equally so in the Indian doctor
who came twice a year. In short, Tea, in-
stead of trying one set of ideas till tired of
them and then taking up a new, had
judiciously kept the whole life-long accumula-
tion, working them into an ingenious sort of
mosaic, and never at a loss for every one.

He looked after me as I ttinied towards
the house.

" Then you're a goin' to have 'ym set up?"
'• Certainly, Tea, but not this morning.
You can come in when I ring the barn bell,
and take down the bed already there. "

'"Taint none o' my aflfair," said Tea,
backing into the harness closet, "only Mis'
Ogden, she's used to bossing, and when folks
begins with givin' her her head she's likely
to keep it. She's a master hand for bavin'
her own way, an' it she is seveuty-six, she's
spryer'n I be, an' sassier," he added under
his breath. " Least ways she used to be."

" Did vou ever see the other grandmother
Tea? Mrs. May?"

" No I hain't. Mr. Ogden, he set a heap
by her, but Mis' Ogden, she can't bear the
sight of her. "

" Well Tea, she is coming this week to
live here. Coming the same day as old Mrs.
Ogden."

Tea actually staggered.
" The Lord preserve us ! " he said solemn-
ly. " It can't be done ! For Massy 's sake,
don't you know it can't ? "

** It ia to be done, and therefore it can be,"
I s.aid, disguising the feeling with which
Tea's unaffected horror weighed me down.
Tea made straight for his own house, shaking
kis head as if he had been wound up and
could not stop. I went in and up to the
pretty room, all rose colour and dainty gray,
took down curtains and pKotographs, put
»way vases and knick-knacks of all sorts,
and then rang for Tea to do his part.

By night it was as desperate and madden-
ing a room as I have over entered. A huge
bed of cherry wood filled up one side ; a
chest of drawers without one redeeming
feature in outline, or bit of brass, an uncom-
promising looking secretary, a rocking-chair
that would not rock but only jerked, a shaky
washstand and chairs of every degree of
ugliness, and before each and all, odd strips
of carpet, in patterns and colours more
dreadful than anythmg I had ever imagined.
"Her trunks goes^under the bed, and two
or three of 'em piles up against the mantle-

tree shelf," said Tea. "She always will have
'em under her eye. These 'ere things she
brought from Portland forty years ago when
her son married, an' she sets great store by
'em. There aint no furniture in the house
up to 'em. Mr. Ogden, he wanted to new-
turnish her room an give away these things,
but she wouldn't hear to it. Said she was
too old to change, an' she is, that's a fact. I
didn't know as you'd be willin' to tear up,
but there ! folks never does what other folks
looks to have 'em," and Tea, after a slight
pause as if he would give me time to un-
bosom myself, retired, whistling softly,
always a sign of perplexity with him.

"1 shouldn't ever suppose I was in your
house, Mrs Ogden," Katy said, as we tried
with flannel and linseed oil, to rub off some
of the marks of travel. " I don't know as 1
ever saw anything just like it before. Did
you?"

"No, Katy," I answered with perfect
honesty, "I never did. But we must re-
member she is very old and does not think
much whether a thing is pretty or not. As
long as she has what she has been used to,
and is happy and comfortable, we have
nothing to say. "

" VA ell, I wish to gracious sakes they wasn't
coming !" Katy said ruefully, as she went
back to her washing. How many times I
echoed the wish that day ! Books failed, the
piano had no music in it, and at last I made
ready for a long walk, only to be stopped by
my most desiguable neighbor, Mrs. Wingate, a
prying, stupid woman, whose curiosity it
required all my strategy never to satisfy. If
it had only been pretty, gentle Mrs. Gay, I
couhl have opened my heart and probably
felt better, but as it was, Mrs. Wingate
probed in every direction, and at last left,
I outwardly smiling, inwardly disappointed,
I while I was nervous or cross enough to know
i I must keep away from every one just then.
[ The walk did do some gooa, how..ver, though
j the deepest of Jersey mud confined no
strictly to plank walk and allowed no stray-
ing aside after possible dandelions. It was
early April, and a true spring feeling in the
air. Grass showed green in sunny spots,
' buds were swelling, and about every delical*
twig outlined the blue, seemed a misty sug-
gestion of leaves to be. Below me lay the
village; beyond rose the blue line of Jersey
hills, and towards the north the sharp cleit
in the mountain, beyond which were the
great rocks of Passaic Falls. A peaceful,
quiet outlook, which rested me wonderfully
as it always did. The old postmaster gave
me a handful of crocuses with my mail, and
I turned homeward far more reasonable than
my neighbour had left me.
*' It must be that I am not fit to lire with

rays •willhare
e things she
are ago when
reat store by
in the house
ited to new-
these things,
Said she waa
at's a fact. I
' to tear up,
at other folks
fter a slight
time to un-
tiing softly,
1 him.

was in your

as we tried

rub off some

I't know as 1

before. Did

with perfect
we must re>
)es not think
or not. As
een used to,
e, we have

sa they wasn't
as she went
any times I
iks failed, the
last I made
e stopped by
•s. Wingate, a
curiosity it
o satisfy. If
Mrs. Gay, I
,ud probably
rs. Wingate
at last left,
isappointed,
•ugh to know
le just then,
ver, though
jontined ne
ed no stray-
ma. It was
eliug in the
unny spots,
very delical«
misty sug-
me lay the
ne of Jersey
sharp clelt
;h were the
A peaceful,
wonderfully
(naster gave
y mail, and
lonable than

to liTe with

TEA

people," I said to myself : " I am happy
and contented alone, or with jnst the friends
I care for, but this frij^htful calling ! The
idea that anybody has the right to enter my
house, torment me for an hour with useless
curiosity, force me to rack my brains for
anything that will keep her quiet, <and then
leave me, prepared to come a{.',iin and do the
same work. She steals my time and temper
And upsets me altogether. Nice people are —
nice. Everyday people are detestable, ex-
cept just to be kind to them if they come in
your way. I am my Double, and he., she, or
it has uiiflone me many a time and will do it
again. Why could I have not been one thing
or another ?'"

It was a little hard. All through my youth
my own temperament had been a torment
and puzzle to myself, and equally to those
who had me in charge. When too old for
any radical chanue, I came to understand it.
In me were mingled the inheritance from a
southern mother, warmhearted, impulsive
and loving, and a keen, cold, loarical, New-
England father, who rarely demonstrated
the plightest feeling. Both died in my
childhood, leaving me sufficient money for
ail education and little more. School re-
ceived and kept me till old enough to follow
the vocation of most educatea New-England
girls — teaching. I had my fatlier's coJ<l ex-
terior, his sarcassic tongue, and love of hooks,
and hid well underneath, my mother's im-
pulsiveness and passionate love of every
beautiful thing, I had few friends and
wanted but few. Talking was never easy
unless I thoroughly knew my companion.
Then there was no limit, and even Winthrop,
who knew me better than anybodj' in the
world, looked on at times in mute wonder.

" It's like the bottle that held the Afrite,"
he said one day. "The cork once out there
is next to infinite expansion, and I see no
immediate means of getting it back again. "

His quiet, steady temperament was my
greatest blessing. My ups and downs aston-
iihed and amused him, and he never ceased
wondering at the contradictions of my daily
life. He called me uuseltish and sweet-
natured, but also at times, T. G. N. A. O.,
The Great North American Objector, ab-
breviated, because the letteis included a
household verb I sometimes conjugated, To
Nag. The reverse of a proposition always
presented itself to me. To oppose at first
seemed an instinct, carefully hidden
because I knew my own weakness, but
always ready to show itself. Talk it
all out— oppose a plan bitterly and
vehemently, and tlien tmd myself ready and
eager for its fulfilment. It was mortifying
and depressing, but with Winthrop I could
say:

" Now let me vituperate awhile, and we
will see how it comes out "

With others the argument had to go on
inside, and I became confused and stupid and
uncomfortjible altogether. Also, I was in-
tensely iiritable. That, too, I covered up
generally ; but cill sorts of things jarred and
fretted me. Great troubles I bore well.
Daily vexiitions made me fierce, and there
were many times when I went about with
my lips tight shut, determined the peevish-
ness and irritation should at least not be
visited upon any one near me. I could
always be patient with ignorance if there was
the least gleam of desire to learn. Against
ingrained stupidity and narrowness and
meanness I fdught with all my strength,
often enough worsted. My neighbours'
opinions of me varied. Some pronounced me
a Southern aristocrat, others a "stuck up
Bostoner," and a few were pleasant, congenial
people, though even these I preferred to see
when I felt like it, and could never tolerate
the perpetual running in and out in vogue in
Glenville. I suppose a school gave oppor-
tunities enough for self-government and
development, but family life bristled with
small vexations to which I had always been
a stranger. If with Winthrop's patience and
Katy's constant good nature, I often felt, as
Tea characterized his baby, '' crosser'n pisen
an' two sticks,'" how would it be when the
new order began ?

So I meditated walking home, growing
depressed again with every step, till I entered
our gate and stood, for a moment under the
great chestnut-tree. The sun had set, leaving
only a faint, rosy flush, the dark blue line of
the hills clear against it. Wintlirop'e kind
voice came from the open door. "Why,
little lady, I missed you. What's the
matter ?"

" It comes into my head continually," I
said, running in, and crying weakly at last.
" I'm sure I don't know when I learned it,
nor why ! ' If thou hast run with footmen
and they have wearied thee, how then canst
thou contend with hv .sea ; and if in the land
of peace wherein thou trustedst, thy strength
faili'd thee, then how wilt thou do in the
swellina of Jordan ?' "

" And 1 remember something far more
comfortable, Eleanor. 'When thou passest
through the waters I will be with thee, and
through the floods they shall not overflow
thee' Your prophet is a dolorous one.
Mine has better words. There are sweet
fields beyond the swelling flood, you
know, and if the Jordan does roll furi-
ously, there is always a way over. Come
in, little wife, and leave troubles outside.
Here is a letter from Fanny, and I saw her
brother to-day. She is coming the 25th, so

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

you will have just time to get used to the
new (lispeiisation. I have been up stairs
and it looks as fearfully natural as possible.
Grandmotlier Ogden ought to be happy.
Suppose you ju.st put a feather bed in the
otlier room, ami tlie other (J. may like its
briiihtness so well that tliere need be no
change. Here is tea. How hungry 1 am ! I
am spoiled for restaurants forever, and it is
your doing."

" Bless your heart, you eonifortable man !"
I said with a st)asmi)(lic hug. '" Wbat a
blea.-ing you're not like nie ! We will have
a good evening, even if, like Jo, I did
' weep a little weep,' and now at last I shall
be good. "

CHAPTER ITI.

KATV.

The morning mail brought two notes, one
from Mrs. Ogdeu, p istmarked Boston, in
which she said she might stay there till Fri-
da.v night and come i)y boat, but in any case
she could take care of herself. The other
was from Mis. May, saying that her escort
coulil not leave until Friday night, and that
aiie should be at the Clrand Central at ten on
Saturday, if nothing happened.

I went i'l to the Thomas Rehearsal with a
quiet mind, though wondering, for a mo-
ment, how the next one would find me.
Friday passed as usual, save that Katy's
tendency to leaving dust in every corner
where my short-sighted eyes could not
reach, wap nipped in the bud more remorse-
lessly than usual. I examined every chair
rung with anxious scrutiny, and delivered
such a homily on the wickedness of shirking,
and the baseness of not doing the dark cor-
ners as absomtely well as the bright, that
Katy visibly shrunk.

" If either of the old ladies has any worse
eye for dirt than you, Mrs. Ogden, I pities
their feelings," she said, meekly going over
the stairs a second time. " I never knew
there was so much to take notice of. Seems
to me a woman isn't for anything else but
just to be rooting and grubbing everywhere,
and no time to turn round. You can't ever
get through."

"If you do as I tell you, Katy. do each
thing thoroughly, not spill and drop in every
direction as a stupid Irish girl does, when
you are through, you are through, and can
rest and enjoy it. Much as I dislike work,
it certainly pays to be sweet and clean every-
where. "

"Dislike it!" Katy said, dropping her
duster. *• I thought you loved it from the
bottom of your heart, the way you fly round
into everythiug, and always smelling into

every closet and all. I can't drop a crumb
but what you know."

" All the result of education," 1 laughed.
" When you have done exactly as you are
cold a year longer, *here will be no corners
to smell, 1 hope, and I may be able to trust
you to bring each day through well. You
improve all the time. I mean you to be a
model."

Katy smiled faintly. Being a model,
while delightful theore'tically, was a world of
trouble practically. Her life as a factory
girl had almost uniitted her for anything
else. Hard work all day ; foolish and often
worse than foolish talk on the way home,
ami the poor earnings spent in taileti.n and
cheap ribbons for the weekly dances in the
winter.

I had seen her several times on Sunday,
when she came with her father to call at
Tea's, and liked her face, which had pretty,
soft, blue eyes, and a good look, even under
the tawdry hat and ftather. One day I
called her in, proposed she .«houM leave the
factory and come to me, and gave her a week
to think it over. I doulited her coming.
The pressure was strong against her. The
factory girls scorned the Iiish and (iernian
servants, and announced that "they weren't
going to bo l)ossud over by no mistresses."
Anything, even sin, was better than work in
anybody's kitchen ; and though the mills
had lately run on half time, and the opera-
tives barely kept soul and body together, no
one could have induced the silly, frowzy
creatures to do housework. Scj when another
Sunday came and with it Katy to inform me
that she would come the Hrst of the mouth,
Out was afraid I shouldn't like her, I was
both astonished and pleased.

"I can do some things," she said. "I
always washed and ironed when I was
home, and did dishes and such, but I can't
cook much. I'd love to, though. I read
* We Girls,' and it seemed to me the way
they did it must be fun. "

"Blessings on you, Mrs. Whitney !" I said
to myself. " Y^'ou are worth a million ser-
mons. Then you can read, Katy, and have
been to school ?"

Katy's blue eyes opened wide. " Yes, in-
deed, ma'am. I went three terms to school
when father lived in Newark, and some up
in Hartford, and I read everything I caa
get. But I haven't had much chance, and I
thought that if I tried housework, may be I
could get a little time now and then. But
the girls do make such fun of me it seemed
as if I couldn't stand it. I do wish I could
come now. "

In a week my kitchen bade good-by to
Bridgets. xMrs. Slapson, the one-eyed
genius who made over mattresses, went out

«■

Irop a crumb

,'' I laughed,
y as you are
De no corners
1 alile to trust
h well. You
1 you to be a

ig a model,
'as a world of
as a factory
for anything
ish and often
e way home,
tarlet:.u and
lances in the

i on Sunday,
her to call at
1 had pretty,
, even under

One day I
lid leavo the
'(! her a week
her coming.
St her. The
and (ierman
they weren't

mistresses."
;lian work in
h the mills
d the opera-
together, no
illy, frowzy
'hen another
o inform me

the mouth,

her, I was

said. " I
ifn I was
hut I can't
;h. I read
the way

ey !" I said
nilliou aer-
and have

"Ye.s, in-
s to school
some up
ing I can
nee, and I
may be I
■len. But
it seemed
h I could

cod -by to
one-eyed
went out

KATY.

nursing, made shrouds, or scrubhed and
•whitewashetl with eiiually grim determina-
tion, came over for tliree days and left the
freasy evil smelling room in spotless order.
Ivery piece of tin shone ; every pot and
kettle was griinless. The servant's ro(jm
was turned out of doors, so to spe'tk. aired,
Bcrul)i)(!d, wiiitewushed, disinfected in every
crack and corner. 1 was ileternnned Katy
shoull liegin under the best auspices. If
she failed. I could oidy try again.

The tir.st niontli was heart-rtuiling. Katy 'a
esthetic tastes were her bane ami mine.
She stood, duster in hand, beforo pictures
and books ; burned the break last while she
studied ihe morniny papeis, sat in the spare
room ■vvitli olo cd eyes imagining it liers, and
most fatal of all, broke dishes with Celtic
ease and celerity. Two methods stopped
this. First, a lesson on China, not- tiie
country, Imt the production, a bringing to-
gether my various bits of mnjolica, et cetera,
and putting into form stray fragments of
knowledge regarding them. Their cost was
a revelation to her, and their history
apparently fascinating. 'Then tlie rule laid
down oncri for all that, unless proved to be
wholly accidental and unavoidable, half the
cost; of whatever she broke shouhl be de
ducted from her w;;ges.

The eilect was salutary and decisive.
From that day to this nicks and cracks arc
almost unknown, and the rule has never
been enforced but once.

Her memory was mereV a name. Orders
at nine left no trace at ten. Cake left in her
charge burned to a crisp. Water boiled
away from nn-at or vegetables, and solder ran
at will over the range. Meals, unless I stood
over tliem, were seldom in season, and "1
forgot " was tiie kitchen watchword. This
was ai>parently constitutional, ami I adopted
the only mode of cure that occurred. Each
day B work was written out fully, every item
in the order it was likely to occur, and
pinned to the kitchen wall, with directions to
check off each one as accomplished. Side by
side with this hung the bill of fare for the
day, the hour of each meal given, and any
necessary hints as to preparing the different
dishes. This seems troublesome, but in
reality saves many vexations for both mis-
tress and maid. My own beginning had
filled me with awe at the multitude ot little
things a housekeeper must remember dailv,
and in the inevitable disaster following thick,
»nd following faster if anything was allowed
to get the upper hand, I realized, as never
before, the meaning of a place where neither
moth nor rust can corrupt. The daily battle
with dust and fluff, always triumphant and
unsubdued save the one moment after clean-
ing, tilled me with deepest respect for their

conqueror. How to keep then\ down and
my courage up, to tight and yet have the
leisure of victory, was the problem over
which I puzzled daily, and which as time
went on trrew "asier of solution. Katy did
learn, slowly l)ut surely, and though at times
it seemed as if no young Hottentot could
hnve had leas sense of titiieas, at others some-
thing would be done h() carefully and d.aintily,
as it real n.ind lia«l gone into it, that f siglied
gratefully and dared to loyk forward. She
grew to appreciate the charm of tln.rouL'hness,
and to take pride in her aconmnlating
accomplishments. Saturday she called
" Catechism day,'' for at that time I ques-
tioned her severely on whatever new thing
she had learned through the week, from
t'tewing of oysters to the best way of washing
windows. The S(nieer>ian method I found
excellent, and a<loptcd for many things.

Economy had become my hob'oy : the best
way of utilizing the odds and ends ; and
here soup developed the means of absorption.
Katy looked on in contemptuous astonish-
ment, the first time she saw me take every
scrap of bone and gristle, every drop of gravy
remaining from our dinner of porter-house
steak, and put them all in the eartlien sauce-
pan with the remains of some roast beef, the
whole well covered with cold water and set
where it could simmer but not boil. 1 showed
her how to skim it carefully as it reached
[ boiling point, the j)ro]ier amount of salt, the
I taking out all the meat when tender, for a
mince next morning, and straining the broth
into a bowl, from whi* h whfai (piite cold
every particle of fat could be removed, leav-
ng a rich, jelly-like m;*s3, suitable f»)r
either gravies or soup. It grew interesting
to find how many varieties of soups could
appear with this stock as foundation, and
her respect for bones rose immensely.

"I wish I'd known .some of these things at
home," she said one day. " We C(»uld have
been ever so much more comfortable. I tell
mother, but she laughs, and says she guesses
I'll wish myself back if that's, the kind of
living we have here."

" You may ask her over here some day,
Katy, and you may dine together— perhaps
she will change her mind.''

" NN'ell, it's all in my book," Katy said,
pointing to a thick blank book I had bought
her, io which her views of kiochen life were
recorded. Her receipts for cooking and
cleaning, and " elegt^nt extracts" from books
she read. "It's all there, and I can read it
to her if f<he doesn't attend tc what I say."

Her pitiful supply of clothing when she
came, had moved my wonder that any girl
could get on with so little. She grew am-
bitious, not for show, 'out for plenty of fresh,
sweet belongings, and in six months her

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

whole appearance altered. Good food, regular
hours, suitable ciothinj:; and a constantly

fr6wing intelligence made her more than I
ad dared to expect, though there were still
many lapses, and to mourn more or less
daily was part of her nature. I did not com-
plain—my theory was vindicated. The race
of trained and intelligent servants was not
extinct. Patience and forbearance, and in-
telligent teaching, could still produce them,
and even an Aqierican girl with a slight
foundation of common sense could be made
to believe service and the server alike honour-
able.

V It's all very well for you with no chil-
dren," said Mrs. Wingate, who happened in
this very Friday afternoon, and began at
once upon her pet topic, — servants. " But
I can assure you she'll be off just aa you get
her into your ways, and y(»u'll have had your
labour for your puins. There's no gratitude
in them. I've had nine in four months, and
I ought to know. I heard you let her come
to the table and took her to concerts. I sup-
pose next, you'll be giving her music and
French and German lessons. "

"You heard wrong as usual," I said im-
pulsively, sorry when too late. " She under-
stands perfectly that her work prevents her
being in just the order I should wish my
table companions. Now and then on Sun-
day when she Was dressed for church she lias
came into tea. It is a great treat, and I know
no better way of teaching her proper table
manners.''

Mrs, Wingato laughed a loud, disagreea-
ble, rasping laugh.

" Well, 1 don't make companions of my
servants," she saitl; "and I didu't suppose
anybody as exclusive as you did it either.
But then we all know you are very peculiar,
Mrs. Ogden, and of course make allowances.
Good-bye. Do come in soon."'

I could have struck her as she sailed away,
cool and insolent and stupid too. What
ufe in trying to make the creature under-
stand anything? Now she would go on her
round of visits adding fresh items at every
place as to Mrs. Ogden's peculiarities, and
chuckling over my fondness for servants' so-
ciety and avoidance of her own. Bah ! why
should one grow miserable over an idiot. As
usual I rushed out to cool my hot cheeks and
walk down my excitement. Half way down
the hdl the telegrai)h boy met and handed
me one of the jellow-covered terrors, for
much as Winthrop used this means of com-
munication, I could never quite help a little
fear in opening them. To-day, as all other
days, there was no cause.

" Come in at aix twenty," it read. " "Will
meet you at ferry. Have tickets for Henry
Fifth."

'* Of course then he is sure his grandmoth-
er will not be here to-night," I thought as I
wrote, '' Will be there," and turned back to
make ready. We had a midnit;ht train on
Friday, the one concession allowed by our
violently conservative branch road, to th«
sinful New Yorkers who would settle in New
Jersey, and would clamour for some means
of reaching amusements now and then. Katy
fortunately was never afraid, and I left her
with new calico to cut out, and a new story
in which I was quite sure, dress, and time,
and possible burglars would all be forgotten.

We went to the play, lost in deligbt at the
superb setting, and the gallant Prince Hal,
ate some of Dorlon's oysters afterwards, ai d
took our train tired ancl sleepy, V)ut convinced
that we had done well. Two or three neigh-
bours were there, and we chatted over the
different opinions, as we walked up from the
depot. Something unusual struck me as we
ueared home.

" Winthrop," I said, " it doesn't look
right. Isn't there a light — there is a light
in your grandmother's room !"

"Nonsense!" said Winthrop. "It is
Tea looking to see if everything is right.
He always does when we are away. That*
the beauty of a man like Tea. "

A dark figure rose before us from the
bushes.

"It's me, Mrs. Ogden," said Kat/s voice;
"I just this minute came out because I
thought it was time for you. She's come,
an' she's up."

"She ! Do you mean the old lady— Mrs,
Ogden ? "

" Yes ma'am,'* said Katy, breathless and
incoherent. "She came at half past six,
just after you'd gone, and walked in at the
kitchen door."

" I says, ' who are you ? ' for she had a big
basket an(l looked queer, and I never thought.

' Where are the folks 'i ' she says. I would-
n't tell her, because I thought inaybe it was
a burglar disguised, and then she slapped
down the basket and bag. ' I'm Mis' Ogden,'
she says, 'an' I want my grandson.'

"'They've gone to the theatre,"! says,
for I saw her white hair. ' I'll get you some
tea and your roomie all ready.' 'I don't
want none of your tea,' she says. 'If folks
can't stay to home when tht^y expect folks,
I don't think much o' their manners.' Then
she marched right up the bick stairs, an' I
lit a lamp and took it up. She just took oflf
her things and laid tiiem on the bed, and put
her blanket shawl over her head, and went
up to Tea's for supper. He came down with
her wh»n she wa^ ready, and she went into
3Verj room in the house, groanine and bang-
ing doors, and then she come to the kitchen.

' Where's the parlour furniture,' she aayi,

KATY.

us from the

I lady — Mrs.

'and th« carpets?' 'It's all thore ma'am,
just as it was wke& I come,' I says, ' I'v«
never seen any other. ' Law, ma'am,' Tea
says, 'you kaveu c no call to feel bad.
Youag^folka has then- ways same as old" I
went into my room and shut the door. I was
scared. I didn't know i ut she'd do some-
thiug to me. She went into the parlour and
drove out Rubenstein and Nep, and dusted
o£f Rubeasteiu's cushion, and there she sits
now. I went down and asked her if slie
wasn't tired and wanted to go to bed, and
she said, if there was sitting up to be done,
it wasn't for whiffet? of girls, and I could go
to mine fast as I pleased. She'l been up
garret and into all the closets, anci tried all
the locked doors, and she says everythiniy;
has gone to distraction. I'm scart to death."

Here Katy broke down in tears. I had
been too confounded to check the flow of her
narrative, but plucked up courage now.

"I am ashamed of you, Kitty," I said.
"Stop crying and go to bed now, and we will
have breakfast at nine instead of eight, so
that we can all rest. One old lady need not
frighten anybody."

" You just wait and see, "said Katy softly,
running on to open the door. Rubenstein
came mewing to meet us. To ])e turned out of
doors was a new state of thiiiu^s, calling for
immediate remonstrance. Nep barked fm-
joy and rushed in, nearly upsetting Mrs.
Ogden as she came forward and held out her
hand to VVinthrop, who kissed her and then
looked about in a bewildered sort of way.

" Here is PJleauor," he said.

" I see her, returned Mrs. Ogden. ** Are
you well, El'ner ? I should think likely, out
at this hour of the nij/ht. "

" I am perfectly well, thank you, I
always am," I said, determined not to be
daunted. "But I am so sorry you sat up.
Your room was all reaily and you must be
Tery tired. We did not suppose you wouhl
come till to-morrow morning. I hope Katy
gave you tea and made you comfortable."

" I went where 1 rtas expected anil got all
I needed," Mrs. Ogden returned with severe
emphasis. "If (■atharine had been here I
should have asked for some tea, but it's tea
I want, and not slops, and slops is all I look
for from a girl like that."

*• Katy makes excellent tea," I said. " I
am something of a grandmother myself in my
love of it, and when grandmother May comes
we shall certainly need a bigger tea pot."

"It's too late to make any change," said
the old lady, still with stony severity ; "but
I do feel to say this much, that if proper
contidence had been shown and I told before-
hsjid she was coming aud what cliantres I
vaa to find, I would never have set foi»t in
the house again. To think of th« shiflecs-

ness and everything torn to atoms and
wasted and spit upon that I toiled and alared
to keep nice ! "

"There, grandmother ! you are under the
old roof again," Winthrop said decidedly,
"and I hope you will be very happy. You
are tired out. I'll go up stairs with you and
see you are all right. I knf)w your ways and
Eleanor doesn't yet, though she soon will.
She makes everybody comfortable, and we^
are and hope to be a very happy family. "

" I'm glad to see you again. VVinthrop,"
Mr.s. Og<len said in a somewhat mollified
tone. " Only I do wish I could see your
face cleau and smooth like your departed
father's. He wouldn't have had such a
brush each side his face, not for a mint of
money. You never'll be equal to your father,
Winthrop. "

" Sons never are. are they ?" said Winthrop
starting towards the dot;r.

" Good-night," I said, "or really it should
be good-morning. Don't hurry at all. There
are two bells, and we shall not have break-
fast till nine."

"I take mine at six in summer and
half past in winter," said the old lady
turning upon me; "and if your help
hasn't spunk enough to l)e up and have
it ready, I'll do it myself?"

" Not tomorrow — Saturday is a bad day
to begin," Winthrop said. " I have to go
in at half past eight though, so we will
compromise and have it at eight. That's
only six hour's sleep. It'll never do."

This time 1 was careful to make no new
suggestions, and the pair slowly ascended
the htairs. I heard the opening of doors
and windows and mysterious sounds of all
sorts, and Winthrop did not appear until
after two.

" I couldn't burst away the very first
night," he said, "and she was reatly to talk
right on if I would listen. I've shaken ht;r
bed and all the bedclothes out of the win-
dow to please her, and I'm covered with
duff, or whatever you call it."

" Didn't I tell you there would be troubl*
if she came Friday ?" I said desperately.
" Siie will kill us all in a week."

" Not quite so bad as that," Winthrop
said. " She was tired and upset to-night,
and won't be so cranky to-morrow. It'i
extraordinary how little she alters. She heart
just aa well an ever, and seems just aa
strong. I don't understand it. "

"One of Tea's comments — ' She'* pickled
in ugliness' — rose to my lips, but I repressed
it and only groaned —

"Don't talk any more," I said, '* I'm too
tired to speak."

Not too tired to think, however, and long
after Winthrop was sound asleep I meditat-

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

ed on ways and means, ending in a restless
sleep', and a dream of something awful
which surrounded and stifled me, and had
always, when I could look, the face of Grand-
mother Ogden.

ii[i[-

Hill

CHAPTER IV.

GREEK MEETS GREEK,

"I'm thankful you've come!" Katy ex-
claimed fervently, as just before breakfast I
entered the kitchen. She looked flushed and
worried, ami a click near the back stairs, and
a rustle of departing skirts, told me the
cause. " The old lady told me she was
chilly, and wanted to put her feet in the
oven, and she's been there over since half-
past six watching everything I did. She
says I keen a sight too much tire, and that
she never saw nor heard o f anybody chop-
ping bread with a chopper. She says mould-
ing is plenty if 1 use any strength, and I've
no business to put any milk in it either. I
told her 1 never seen no better bread than
ycu learned me to make, and I guessed slie'd
think sn to, and she just sniffed. Slie keeps
aniffin,' and it makes me want to fly."

•'That will do," I said. "Don't repeat
what she says or does. I do not waut to
know, aud it does no good. "

Katy laid down her rolling-pin.

"Mis' Ogdin," slie said .solemnly, "I'm
ready to mind you anyway or anytime, but
I'm free to say, if I've got to be stdl about
HEK, I shall bust. I shall just bust. I
won't talk to Tea, nor anybody else, but if
you won't let me talk to you I can't stand it.
I know all aV)out things growing, when you
talk them over, atni being best to k»ep still
about vexy things, and folks' faults, but I
don't care. I've got to speak now or split.
Can't I ?"

" When you cnnot bear it another
moment," 1 said, after a pause for reflection,
and an inward smile at the distressed coum
tenance before me. "But never till you are
sure you cannot. Now huiry with breakfast.
It is late."

Breakfast was too hurried for much olmer-
vation. Mrs. Ogden smelled of the buti^
before she helped herself, and looked with
extreme suspicion at everything offered her.
She billowed VVinthrop to the door, and
watched him out of sight, tlien turned
•bout.

"I am sorry I must be busy most of the
morning," I said, "but you will have plenty
to do unpacking. ^ ould you like any
help ?"

*' I'm aV)le to sort my own things niycelf,"
Mrs. Ogdou said; "but I'll do the dishes
int."

"Katy always does them," I said, "ex-

cept on washing day. I had rather she
would."

"Oh !" said Grandmother Ogden with the
sniflF Katy had described, and which for so
small a thing certainly could produce a power-
ful effect ; so powerful that it came up
through all my making of sponge cake and
custards, and left me wishing for the
thousandth time that life might have gone
on in the old fashion.

Noon came before we thought of it, and I
had just time to slip off my working dress
and run to the door as Prince stopped before
it, and a figure muffled in shawls and cloaks
was lifted out by Wiuthrop and set on the
piazza like a child.

"And there she is," said the brightest,
sweetest old voice I hail ever heard. "I'm
dizzy as a coot, my dear, with all this travel-
ling, but not too dizzy to give you a hug if
you'll let me."

"You are a blessed old lady and I know
it !" I said, forgetting reserve and prejudice
<»f every .sort, as I looked at the mild-ej'ed
little body smiling u|)ou me, and led her in.
How she had ever stirred one inch after those
wraps were put on, no one but herself will
ever kn<»w. LayiT after layer oann; off; furs,
cloth cloak, shawl, sack, small shawl, kuifc
jacket, cloud —

" You'll think I'm an onion, my dear," she
said peacefully looking at the pile, as I un-
wouuil the cloud and bnmght to view a very
little old lady, who hatl at first appeared
stout enough for two of the reality. "I'm
apt to be chilly across my shoulder.-', and
there are draughts everywhere in the cars.
No, don't take off my bonnet. I guess I'd
better go up stairs right away, on account
of my cap you '.inow. "

Wiuthrop jucked up bag, hand-basket,
shawl strap and paper-parcel, atid I foUowed
with the wraps.

"That is really the worst thing about
gettiiig old," (rrandmotiier Miiy said, as she
climbed the stairs, stopping on eacli step like
a child. "I'he trials I've had witn caps first
aiul last, and my own hair falling off till I
was a sight to see, and always taking a
basket out to spend the afternoon and take
tea, better than a bag or a paper because it
don't mash, but tht-n either does very well
It's a beautiful place. Yes, and it's a beauti
ful room. I'm only sorry you've got to pn
an old grandmother into it; l)ut then I'm no
helpless, and you can send me off when you
get tired of me."

Grandmother stopped tor breath, »ttd sat
down in a rocking-chair looking about Hp*
provingly.

"It's my own colours," she said. " I al-
ways did love blue, and I'm light-minded
enough to love it now. Folks talked soni*

id rather she

gden with the
L which for ao
)duce a power-
it came up
nge cake and
ing for the
ht have gone

it of it, and I
working dresa
topped befwre
via and cloaka
ud set on the

the brightest,

heard. "I'm

lU this travel-

you a hug if

f and I know
and prejudice
lie niild-e5'ed
lid led her in.
ch after those
b herself will
ame off; furs,
shawl, kuit

ny dear," she
pile, as I un-

view a very

irst appeared

ality. "I'm

oukler.-^, and

in tlie cars.

I guess I'd
, on account

land-basket,
id I followed

ling about
sai<l, a.s she
h step like
tn cups hrst
jg otr till I
taking a
on and take
r becau.-*e it
8 very well
t's a beauti
e got to pn
lien I'm no
when you

ith, a.nd aat
about Hp*

id. " I al-
l^ht-minded
ilked aoni*

GREEK MEETS GREEK.

Ifr

because I would wear blue ribbons, but it was
your dear grandfather's own wish, VVinthrop,
because hewassetagainst mourning. Idid wear
white considerable, but I came back to blue,
and there's one with pink. Onlv one though,
and a "ery pale pink," she went on looking
anxiously at me ; " but then I thought I
might, even if I was over seventy, and if
they didn't like it I'd keep it in the box. It
isn't so very gay with a black silk,iand it
does look cheerful; but I'm not particulir."

"There is nothing I have pined for more
than to wear a cap with pale, pink ribbons,
and now you can do it for me, grandmother."
How easy the word came! " Lunch is rea-
dy whenever jou are, unless yoa had rather
lie ''own "

"I'll lie down afterwards," she said, look-
ing at me with some curiosity in her gentle
old eyes. " You won't mind my looking, be-
cause I've never seen you. It's too bad I
just missed you that summer, and then I
was so sick when you were married, but
then we've time enough to look, and I'll
hurry down."

v\ hile she took out the blue ribbons from
the basket, I looked at her with equal curi-
osity. Time and life had dealt kiu'lly with j
her. Save two or three lines in the fore- I
head which came and went as she talked, |
the face had hardly a wrinkle, and lier com-
plexion might have made many a y luiig girl i
envious. Her eyes were soft hazel, and a |
delicate high nnse gave character which
might otlieiw'ise have been wanting, while
soft gray curls framed it all, only waiting
for t!ie blue ribbons to make her into a ie;il
picture. Mrs. Ut^den tapped at the door
a id came in as we stood there. The two
shook hands with some cordiality, though a
ahaile passed over Mrs. May's face. Mrs.
Ogden asked her some question aiiout her
jou-ney, hoped she wwuld bo comfortahle,
and went down stairs.

One or two tears rolled down Mrs. May's
face as she lookeil after her.

" you mustn't mind ine," she said. I
haven't seen your grandmother since your
'ather died, VVinthrop, and it brings it all
back again. You weren't such a great fel-
low tlien, — over six feet I'm sure."

*' Not quite : Kve feet eleven and a half in
niy stockings ; six feet in my boots, but big
enough to make two of you, yon fairy god-
other. Come along, we are all hungry.

Mrs. Oijtlen sat reading the morning pa-
per as we entered the room, and while we
waited for the tea to come in, I took this, rtal
ly the Hrst opportunity I hail had to look at
her unobserved, and studied her face.
She must have been a pretty girl
when colour and light were there.
Now the face was hned and seamed

with finest wrinkles, finer and closer than I
had ever thought such lines could come. The
forehead was high and narrow, the eyea
large and well set, but the nose and mouth
pinched and mean, the whole expression
cold, suspicious and tyrannical. T'all and
slender, without a fold or ^article of trim-
ming to break the outline, and with an un-
compromising black cap owning one severe
purple bow, she sat there, the incarnation of
the New England goddess, "Faculty."
Deep disapproval of all her surroundinga
seemed to emanate from her and form an at-
mosphere in which I was never likely to
dfaw a deep breath. As she looked up,
through the unconscious influence which al-
ways warns one of a watching eye, I read iu
hers all the dislike and distrust my Otvn had
sought to hide. Katy'g face looked through
the folding doors red and distressed, and I
went towards the lunch-table at which she
pointed mutely.

" What does it moan ?" I said, looking in
astonishment at the waiter where she sat my
array of odd cups long smce oanished to the
kitchen. " Why have you put these on ?
Get the proper cups on at once."

"I can't," said Katy hopelessly. "Mia'
Ogden she come down an' she looked, an'
sez them is her cups, bought with her own
money, and they ain't to be used when ther's
only tlie family here. 8he said 3t(me china
was plenty good for every day and she'd
stop extravagance wherever she had a right.
She said the big platters was hers and the
vegetable dishes, Imt 1 told her I knew you
had a new dinner set, and not more than one
was hers anyway."

" rhey can be used when there's com-
pany," said Mrs. Ogdeii's voice behind me.
"Tnat's what they're for, and I have no ob-
jections, and I'm not going to see things go
to destruction in my son's house, and I've
put the-'i away till they're needed."

" Very well," I said. Would she ever
know what force made the (jniet of that
' very well ?" " Take whatever is yours
and then there can be no difficulty. Katy
you can take down the set my girls gave
mo. We will use that here.tftei-. You are
growing so careful I think I can trust you
not to break or nick then.."

Mrs. Og<Uai looke<l aghast as we all sat
down. Her ecoiuimy was an instinct .strong-
er from the cnltnie <»f a lifetime, and us^)d
for other people's property quite as muoli as
her own. To see these lovely cups with
their delicate gold and brown monogram,
brought d(»wn to replace her plain white
ones, galled her very soul. Grandmother
May nodded approvingly over her's. Buny
talking with Wiuthrop, neither have noticed

i«

HIS GRANDMOTKiaS.

\\m

the Blight passage at arms, and I was glad
of it.

" Tea tastes so much better out of real
•hina," she said. " The worst thing about a
family in the house and boarding with them
was the thick, clumsy cups, but then they
were dear, good people. 1 did have a little
china saved from the fire," she went on,
tears again iilling her eyes, " Just some of
mother's I had packed in a box ; cups and
saucers and the big punch bowl and the
silver cups. That china is over a hundred
years oM, and I thought may be you'd like to
set it on the old sideboard ; but then that's
just i»s you like. Young people don't cai^
much. I gave she other punch bowl to Mrs.
Whitcomb, and she made cake in it. She
thought it w&j an old tiling not good for
much. Lawful heart ! How I did feel the
day I went over and saw it on her kitchen
table ; but then I couldn't say a word.
Folks have a right to do what they please
with their own —

" No they haven't," broke in Grandmother
Ogden decidedly. *• Nobody's a right to
waste and destroy, and somebody ought to
stop them if they do. If you hadn't been so
free with your givings, you'd have had more
to leave behind."

Grandmother May's delicate cheek flushed,
and she looked straight at the belligereut old
lady opposite.

" I've never been sorry for anything I gave
away but once," she said, " and even then I
had to remember, ' The Lord loveth a cheerful
giver,' and to thank Him when this dear boy
came to take the place his mother left empty.
We've him ii. common, Mrd. Ogden, and
muHt make the most of him."

Here VVinthrop, in terror of what might
come next, began an enthusiastic description
of the East llivcr bridge. (xrandmother
May, whom we found dreaded the water,
and had privately trembled and quaked
while crossing the ferry, listened witli deep
attention, and announced finally that guns
aud pistols could not make her cross it.

*' You needn't laugh," she said, " I've
always hated ferries and bridges too, and
I'm too old to help it now ; but then I shan't
be forced to, aud 'tisu't as if I was an
elephant and might break through any
minute, and all the ropes in Haddam not
strong enough to hoist me out."

"Grandmother you wander," said Wiuth-
rop. " Your tea is too strong."

" No it isn't at all, for that's what I saw.
Yee, indeed, and the poor creature knew
its keeper, and groaned aud moaned
to him fit to kill you, and the whole
town on the bank watching for the
bridge to go, but then it didn't
for a day, till the ice jammed up more, and

the elephant went down with it; but then it
was the rotten timber that let him throagh,
and iron isn't so likely to, but then th«
water's salt and it wouldn't be so pleasant
drowning as fresh. "

Even Grandmother Ogden relaxed a little
as Winthrop, lying back in his chair, laughed
till the tears came, while Grandmother May
giggled gently and then went on drinking
her tea.*

"That's beautiful bread," she said pre-
sently; "it really tastes like my mother's
bread. It's Vermont butter, I know, isn't
it ? and such good tea. You haven't any
butter, p]leanor — don't you think it's
healthy."

"Yes, indeed, only unfortunately I don't
like it. I am an infallible judge of its qual-
ity though "

"Eleanor's nose is her strong point," in-
terrupted VVinthrop, "and any gray hairs
you may see are the result of over-exertion in
hunting out the origin of some of its woes.
She knows the exact character aud range of
every smell within ten miles."

"Does it smell fire easy ?" Grandmother
May asked, turning to me with deep inte-
rest. " They've f 'ways laughed at me for
smelling so much Hre.and it's strange enough
that that one night I didn't. But then I
was asleep and not thinking; but I'm sure
I'd have sat up forty nights if that would
have stopped it."

"I smell it when there is any," said
Grandmother Ogden. " I should know the
very second a whiff got in. I'm used to
bearing things on my own mind ; I never step
into bed without booking everywhere. Had
you been particular to look everywhere that
night ?"

At this critical point the expressman came
with a load of trunks; an ancient haircloth,
two or three chests, and one of sole leather
ending with a mammoth Saratoga.

" Those old ones are fall of l>edding and
books," said Grandmother May, who had
trotted to the door and stood looking
anxiously at them. "You can put them any-
where, but the others are full of things I
want everj' day. If you wasn't too busy,
Eleanor, maybe you'd help me unpack a
little; but then I'm preity tired. Mr. Whit-
comb put me in a sleeping car, but I wasn't
going to sleep when we might run off the
track any minute, and so I said to myself I'd
watch; I did nap, but then I couldn't help
it."

" Come away," I said, leading her to the
parlour windows where she could watch her
treasures. " You will take cold in the open
door."

" My heart! seeold ladyOeden!" screamed
Grandmother May, sinking upon a chair.

GREEK BfEETS GREEK.

; but then it
him thrcagh,
but then tlx*
I 80 pleasaat

laxed a little
chair, laughed
dmother May
it on drinking

she said pre-
3 my mother's
I know, isn't
haven't any
1 think it's

nately I don't
ge of its qual-

ng point," in-
my gray hairs
ver-exertion in
le of its woes.
r and range of

' Grandmother
,vith deep inte-
etl at me for
strange enough
;. But then I
1 but I'm sure
s if that would

is any," said

LouM know the

I'm used to

d;I never step

y^\^here. Had

ory where that

pressman came
ent haircloth,
of sole leather
toga.

Ijedding and
ay, who had
stood looking
put them any-
of things I
isn't too busy,
me unpack ft
id. Mr. VVbit-
,r, but I wasn't
it run off the
d to myself I'd
I couldn't help

"Winthrop ! For pity's sake do see to
your grandmother. I look for nothing but
to see her fall dead in the midst of them."

Grandmother Ogden had taken one end of
the trunks and was urging the much-amazed
expressman up the steps.

" I ain't a going to have Winthrop strain
himself nor Tea neither," she said. "I'm
strong as either of 'em if I am seventy-six."

"Having proved it, grandmot'rier, please
go in," said Winthrop decidedly, as Tea
came around the corner and the eypress-
man drove away laughing.

" Don't you ever do such a thing again.
ma'am," said Grandmother May earnestly,
"I'd no more think of it than I'd fly ; but
then I'm n poor weak creature. I wish x
was half as strong as you are."

" I never coddled myself nor was I cod-
dled," returned Grandmother Ogden, half
moUified. "I ain't afraid to do a daj''s
work with anybody. "

" Well, I'm thankful to rest," said Grand-
mother May. " \^ hen one gets our age
there isn't much life left, and it's best to
take it comfortably. I always remember
what my blessed father used to say aittiii
in his arm-chair —

* Age should fly concourse ; cover in retreat
Defects of judgment, and the will subdue :
Walk thoughtful on the silent solemn shore
Of that vast ocem it must sail so soon,
And nut good works on board, and wait the

wind
That softly blows it into ports unknown."

ng her to the

ufd watch he?

old in the open

len!" screamed
upon a chair.

"Age should flyccmcourse — I believe it all
but that, but I do love sociability, and I'm
dreadful afraid I shall to the last ; but then
I don't know as there is any wickedness in
it." ^

Grandmother Ogden looked sharply to see
if anything personal were intended in "De-
fects of judgment and the will subdue," but
relaxed again, apparently deciding it was
merely poetry and not to be noticed.

By this time the trunks were all up stairs
andlJrandmother May hunied after.

"Time enough Monday," Winthrop said,
as he unstrapped the large one for her.
"You must sleep all the afternoon and not
think of getting settled to-day. Now I'm
oflF again. Take a nap and this evening
we'll have some music. You love that. "

"The bed does look inviting, but I don't
know as I ought to go to sleep. I'll just put
on my double go*vn and take « paper, and
when I'm rested we'll begin to get ac-
quainted," Grandmother May said,
looking after Winthrop as he sprang
into the buggy. You're not hard
to get acquainted with, are you", Eleanor T"

" You will very soon find out," I laughed
shutting her door and then running down.
2

Grandmother Ogden stood in the parlooi
door.

" Hadn't you better take a nap ?" I ask-
ed. " You must be tired unpacking. "

" I never waste daylight in sleeping," she
answered ; " if you've any mending I'll take
that."

" Oh no ! do amuse myself. Here are this
month's magazines. You like Scribner,
don't you ?"

" I never amuse myself," said Mrs. Ogden
with severe -emphasis. " When I read I
I read for improvement, and when I work I
work. I won't stand in your way though.
If you're going to do the dishes, I'll wipe."

" No thank you.Katy does them, as I told
you thib morning, except washing and iron-
ing days."

Then all I can say is you don't deserve
china, and I'll see there's none of mine left
down to be smashed, " and Mrs. Ogden
whisked up the stairs and shut her door vig-
orously.

This was depressing; but the sun was
shining, and the air so inviting that I put on
my hat and went out, first for a look at the
flower beds and then down the hill and the
wood across two fields, finding treasures of
moss and pussy willows. A sense of respon-
sibility came upon me as I opened my own
gate again, but there was no sound in the
house. Grandmother May was still asleep ;
and Grandmother Oyden had been locked in
her own room ever since I left, and had just
then gone up to Tea's, Katy said. The piano
had not been open all day. I put my cat-
kins in a little silver vase before me, and
played all the spring son<i;s which camo to
me, Mendelssohn's and J eller's and Schi'.
mann"s hylf regretful gladncs.s, the plaintive
minor ending full and sweet like sunshine
afrer April aain. Darkness was almost upon
us as' I turned to light the lamps, and saw
behind me Grandmother Ogden, erect and
silent.

" What do you call that you've been play-
ing," she said. " It ain't a tune."

" That depends. I don't suppose Tea
would call it a tune. "

" vVell, I may not know any mor'n Tea,
but it sounds outlandish to me. "

" I did not mean that," I hastened to ex-'
plain. " You have heard good nuisic, I
know, for Winthrop 's mother played beauti-
fully, they say."

" She played the same kind of things yo«
do," said Mrs. Ogden, uncompromisingly.
"No tune nor anything but fumbling round
on the keys. I like a tune if there's got to
be music at- all."

I sat down again and played Money Musk,
Fisher's Hornpipe and a dozen other old

••':"i'^:""-

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

1 -1 !

tunea and look up to see Grandmother May
chasseeing into the room."

"Ishouliii't wonder if my cap was all
crooked," she said, "but I couldn't keep on
the bed when I heard them. Come Mrs.
Ogden, you're so strong you can foot it, I
know," and the old lady actually seized
Grandmother Ogden's reluctant hand and
danced dowa the room,

*' I'm a minister's daucditcr," she said, her
cheeks pink, her eyes twinkling and the blue
ribbons very rakishly to one side. " But he
never said no, when we wanted a cot tra-
dance, and I believe the wickedness will
never get out of my feet."

"I hate fooling," said Mrs, Ogden, "Imost
in the wonls of Mr. F. 's aunt.

"It's good for U3 sometimes," said Grand-
mother May sinking into an arm-chair and
settling her caj). " 1 bad a beautiful nap,
Eleanor, and when I waked up, there was
that music going and it seemed just as it I
could see old Governor Morgan standing at
the head of the room. Oh! a very elegant
man, my dear, I can tell you, just as he did
the ni^ht we opened tlie ball in Hartford ;
but then I ought not to think of such things,
and not far from my end; but then tiiey come
of thems^elvt^s, sometimes. Do you think I'm
crazy, my dear?"

'•Not a hit of it,'' I said wondering if
Crandmother Ogden had evtr opened a ball,
and if she would get over this dreadful way
of looking as if she felt herstlf surrounded
by lunaticis, and must be on her guard. The
expression lasttd even after Winthiop came.
She talked, even smiled laintly at times, but
listened to Grandmother May's steady flow,
as if she were a detective taking notes, and
went to bed at last with the air of liaving
gained valuable information with which to
annihilate us on the morrow.

'^ CHAPTER V.

STRIKK AND PEACE,

Sunday passed peacefully enough and Mon-
day came. Before daylight we heard the
opening and (^hutting of doors. Loud voices
sounded from the kitchen, and then I heard
Tea in Mrs. Ogden's room, and a general
commotion ; Grandmother May calUd from
her door, "There ain't anything atire is
there?" and Winthrop shouted, "no I go to
sleep again, grandmother ! " through the
keyhole.

Katy's face was one of anguish when I went
into the kitchen, and by the washtub stood
Grandmother Ogden in a calico sack and
skirt well up to her ankles and of unheard-of
ugliness, scrubbing away futiously.

"Don't do that, I beg of you," I said.

" How can you ? Katy is a good washer and
perfectly able to do all you need."

" I ain't uoing, at my time of life, to wash
any day but Monday," Mrs. Ogden said,
wiping the suds from her arms and turning
upon me. "Your help said, when I came
down, Tuesday was the day, and I said ' I
ain't a fool and none of your Toosdays tor
me.' I'm well aware the ways of this house
is all new fangled ones, and its my business
to put up with them, but wash Tjosday I
won't and shan't."

"As you please," I said, quietly as rising
indignation would let me. " I prefer Tues-
day because I have found it best. .Sunday
always makes a good deal f work, and I
have found a quiet Monday just the thing
for straightening everything for the week.
We rub the silver or do any needed baking
or sweeping, and put tlie clothes in soak.
It can't make much difference to you ?"

•' A girl with any spring would do the
whole in one day."

" That may be, though it seems tome that
washing and the necessary cleaning which
follows, is quite enough for one day's work."

" 'Tain't for me — 1 could do the whole of
your work my.^elf, and I'm nady to. A
house like this with every convenience and
a ]s7 trollop of a girl leading Bayard
Taylor's Travels, before breakfast ! I'd
travel her !"

"It was only one minute when I was
dusting the parlour end," sighed Katy.

"The parlour end, I .'•hould think," Mrs. Og-
den .''aid i-tcrnly, "A pretty pat^s things have
C(.me to when decent kitchens have to liave
'parlour ends,' and my cherry wood table
with a drawer that I bought ;itold Mr. Deer-
inu's sale, with a cloth on it, and a liook
e-helf and picture over it, and my lady in her
rocking chair at the ' par-Ioiir end.' ^he'd
better be scrubbing the k tehen stairs !"

"She's boiling her stockings in the farina
boiler," said Katy with the calm of despair,
and beckoning me into the hall. " 1 l<dd
her I'd get the wash-boiler, but she ain't
willing. Slie said I could boil eggs in it if I
was a mind to, but she chose things suitable
for size, and wasn't going to boil stockings
ill a thine a mile deep'"

"Now this is too much !" I said hastily. "I
cannut adow clothes to be boiled in anything
we use in preparing fond. Wash all you
wish if it's any pleasure to you, but
please use only the things intended for that
purpose."

" You mean to say, do you, that my stock-
ings are uoing to dirty your tin so't can't be
cleared';"

" Yes, ma'am, I should never dream of do-
ing such a thing myself, and why should yoa
who are such a particular housekeeper ?"

STBIFE AND PEACE.

(\ washer and

life, to wash
Ogden Paid,

and turning
when I came
nd I said ' I
Toosdays tor
of this house

my business
ish Toosday I

ietly as rising
I prefer Tues-
)tfet. iSunday
■ work, and I
just the ihing
jr the week,
leeded baking
lies in soak.
;o you V"
vould do the

ms to me that
eaning which
J day's work."
t) the whole of
nady to. A
ivenience and
idiiig Bayard
eaktast ! I'd

when I was

d Katy.

ink," Mrs. Og-

,ss tilings have

ave to have

wood table

d Mr. Deer-

aud a liook

y lady in her

end.' Nhe'd

stairs !"

the farina
in oi despair,
"1 told
ut stie ain't
ggs ill it if I
ngs suitable
oil stockings

id hastily. "I
I'in anything
ash nil you
you, but

ded for that

lat my stock-
so't can't be

• dream of do-
y should yoa
ikeeper Y'

P^Grandmother Ogden looked at me and

a detestable laugh, which maile

blood rush to my chweks, Tlieii she

laughed
the

11.

carefully took out every piece, closed the
tubs, put on an ohl hat of Winthrops, lifted
the r'arina-kettle from the range and walked
out of the kitchen door.

" What ilo you want to do ?" I asked.

" I'm going whe'-e I can do my washing to
suit mysfdr. I guess Tea won't drive me out
of his hou«e. "

"But I doa'fc drive you out. I want you
to do what pleases you, only not with the
farina l)f>iler. "

Grandmother <Jgden was far up the path
before I ended.

"S.je's tjaken away the funny little three
legged iron pot, " moaned Katy, "that we
like 30 much, and the big spider. She says
she may want to cook soinething in her own
room sometimes, and she wants to know
about the old tins you gave Tea's wife. She
rememiieied every one, and says we've got
to pay for tliem." •

'• Wlio iloex tliis house belong to?" I said,
rualiing into Winthrop. " Your grandmother
claims at least halt" of everything in it "

" Why she diil get a good deal I believe,"
said Wiufchrop uneasily. *' I wasn't here,
but I know fcxther let her run tlie house for a
while just to please her. Get new tilings if
she wants the old, only don't have any
fuss over it. She is used to such prudent,
careful living that I dare say v.'e do seem
recklcsslj extrava-ant. Give her her hea 1
all you can. She's old, and can't have it
long. '•

" It's too small to talk about at all.
ICverytliing stems so petty, and yet we must
have a delinite nmlerstiuuling. "

" Have it. then, only quietly," answered
Winthfop a little irritubly. I remembered
my theory that household worries were dis-
tinctly my sphere, and was silent. What-
ever else happened, she should not cast even
a shadow liet. Veen Wintlu op and me. How
could there be an understanding, though,
when, once for all, apparently, she had taken
the ground that 1 and my modes of work
were alike .*illy and wrong.

" I will not Ije cross, I will be patient," I
said to my.«elf ; "I may be ohl and hateful
by-amldiye;" but when Norma Annette came
down to say that Mrs. Ogden had had her
breakfast and we need not save any, philoso-
phy tied again, and I looked at v\ inthrop
darkly and desperately.

"Take it easy, little wife," he said as he
kissed me good bye. " Don't let her fret
you. Use your surplus energy in^ putting
the other G. in order. "

I went up stairs listlessly. To begia the
day with a passion was demoralizing, and I

wanted to run away to the woods or any-
where where peace and | stillness ruled,
(irandmother May sat helplessly before her
trunks as 1 reluctantly went in.

"Such beautiful closet room," she said,
" Shelves and drawers and all, and a big
i^ureaii, and here I can't tell where 1 want a
tiling, nor where it is. I want everything
where 1 can lay my hand on it any time, and
iiow i m to remember, in a new place, unless
I have a string on my tinger, but then every
linger wouldn't begin to be enough for all of
them. 'Tisn't as if 1 had a family and had to
know in case anybody was scalded ; but then
there might be a scald here, and there's beau-
tiful chl linen somewhere. Mis. Whitcoinb
packed for me. She said I wasn't fit, and I
wasn't."

"Then you don't know where the things
are any better than I do ? I'm glad of it,
because now we will takeone trunk at a time,
if you don't mind, and just settle as we go.
Then we sliall both know, and if you are
sick, it will be so much easier to rind what
you want. Shall I, or had you rather do it
alone ? "

" No, indeed ; I'll be (mly too glad of
help. My hands shake, and the grassnopper
has become a burden ; but then why
8h( uldn't it at seventy-four ; but tlien
think of old lady Ogden ! My heart ! To
think how she tlies round now. She'll kill
iierself. I don't know what you'll think of
so many duds, but 1 always thought I couldn't
see when I was old, and I'd sew enough to
last, sj nobody need be troubled."

" But there are things here that have never
been worn, quantities, "I said in astonishment,
..s pile atter pile of exquisitely made under-
clothing came from the great trunk. " Why
it is all done by hand ! I don't wonder you
were afraid you might lose your eye-
sight. These stitches are nex& to invisible."

"1 meant they should be," said the old lady
with pride ; " I'm no friend to machine work,
1 can tell you. Not but that they're useful
in a large family, though I did tor my seven
and t\uy had plenty too. But then we
weren't in such a hurry then. We took time
ami enjoyed ourselves. Now there are
towels 1 spun myself, and a few my mother
did. It's a mercy they were all saved ; but
then I could have got along if t ley hndii't
been, and Nobbs 'most killed himself getting
out things from the h(»use. He Said he
wouldn't let anything burn he could get hold
of. Now there's that embroidery, I don't
believe there's any nun's work any better, if
I did do it. I loved it. "

She held up a white dress of finest lawn,
made with hnig pointed cape and riiffles
everywhere all edged with daintiest lace
work.

=5C5=

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

liilll

liii;!

i ni!

I ■;

! !•

*' I wouldn't let it wear out," she said.
" I always did it up myself, and it's been
laid by for years. I don t know why except
that your dear grandfather courted me in
that dress, and always wanted me to wear
white. He couldn't realize I was getting
a silly old Wv^man. Dear heart! He'd be
over ni "ty now. See this gold-coloured
brocade ? That was mother's, and I brought
it for tableaux. You'd never think the times
it has been lent. We'd better leave it in the
trunk, hadn't we ?"

So the old lady wandered on, a story for
everything and work lagged as I listened.
By lunch time, however, we had accomplished
a great deal. Tea carried two empty trunks
to the attic, and Grandmother May came
down murmuring.

"Upper drawer, caps and muslins ; second
one, stockings and underclothes ; third one,
skirts. It'll be a blessing if I can remember.
Upper drawer, caps and collars. There ! I
won't keep saying it like an old parrot. If I
don't remember I can hunt. I've nothing
else to do, but tlien I ought to have — and to
think Mrs. Ogden, there you are, and never
came to breakfast. I do think you shouldn't
work so."

"My washing is done and pretty much all
the ironing," said Grandmother Ogden trium-
phantly, "and I've got the afternoon to sort
things some. People ain't what they used
to Vie. There's lazy shif'less ways everywhere,
and of all theshif'lessuess ever I saw. Tea's
wife does beat. I gave her a good piece of
my mind this morning. There's that Normy,
and of ail the heathenish names, and she
dosen't do a stroke and going on seven. When
I was seven I washed every dish and stood
on a cricket to pound clothes.and made bed-
quilts and knit stockings, and didn't have an
idle minute. You needn't tell me folks are
better off now. I know better."

"The fathers have eaten the sour grapes and
the children's teeth are set on edge." I said
involuntarily, "if our grandmothers had not
worked so intensely, there would have been
more strength to give the next generation.
They were only a remove or two from stout
English stock, and had not given into this
wearing and exactingclimate. They used up
the muscles and left us only nerves."

"You're talking Greek for all me," said
Grandmother Ogden, "Folks that are a mind
to work can work, and folks that ain't, won't.
When I've gotto stop I'm ready to die. I've
got to work every day, and you'd better gay
aow El'ner what you want done, for do I
must. I'd as soon clean house."

"The hoase is cleaned and ready for sum-
mer."

Mr. Ogden's eyebrows went up, ftnd aha
•niffed.

"I shouldn't have thought so; bat if 'tis,
'tis. I'll make the beds then and see to tho
rooms."

"Very well," I said, thinking this would
be better than interfering with Katy's routine,
and with but faint idea of what it might in-
volve. Grandmother May looked disturbed.

"I don't suppose you ever thought what
a gond for nothing old body I was,' she said,
•'I'll do anything in the world you want
done, Eleanor, but everything looks so nice
it seems as if it all came so without any trou-
ble; but then I know it doesn't, and I've done
a sight in my life, but then I do love not
to fuss. I'm twenty years older than Mrs.
Ogden this very miwutj."

"It's because you've always been coddled
and I haven't, "returned Grandmother Ogden
in better humour than I had yet seen her.
"I don't know as I told you, El'ner, j that
down to church yesterday, I saw Mrs. Ward
and a good many of my intimate friend8,and
they said they should come up right away.
Mrs. War<^says she called on you and liked
you very well, but you never seemed in any.
huny to return them ; and Mrs. Crane says
you have the name of being very stiflF. "

" It won't limber her to tell her that,"
said Grandmother May. *' Seems to me it's
just as well not to tell what folks say, be-
cause they say too much and generally don't
know a ay thing about it. I guess Eleanor
isn't stiff," and she beamed upon me over her
tea-cup.

"It is perfectly true that I am not social,"
I said; " I have never had anything to do
with that sort of life; and cannot make my-
self like to have my day spoiled by people I
care nothing about. There is so much to do,
and I am growing old enough now to have the
hours seem more precious than they used
to."

" I don't just remember your age. You're
considerable older'n Winthrop, ain't you,"
said Mrs. Ogden suavely. Grandmother May
opened her eyes. "Dear heart !" she said.
"Why you haven't looked at her through
your glasses yet. She's ten years younger'n
Winthrop. Winthrop takes after his father.
He's growing old young. "

"Well he ain't too old for all sorts of
foolishness yet," said Mrs. Ogden rising and
putting the remaining butter on her plate
back on the butter-dish. " I'm going to
mend this afternoon, El'ner, and if I'm
wanted I can be called."

"She's a very stirring woman," said Grand-
mother May, as she whisked from the room
despondently. " I couldn't ever be equal to
her."

" I implore you never to dream of trying,"
I said sitting down by her. " Two stirrers
would leave nothing of me. You are so little

to; bat if 'tis,
and see to tho

ig this would
Katy 'a routine,
it it mi^^ht in-
ked disturbed,
thought what
was,' she said,
rid you want
looks 80 nice
hout any trou-
;,and I've done
[ do love not
der than Mrs.

1 been coddled
I mother Ogden

yet seen her.
, El'ner, jthat
law Mrs. Ward
ite fiiends.and
ip right away.
1 you and liked
seemed in any.
Irs. Crane Bays
sry stiff."
tell her that,"
eems to me it's
; folks say, be-
generally don't

guess Eleanor
)on me over her

am not social,"
mything to do
niiot make my-
led by people I

so much to do,
low to have the

lan they used

ir age. You're
ain't you,"
md mother May
rt !" she said.
at her through
^'ears younger'n
if ter his father.

3r all sorts of
|den rising and
r on her plate
I'm going to
•, and if I'm

STRIPE AND PEACE.

," said Grand-

frora the room

ver be equal to

sara of trying,"
"Two stirrers
Tou are so little

and peaceful and pretty, grandmother, it
rests me to look at you. I can't believe you
have gonn throiijrli as many troubles. "

" I'-A everythiijg to be thankful for child.
I've never had anything hut loving kindness
all my days. Folks said ur- husband spoiled
me, but then I was spoiled before he had
anything to do with me. Vy father ami
mother were tenderer thau most old-fush-
ioned fathers and motliera. I mean to suv,
I suppose the others felt the same, but didn't
show it so much. I always called them sir
and madam, and minded in a minute, but
t loy petted me for all. I've always been a
silly body, but then God has been very good
to me. I've never quarrelled with folks aud
it's too late to begin."

" Didn't you ever detest anybody and want
to get far out of their way as you could ?"

" I like some better than others, "returned
Grandmother May guardedly ; "but I can
get along with almost anybody. It's best not
to let iolka' doings trouble you. ■•Rise right
above it and you'll feel bettei'. HeH in the Lord,
it says ; not fret, and fuss and worry, but rest;
but then everybody can't have the same way,
and I expect I fret fo^ks most to death some-
times, but then I don't mean to."

" Bless your heart ! I'm sure of that !" I
said, but grandmother May did not hear.
She had picked up " My Daughter Elinor,"
and was looking at it delightedly.

"I don't know but what you'll think it
wicked," she said, "but I do love a good
story, and I wouldn't tell everybody, but I
read a sight of novels ; but then I read a
aightof sermons too. All my blessed father's,
that I know most by heart, and Scott's
Commentaries, and Edward's, but then I
don't know as they're enough to balance
some awful ones I didn't mean to read but
couldn't help it when I once got going.
"Cometh up as a flower I" My heart ! I
wouldn't let a daughter of mine read it ; but
then I couldn't help crying over it. Now
I'll lie down with the book awhile and you're
not to think a word about me. I'm always
la my room a great deal. And I know you're
not used to folks about cdl the time. I've
got one friend Elinor, I haven't told you
about, and I'm afraid you'll think it's dread-
ful."

Grandmother Mjiy drew from her pocket a
small sdver box marked L. M., and opening
it showed a vanilla beau imbedded in a dark
powder.

" It's my blessed father's snuff-box," she
.said, " and I began with just dmelling the
bean and sneezing myself 'most to pieces if I
got a mite of the snuff with it, and father
used to say, ' Now Sibbil, don't you ever
get into such a habit, for it holds you tir.n
when you do, and I'd break ofl if I could.'

I never thought of such a thing ; but all at
once there I was ^king a pincii every day,
and now I don't sirppose I could stop any-
more than I could fly. You're ashamed of
me, ain't you ? There ! you needn't say a
word, I see in

your

face

you

don't like

it. but then it shan't trouble you, I promise
you."

" My face has a bad habit of telling tales,"
'I said, " but I can't honestly say that I do.
All that I know about snuff taking is the
"dippers" in South Carolina. Oh! those
horrid women and their yellow mouths !
That dainty old box seems very different."

" I drop it round sometimes," said Grand-
mother May anxiously, "and that did put
Mrs. VVhitcomb out ; but then it's good for
moths ; but then I oughtn't to make that an
excuse. Anyway it's my vice. Everybody
has something, but then I've got a great
many," and she trotted off as if all the com-
mandments could rise up against her if they
would.

Quite calm and self-possessed, I de*
cicied now would be a good time
to call on Grandmother Ogden, and
without waiting for deliberation I ran up
and tapped at the door. She looked sur-
prised as I answered her "come in," but
pulled forward a rocking chair and began to
talk at once upon the weather. Evidently,
on her own ground she had some theory of
civility, and I was amused to And her
actually entertaining me as though I were a
bashful caller and must be encouraged.

The " Rioters " referred to by Tea had
been brought out and hung ; one a gaunt and
wooden woman with short waist and high
comb and an expression of grim determina-
tion which emanated from the whole figure
in spite of the abominable painting. The
other was evidently by an able hand ; a
child's head with closed eyes and pinchsd
and suffering face.

"That's Wiuthrop's sister," she said, fol-
lowing my eyes, "taken after death, and the
large one is my sist;»;r Sophia. She was a
mister hand for work, but she died of an
eating cancer befire she was flfty."

" How can you bear it," I asked ; " that
child's facf! is dreadful. It is bad as a ghost
in the room. "

Mrs. Ogden looked at me with displeased
astonishment.

" I'm thankful to say I haven't any such
feelings," she said ; " I don't see what there
ii. out of the way.'

" Ugly, unpleasant, harrowiug things have
no business to exist," I said, forgetti-i - my
auditor and carried out of myself by the
night-mare like effect of the two faces ; " I'd
burn those pictures if they were mine, and
scatter the ashes so that no chance of re«

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

liiili

I (111 , (

:'t-

flurrention might ever come €o such hideous
forbidding things. "I'd—"

" I don't doubt ynu'd be glad to burn them
and me with them," said Mrs, Oj^den bit-
terly, " But you won't have a chance very
soon. I can't please you by saying I feel
like breaking down, and lill 1 do, you ain't
going to touch them if I have to sit up
nights."

" Now I have done it," I said desperately.
" I di(bi't mean that I should or wouM, I
only meant they were unplt ant to ine per-
sonally. Some tnif:ht like tnem. Whv will
you think all the time that I want to go
against you? Why won't you take things
as I n^ean, and be peaceable?"

Mrs. Ogden rose rigidly.

"I mean," 1 cried, " I want you to be
comfortable and enjoy life. I don't want
you to think we are all trying to make you
unhappy. We want to have you have
everything you want. Take all your things
and fix tliem any way you want, only do be
oamfortable. "

If an evil spirit had stood behind, prompt-
ing every word I doubt if the elfect could
have been more disastrous.

" Eleanor Oyden," the old lady said, " I
didn't come here to l)e insulted, though 1
know you're ylad enough to do it. As lontr
as I am here I shall look out for my grand -
eon's interests whether you like it or not, and
I shall do what I can to save his property
from destruction. I am friend enou^ to you
to speak my mind when it's necessary, and if
you don't like it I can't help it, I've some
rights still in this house."

"I intended you shall have all you are
entitled to," I said. "Now Grandmother
Ogden do let us 1. friends. Take all your
own things so thai y^n need not feel we are
spoiling them, and ; .on do consent to be
comfortable."

" I'll take my things," she answered, every
wrinkle tilled with uncompromising hostility,
" yes, I'll take them and leave as soon as I
can. I'll ask VViutbrop where I had better
go, and then go, "

"But nobody wants you to go," I said,
quite beside myself. "This is your home
and all we want is peace, "

" You shall have it soon," said Mrs, Ogden
turning from me and taking up her mending.
I went out. This dreary persistency was
something I could not meet. In tho house
only three days and now such a rupture.
Winthrop could not think it anything but
my own fault, and how was it to be settled.
I walked up the garden path to the orchard,
where Tea was busy about the apple trees
and stood watching him.

" You ain't so chipper as common, be ye,"
he said presently looking at me from under

his eyebrows. "Seems to me you kind of
dragged along. Old lady's too much for ye,
ain't she?"

" She says she is going away, Tea," I said
abjectly, "and I don't know how to stop
her. I've tried to make hcsr feel better."

"Now don't you fret," Tea said looking
with real concern at me. "That's the tune
she always .sings when thiiiL's don't suit, imt
she don't never go. Many'a the time she has
come out to me and said, 'Tea, I'm going
to-morrow, antl you can 3ome in and help me
[lack my things,' but she never goes. My
sakes, if women folks ain't the contrarifcst. No
wonder there scieatning for tlieir rights.
Gracious knows they do wioiigs enough, an'
there oughter "oe a right stuck in somewhereH,
Women can't hitch horses. They will
light."

" You are mistaken. Tea, there is no light.
I mean that there need be none, I am not
complaining."

"Jest 8(»,"saidTea dryly, "I saw i;herewasn't
no trouble, an was jes sort of congratulatin'
vou. Come Mis' Winthrop ! I'm old enough
ro be your father, an' you can't scare me
with no manners that ever was. There
ain't a woman's tri<',k I ain't up to. I've bed
four, an' what one hadn't another had. Jest
you steer jjvetty clear o' the oM lady an'
you'll do. She's a good friend to me, but it
takes calkilation to know what's comin' an'
dander ain't no use. Give her her head."

"How can anybody give her more than
she takes already," I thought, turning back
encourai,'ed in spite of myself. The sound
of the door bell stopped further con^idera"
tion of my problem. Grandmother Ogden
appeared and met her old acquaintances
with such a mihlness and meekness of mai :■
ner, such appearance of suffering and mis-
understood innocence, that I looked at her
in amazement. Evidently I had two dis-
tinct people to deal with, and the alphabet
of life with her was yet to be learned.

CHAPTER VI.

FANNY.

Nothing more was said of leaving, and at
the end of a fortnight life set^med to have
adjusted itself as it was likely to remain.
Grandmother Ogden rose with the dawn,
and did Heaven only knows what in her
rocm till breakfast time, though judging
merely by sound, I should say her personal
property, trunks and, tables included, was
shaken out of the window and set back in
place with a thump. After breakfast, I
knew more about it. Grandmother May
was declared too feeble to make her own
bed properly, and in her room and mine
Mrs. Ogden flew about for aa hour or two

FANNY.

lie, I am not

with an energy positively unearthly. Blank-
ets and sheets waved from every window,
Mattresses bounced out on the piazza roof,
were pounded and shaken fiercely and
bounced back again. pjverything that
could be moved, moved. Everything tliat
could not, wa3 attacked bem-ath withivlonji-
handled brush, and made to give out the
last reluctant and clint;ing ])article of dust,
and even the boldest m<>th could Hnd no
spot for retirement and peaceful following
out of its own line of life.

This crusade had it <lisad vantages for me,
for by its means my internal resources came
to be known far better than I wished. The
bureau drawers came out because there
inight be <hist at the back, and tlieir con-
tents were duly noted. My closet shelves
were attacked for the same reason, and every
box and bundle carefully examined. Noth-
ing escaped till, when one morning, I di.«cov-
ered her at my desk shaking out papers and
letters, and dusting its most sacred recesses,
I lot;ked it and i)()th bureaus then and there,
and asserted my intention of caring for
them myself My beloved linen room, my
pride and delight, odorous with lavender and
dried rose-loaves, she invaded in an un-
guarded hour when the key had been left in
the door, and T found her counting sheets
and pillow-cases and testing the quality of
napkins and tablecLiths. I could not well
carry a jingling bunch of keys, and yet she
found tiieir most secret hiding places, liy an
instinct, not so much curiosity, as the feel-
ing that she had perfect and undoubted
right to full knowledge of whatever went on
in the house, and any attempt to lianlk her
was fraud and outrage. We had no personal
encounters. She seemed to have made up
her minil to say as little as possible to me.
We preserved a species of armed neutrality,
and yet I was conscious that she watched
keenly and constantly, and knew my life in
all its outward aspects, from my hours for
reading or practising down to the contents of
my bundle and rag-bags, (piite as well as my-
self.

It was hot in one week or many that I
learned to tolerate this. I had determined
not to complain to Winthrop, but there were
many times when in talking or reading to-
gether; I heard a faint rustle, and went to
the door just iu time to see her retreating
figure. Often, leaning partl> over the
stairs, she said as she saw me uaexpectedly
appear,

" Oh ! I was just looking down, I thought
I heard the cat."

There were times when I burned to ans-
wer, "You are the cat yourself ! a miserable,
ineaking listener," but did succeed in keep-
ing stilL

Katy's life had become a burden to her.
Her room was searched openly, and loud
l)roclamation made of the degree of dirt each
raid disclosed. *' The help " v;is a creature
having no rights anybodj' was lioiind to re-
«[)ect, and at last' T ha<l to declare
distinctly that no one was to enter
her quarters but myself and tlif owner.
This stopped open proceedings, but private
(mes went on, until the only resource was 1o
lock tlie door and ])ncket the key. Si. with
books. The "parlour end, "as the south win-
dow in the kirdien had V)een dubbeil, had its
own little shelf of books which Katy used
as she found time. One by one these disap-
peared, till Winthrop himself brought them
from Mrs. Ogdeii's room, and told her they
Avere never to l»e taken from this plane.

As for G rami mother May she settled at
once into a routine which fully met my idea
of an old lady's life. She rose just in time for
breakfast, and not a minute before, and ate it
placidly, talking every spare instant,
A\hether anyboilv could listen or not. Then
the morning papers, every item in tliem,
from congressional news up and down.

Newspapers, I found, were her passion.
She took two religious weeklies ; had the
town and county papers of her old home, and
nothing pleased her better tlian a Post or
Evening Mail, brought specially to her and
presented with- due ceremony. Her room
looked like an editor's den. She fairly
absorlie*! newspapers, ami resented, far as
her gentle nature admitted such a feeling,
the (lestruction of a single one. She vibrated
between the different parties like a pendulum,
taking the colour of the last leader. Demo-
cratic at nine, Republican at ten. Murders,
Hres, deaths of great people and deaths of
small ; the last new barn in Windham county,
and the completion of the Washington monu-
ment were all alike interesting. Each day
brought more than she c^uld possibly attend
to. She turned over the "novel shelf" on
my book rack with ever fresh delight. No
mouse rejoiced more in a new cheese than
she in a new story. The chara'^ters for the
time being were her intimate friends. She
saw startling resemblances between them and
some one she had known, and talke<l of her
friends and of the last hero or heroine, eo
indiscriminately, that Grandmother Ogdea
was confounded at the extent and character
of her acquaintance, and could never under-
stand the distinction to be made.

In spite of her seventy-four years Grand-
mother May was in many ways still a child.
Sweet natured and amiable, she had been
petted and guarded through her whole life.
With its dark side she had little to do, and
shrank from searching out a why for even the
limited amount of evil that had come under

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

".J]

i" lil

I ■>!

'';

! !

ber own observation. There must have been
French blood from some remote anoeHtor, for
many traits of that much abused people
showed daily. She loved daiiity living;
delicate food delicately served and eaten witli
Blow, deliberate enjoyment. Gay colours,
flowers, bright ribbons, sunshine Mere es-
sential elements of her daily life, and yet
with the sensuous side, was the Yankee
common sense, genuine thrift and economy.
And jblending with the whcde, a lovely re-
ligious faitli, in which her life seemed to
rebt and abide. It seemed as if such a na
ture ought to react on the troubled, peevish,
bad old mind of Grandmother Ogden, but the
latter for a long time saw only the frivolous
aide, and regarded her as a hopelessly
irorldly old lady.

The barriers were gradually broken down.
Grandmother May delighted in personal de-
tails of every, sort, and was a genuine
though harmless gossip. Also she had u
true New England faith in medicine. The
little table by her bed bristled with bottles.
Camphor and ginger for faintness ; cherry
pectoral for colds ; arnica and oil for possi-
ble rheumatism, and unnumbered pills and
powders. A pale face or poor appetite m as
au immediate passport to her sympathies,
and she prescribed doses enough to ruin the
best constitution.

Grandmother Ogden suffered often from
what she called " a sinking," due wholly to
the fact, thai- in that in the hope of saving
^\ inthrop some expense she ate at times
barely enough to keep soul and body to-
gether. Grandmother May kept a keen
■watch upon thtse attacks, trotted back and
forth with ginger and wliiskey, and asked
with such unaffected interest every morning
if she felt any easier at her stomach, that 1
had not the heart to beg her to make her
medical inquiries in private. A curious sort
oi friendship grew up at last between thtm,
and often I heard the steady hum of voices
from one room or another.

Once a day I called on each one, generally
uiter lunch, that no feeling of neglect might
trouble them. Grandmother Ogden received
me usually with severe politeness, but as
GrandmotV'er May came hnally at the same
time full of the last disaster in the newspa-
per or novel world in which she moved,
Grandmother Ogden unbent enoueh to sigh
over the wickedness of things in general,
and announce that nothing was as it used to
be. Occasionally I coaxed the two to ride,
but neither really enjoyed it. Grandmother
May shivered if out door air struck her, and
said ahe felt she must take care of herself
and not take cold. She had a series of
•mall shawls graded in thickness to meet the
different tem{>eratures encountered, and she

urged them upon Grandmother Ogden, un-
disturbed by the stern rejection which
iininediat<!ly ensued. . The highest winds
were never too high for a rush of
the former up to Tea's or down to the office.
A spirit of furious energy cncoinpaHsedC J rand-
mother Ogden and made rest impossdde, and
I grew more and more thankful for the dear,
loving old soul, whose life went by so easily
and peacefrdly.

With. May came Fanny, my pretty Fanny,
whose face wa:3 perpetual refreshment. She
took in the situation at once ; fell in love with
Grandmother May and treated Grandmother
Ogden with distinguished consideration,
wluch that lady was doubtful whether to re-
sent as sarcasm or receive as merely her due.
Katy bowed down before her, spent much
valuable time and made herself look like a
distracted Skye terrier, crimping her hair in
a wild imitation of Fanny's Huffy curls.
Tea succumbed at once, and would have
risen at midnight to harness Prince had she
wished it. Norma Annette followed her ad-
miringly, and even the wizened baby felt the
charm and smiled in baby-like fashion into
her bonny brown eyes. If Fanny was not
pretty she was irresistible, and that is
better. She fitted into the family lite im-
mediately, and in a week it seemed as if she
had always been there. We had doubled in
numbers, and yet there seemed but little
more to do, as each one had assumed certain
duties. Grandmother May shook her head
plaintively.

"I'm like a flower of the field," she said.
"I toil not neither do I spin ; but then I
did spin in my time, and I could again if
there was any call for it; but then nobody'd
thank me. I might dust the parlour.
Wouldn't you like me to, Eleanor ? I knovr
you always say 'no,' and I might knock over
something, but then I could if you liked.
You mustn't let Fanny do too much. Seems
to me she looked a little yellow this morning;
just a mite. She ought to have camomile.
That's very wholesome in the spring, and the
thoroughwort is too ; but then she uon't like
it she tays. Siie ought to take it. I'm sure
you're a little mite yellow, Fanny. "

" Of course 1 am," Fanny said, "standing
right by you Grandmother May, and your
sinful, corn coloured libbons, fairly dazzling
my eyes. It's all a reflection from them.
Soak them in camomile if you like, but i-ot
me."

"But I must look after your health, my
child. I'm sure you need something, and
Eleanor doesn't know about feebleness ; but
then you fly around so, you'll wear yourself
out."

"Come into New York with us to day and
I'll take a pint of herb tea if you Uke."

i.-(Jii

FANNY.

ler Ogden, un-
je(;ti()n which
light'ht winds
u rus)i of
n to the office.
iipaHseiKJraud"
rnpdssible, and
il for the dear,
it by 80 easily

pretty Fanny,
?shment. She
ell in love with
[ Grandmother
consideration,
whether to re-
lerely her due.
r, spent much
3lf look like a
ing her hair in
3 liuflty curls.
I would have
^riuce had she
lUowed her ad-
d baby felt the
e fashion into
I'anny was not
and that is
family lite im-
!emed as if she
ad doubled in
lied but little
isumtd certain
look her head

eld," she eaid.

; but then I
ould again if
then nobody'd
the parlour,
nor ? 1 kno\r
;ht knock ovev
if you liked,
nuch. Seems
' this morning;
ive camomile,
pring, and the

she uou't like

it. I'm sure
luy."
id, " standing

ay, and your

airly dazzling

from them.

like, but i.ot

ir health, my
mething, and
ebleness ; but
wear yourself

VLB to day and
k like."

Grandmother May shrank back behind

1 the t"»>le as if somethini^ must be put

at oiioe between herself and such a

[desperate thought. Nothing in all the great

[city had thus far had attraction enough to

make her cross the dreaded ferry and enter

that realm of murders, fires, garrotters, and

pickpockets. That she had passed through

iL and jet reached us in full possession of

life, senses and property, was a Providential

I preservation, and she marvelled at our run-

Jningiaand out, as if we headed a forlorn

(hope at every trip.

i'ifty years before, on her wedding jour-
I ney, she had spent a week there : boarded
I at a private house on Broad street, gone to
I church at old Trinity, and ridden out into
] the country about what is now Tenth-street.
Canal was then far up town, and that she
J had come in at Forty-Second-street. an<l
I passed through a mile or two of houses before
I reaching our ferry, was a sort of miracle, to
I be accepted but not understood. Mrs.
j Ogden, on the contrary, had spent most of
Iher life there, after her son's marriage, and
I know the old-fashioned, east -side portion by
heart, though up town, meaning to her any-
where above Ninth-street, was almost un-
known ground. She was of the large class
I who, born and brought np iii the city, yet
Jkuow it only in the phase which touches
jtheir own life. She had heard of the Astor
I Library, but never seen it, and also that
Ithere was a place called Goupil's to which
IWinthrop and his father went, but she had
Iro time to spare. Central Park she had
jvisited with country relatives who must be
[taken somewhere, that and Greenwood being
[the cheapest form of entertainment, and she
I had taken Winthrop to Barnum's old
I Museum.

" What do you go for ?" she asked one
Iday. "I shouldn't suppose you'd need all
[the time jou take to shop."

I "No, I do not shop except when I can't
jLelp it," I answered. " I go to Goupil's,
laud Scliaus's, and Sypher'a, and CoUamore's
laudTifTanv's, and the Metropolitan Museum.
JAnywhere I can see some of the beautiful
[things always ready for you in New York.

I I love New York. I go to walk up Broad-
|way and look in store windows"

" The biggest gawk on earth couldn't do
jworse'n that," returned Grandmother Ogden
[severely. " When I've got to go anywhere,
11 go and get through."

"I don't," eaid Fanny; "I never get
J through if I can help it. Broadway is equal
|to hasheesh "

I' Better than hash /" What do you mean,
child," said Grandmother May, whose deaf
ear had been turned towards us. "To be
I ■ore it ia a sort of hash, foreigners and

all, and murderers and villains walking
right by your side, and you never knowm)<
it ; but then the Lord is good, and leads silly
sheep where they haven't any husiness
to be by themselves. It's taking your life
in your hand tlie way you go in and out, 1 do
think."

" Be a silly sheep too. Come with us just
once,'' pleaded Fanny. " You love (lowers
so, and you don't know how beautitul the
florists' windows are. Why not all of us go
to the Park to-day ? think of hyacinths
and all spring flowers and swans, and then
come."

" If I could be there, I'd go in a minute ;
but that ferry," said Grandmother May,
much as if she did wish she could. "No ; I
wc't go till I have to, when I make a jour-
ney, and that wdl be following the hue of
my duty, and 1 shall be protected. You go,
and Grandmother Ogden and 1 will keep
house."

" You'd better go with me when you do
go," said Mrs. Ogden with an expression I
could not understand. " Young folks drag
old folks round anyway. We'll go some time
and take care of ourselves. I know the city,
every inch of it, a good deal better than
Eleanor there, that couldn't hnd Madison-
street the other day."

"It was worth being lost,'' said Fanny."
" We never in the world should have seen
Division-street and the million milliners if
we hadn't been. 1 almost bought one ot the
bonnets. And the German Jews on Grand-
street ! It's like another world. There's
nothing quite like it anywhere else in the
world, " •

"There are plenty of people quite as re-
spectable as yuu are that ain't ashamed to
live there," said Mrs. Ogden; "and with
money laid by too, and ain't ashamed to go
to market, and that keeps silk diest^es tor
Sunday, Not much like yuur Fifth-Avenue
and the wickedness and show and throwing
money to the dogs, and your silks and your
satins dragging after you in the mud and
mire. I wonder a judgnitut doesn't come,
and it will, 1 can tell you that. Calico for
morning and a clean one for afternoon, or an
alpaca: that's what I say, and no long tails
alter me wiping up the xioors !"

" But you dont know how nice you'd look
in a long dress," said Fanny, eyeing her cri-
tically, " You've a very good tiguie iivdeed,
Mrs. Ogden, if you are so thin, and I could
make you look real stylish. This calico is
80 horrid. Why won't you get a pretty one ?
There are pretty ones. "

" Pretty ones ! " repeated Mrs.
Ogden aghast. " And that weais
like iron and washes good as new
every time 1 You'd have me wear one

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

irll

'ilii

lilill!-

ii||i

all over pink rosebuds, I suppose, and flowers
in my cap. I'm able to dress myself yet, I
thank you, and when I can'c, it'll be time to
talk about your pinks and your yellows ! I
never !"

" Let me buy you a pretty lilac one," said
Fanny niidismayeil. "Nice little cool stripes
and a white cap with lilac ribbon. You'd
look ten years younger. You were a pretty
girl, I know, and you ought to look prettier
now. "

Grandmother Ogden w>,s dumb. Tliis
must be insolence and i >t interest, and
silence was the best modu of meeting the
uncertiiin state of things.

Grandmotlier May 1 lughed.

" Young folks do as they're a mind to," she
said, *' and we have to do .as they want us
to ; bnt then we made them mind once, and
it's only fair they should have their turn.
The sky is blue and the grass is green, and
I'm sure I don't know why we should go
mourning all our days in blacks and browns.
It doesn't match. Not tliat I'd want a pink
like 'I'ea's wife wears. It's a dreadful pink,
if I do say it ; but then, poor tiling, she
doesn't know what's a good colour and what
isn't."

"That's a piece I bought myself," said
Grandmother Ugdcn ; '•anil it's the only light
colour tiiat washes tit to be seen. Shif'less
thing, and the chicken-pail full o' pancakes '

No wonder

can't lay up a thing.

There's enough thrown away here to keep a
pig well. "

" We don't want a pisz," 1 said unguard-
edly. " ^\ e don't eat pork."

" I rather guess I could be allowed to have
a pig if I was a mind to pay for one," said
Mrs. Oi^den. "He'd fat on the wiste of
this house, and more too, and I'd double all
the cost when he was killed. I sha'n't do
without pork and beans come winter. What
was good enough for our fathers is good
enough for us."

" The only good of a pig is to scratch their
backs," said Fanny meditatively. " Do get
one, Mrs. Ogilen, for there's nothing more
fascinating than a white pig and lots of straw
and a curly tail, and scratch their backs with
a stick and just enjoy their perfect bliss
While you're doing it."

" I believe this generation is as crazy as
loons," said Mrs. Ogden, backing away >ia if
Fanny were an escaped lunatic. " I hope I
know myself better than to touch a pig till
it comes to salting down, and I ain't afraid
to do that with anybody. Seems to me if
you're going you'd better be starting."

Tea looked admiringly at Fanny as we
Went out.

*' Don't you let no gay young roan run off
with ye, Miss Walton," he said as we left

the carriage. " We calkilate to hold on to
ye a spell yet. Young men is mostly fools,
and you ought to k"bw it in time."

Fanny's eyes twinkled as, going towards
the train, she met those of our village dandy,
looking rather red and conscious from a
sense that Tea's remark might be considered
personal.

'• I'm in no immediate danger," she said,
'* from any specimen yet exhibited. All
the nire men are married, or killed in the
war, I think. But tlien I'm never sure I
know them."

"It is morally impossible to know any
man unless you marry him, Fanny, and I'm
doubtful if even tiieii. Dim't answer. We
are too near the engine. Save your energy
for New York, and I'll expound the whole
subject to you when we are in a quiet
place."

CHArTKR. VII.

THE FUOITIVKS.

Tea met me at the appointed time. and ling«
ered after we hati taki n our places till the
last passenger had left, and the whistle sound-
ed from tlie next station.

" Mr. Og<len cannot come until a quarter
past seven^ Tea, "I said, " so you need not
wait." ^

" Oh ! well, then, he'll bring the old la-
dies, 1 suppose ?" 'I'ea said, giving Prince
the faintest touch of the whip.

" What do you mean? We do not expect
any ohl ladies."

" There ! I knew you didn't know they
wfiB ,i,oinir," said Tea triumphantly. " An*
I told Mis' Fuller so when 1 went to dinner.
Says I, 'them two old ladies ha.s gone off un-
beknownst, and old Mis' Ogden let on to 'ine
they were going to meet you and go to the
Park.' I mistrusted it wasn't reg'lar, and I
says to Mis' — "

She'll kill Grandmother May," said Fanny
solemnly. " We ';ad better go right back".

"You can't. The next train doesn't
leave for nearly an hour ; jnst at the time
Winthrop will get here. 1 don't see how
she did it. Grandmother May wouldn't
come with us. What shall we do ?"

"If Mis' Ogden took it into her head to
take the barn along." said Tea, " she an'
the barn'd go an* come home too. You can't
hurt her, an' she'll look after Ms' May. It
does beat all. Gabriel himself couldn't stop
her. She'd take him right off his feet an'
she'd whisk little Mis' May to the moon any
lime. Like as not she'll come in th" horse*
cars. You can't tell what she'll do."

" Mr. Ogden will know what is best to
do," I said. " There's no use in worrying.
Drive home, Tea."

THE FUGITIVES.

) to hold on to
is mostly fools,
ime."

going towards
r villatre dandy,
iscious from a
it be considered

ger," she said,
ixliibited. ' All
r killed in the
1 never sure I

B to know any
Fanny, and I'm
'fc answer. We
ve your energy
und the whole
are iu a quiet

1 time. and ling-
places till the
! whistle Bound-

iintil a quarter
you need not

ng the old la-
giving Prince

! do not expect

In't know they
lantly. " An'
ent to dinner,
las gone off un-
n let on to \ne
and go to the
reg'lar, and 1

" said Fanny
[o right back",
train doesn't
at the time
ni't see how
\] ay wouldn't

do ?"

o her head to
Tea, * ' she an'
)o. You can't
kl 8' May. It

couldn't stop
his feet an'
the moon any
i in th" horse*

1 do."

at is best to

in worrying;

it; though, after all I don't know. She
paralyzes me at times and might hale me off
if she only knew it. The thing is never to
let her know. I beg your pardon, Eleanor.
She is a remarkable woman."

" John knows her," I said. " You need
not apologize. I believe they get on excel-
lently together,"

"On Miss Walton's theory," said John,
silk. I looking at her with bri^'lit, amused oyea.
"I have always been in mortal terror of her,
but disguised it with impei'tinence, and she
doesn't know. Keally, I can mannge her
better than ' inthrop. He always gave in.
What do you suppose they can be doing?"

Tiiis que tion with variations lasted the
whole evenini.'. Mr, Wilder vibrated be-
tween the house and the foot of the hill,
Winthrop returning with him at his eleven
o'clock trip looking pale and worried,

" 1 took a carriage," he said, "and went

to the three places she sometimes visits ; the

only ones I know anything about. She had

, been at none. of them, and I left word to

They ought to have been stop- j telegraph here at once if she did come. Then

1 drove to the nine-forty train, thinking they
might be on that; but t ey were not. VN ent
to nearest station-house then and left de-
scripticm and instructions to telev'iaph, and
came out in the next. There is the midnight
train still to corno, and two moro horso-cars,
but it is raining tast. They must be locked
up when you go aVay again. "

•'Come and eat some supper now," I said,
"you are all worn out. We will all have
some tea with you. "

Half-past eleven no grondmothers. Twelve,
and the same result. Tea came home to rest,
but was to go down again at one, though
Prince neighed in protest au<l seemed dazed
at this new order of things.

" It is senseless to keep the whole family
up," I said. "Do go to bed. lean attend
to them when they come."

"No, indeed," said John. " I would not

Grandmother Ogden's door was locked,
I but that was not surprising, as she always
locked it when leaving the house, even if for
lonly ten minutes. In (Grandmother May's
Iroom a whole wardrobe lay upon the bed, as
[if she had debated what an ay best suited
leucli an occasion. As we looked, Katy ap-
Ipeared with red eyes and a dejected expres-
[sion.

She wore her second-best black
I ma'am," she said, "and shawls and her vel-
vet cape. She was scared most to death,
but Mrs. OL'den just made l;er. She said,
'Now, Mis May, dout you be iiiVaid of
what'll be said. We'll come home early and
get a good cup of tea, and it will take th-m
down considerably to think we can go round
lalone.' '1 said, "1 know Mrs. \\ inthrop
will feel bad,' and she told me I hadn't any
I thing to say about it. 1 asked if she
wouldn't leave word where they were going,
and she marched away and never answered.
Do \ou l)elieve they arrtiost ?"

"I don't know, Katy. They are too old
I to go alone
'ped."

"I'd sooner try to stop a loctjmotive en-
gine then?" exclaimed Katy. "I'm so
scared when she l)egins to look at me I couM
drop down. She takes all my strength. I
I never saw no such person. Don't you know
I couldn't sto}) her ? I've been crying be-
I cause I thought most likely she'd kill Mrs.
I May. Do you r"

"I'll ride down again," said Fanny, "and
then if Winthrop tliinks we had better, I
can go right in. The trains pass one an-
other there, don't they ? '

Fanny ran out and I followed, too worried
to stay quietly and wait. Wnithrop was
there witli John Wilder his partner, and
only waiting to get the main fact, jumped on
to tiie return train and was ott, whde we
held a council on the depot steps.

"The horse-cars run every half hour, don't
they?"paidJohn. "Well.Teahadbetterstav at !

the'foot of the hill at the corner where they i "^i«» t''*^ entrance for the world. Depend
would get out. the hill is so hard to climb." i »P0" »* they have taken the wrong train or
" That is the trouble. There are two | something, and there is really nothing to
corners ; the foot of the hill on each side, i W(>^rry about."

and we get out just as it happens."

"Very well. Tea shall guard one, and I'll
run down to the other whenever a car is due.
What larks for the two old ladies. I should
expect it of Mrs. Ogden, but I thought the
other one was a quiet and peaceable body
who stayed at home."

"So she does, bless her!" said Fanny
fervently. "Only if anybody is tal>en up by
a tornado, why they are taken up, and that
is the end of it. It would be swimming
against Niagara, to oppose Mrs. Ogden — that
is for anybody like Mrs. May. I could do

Nevertheless the time dragged, .and it was
with deep relief that at last, through the
steadily falling rain, we heard the sound of
wheels, and a carriage stopped at the door.

"It isn't one," said Fanny. "They
haven't come in the train."

Winthrop threw open the door as she
spoke, and Grandmother Ogden, erect and
composed outMardly, though to the inexperi-
enced observer there were some signs of <liB«
comfiture, stood there, while the driver
helped out poor little, storm-driven, over-
whelmed Grandmother May.

:ii..,

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

' ! '

U.I

IB I

'' .

>&m

I lii ! 1

t.(

!!■!!!

i : I''

I v;

** Vou see we are able to come and go
without you," began Mra. Ogden.

" I see that you have given us a night of
the greatest anxiety," said \^\ intbrop sternly.
*' Such a night as I will not spend again,
grandmother, if I have to keep you locked
up."

" Hoity-toity !" began Mrs. Ogden un-
daunted, but here Grandmother May broke
in.

" Don't say a word, Wiuthrop, You
don't feel any worse than I do. If Eleanor
isn't too angry and will let me have a little
hot tea ; I'm chilly 'way into my bones."

"Never mind," I said, as the troubled and
tear-stained old face turned towards aie.
"Don't thiuk any more about it. Go right up
stairs and you shall have some tea in bed."

" We had supper in Elizabeth, and I don't
want any more this time o' night," said
Grandmother Ogden. " I won't say we
meant to be this late, but we're here, and
there isn't any harm done as far as I can
see."

" If you are not tired, we ar(}," said Win-
throp, and at this hint the party separated.
Grandmother Ogden, though wet and drag-
gled, declining tea or assistance of any sort.

"She's covered with red mud," said
Fanny as she watched her toiling up, evi-
dently for once overcome with fatigue.
"vShoes and skirts and all. Where have |
they been?"

<-r5indmother May proved to be in the
same condition, and her little boots, her
pretty black silk and ruffled skirt, were a
sight to see.

Once comfortably in bed and drinking hot
tea, no power on earth could have kept her
still, and sitting on the opposite side of the
bed, Fanny and I listened to the story of the
day.

*' I don't suppose you'll over forgive me.
Eleanor," she began, tears in her eyes again
"It did seem so bad to go when I iiad
declared I wouldn't ; but thtn Mrs. Ogden
would doit, and seemed so kind of hurt that
I didn't want to, and said she never supposed
I'd be willing to go w ith her that I couldn't
hurt her feelings. She said we'd get back to
tea, and I thought we'd all have a laugh then
to think I really had been. But wo hadu't
been in the train five minutes before T wishe '
I was home. There was my snuif-box in my
other dress pocket, that 1 got the minute I
got np stairs, and had a pinch mud or no
mud, and I hadn't my classes and only one

flove, and didn't feel just right anywhere,
'd dressed in such a hurry. And it blew,
and the boat teetered one aide, and I
wouldn't sav a word, but I did feel we might

So to the Dottom any minute. Grandma
idn't mind, and she did seem to know just

where to go. She said we'd go to Barclay
street and walk up to the Sixtli avenue cars
and that would save a fare apiece, but my
heart ! Going in and out under those horses'
heads and thousands of men acreeuhiug to
you to be lively ! I skipped like a crickel
and thought it was over ; but there were
more streets 'most as bad, and potato barrels
and everything to fall over. Seems to me I
never was so thankful to get in a car and sit
down ; but then it was two or three hours
getting up to the Park, or it seemed thvt. I
was kind of faint, and grandma bought some
warm molasses cakes of a woman at the gate,
and we eat them sitting on a bench and rest-
ing, and never in all my life did I eat in a
puldic place like a beggar before ; but then
in New York it does seem as if you got not
to mind anything. Then she called the most
singular stage I ever saw, with children and
Irish girls, but we did, — yes, we did have a
beautiful ride ! I don't wonder you wanted
me to go, and I forget about being tired, and
did wish the whole world could see the beau-
tiful things the Lord had made, or at any
rate, that He had put into men's minds to
make. I said New York couldn't be quite
so bad when there was .such a place in it to
realize Him. But then we had to get out,
and grandma said I did hate the tunnel so,
we'd go home another way where we wouldn't
have to smell it and be most choked, and
your head splitting with the whistling. I
don't know just where we went, but we
took cars tliat went all along by the
river miles and miles, and down by shops
and sliops, and people never stopping going
by, till we came to another ferry. ' It's the
Newark and New York Ferry,' she said,
' and we're going to Newark and home by
horse cars.' So she bought two tickets ; she
wouldn't let me pay a cent; and we went
over and got into a train — there were sights
of them there, and I laid back and rested,
for it was as easy as an arm-chair. Pretty
soon the conductor come along, and he said
we'd made a mistake, for that train was an-
other road or somethinc, ami didn't stop till
we got to Elizabeth, (irandma told him he
was imposing upon us, she knew, and he got
kind of provoked, and said we'd see. He
did help me off at Elizabeth, though, but he
w(mldn't give any tickets to go back with.
There we were, and it was supper-time, and
I was faint as could be. So grandma said
she knew all about Elizabeth, for she'd been
there before, and she'd go and see abunt a res-
taurant, and she started across the tracks, a
perfect gridiron of tracks, and people hol-
lered out, and there she was and the train
right on her. I covered up my eyes, but
they said she gave an awful jump and went
right before it, and I trembled and shook

THE FUGITIVES.

go I didn't want anything any more. She
was scared, thouf^h she wouldn't say so, and
a train come along and we got right in and
went back to Nc^'ark, and it was after eight
then. Grandma ss lid she knew just where
she was, and we got into another horse-car.
I never want to see another. She paid, and
I asked her how long it would take, and she
said about three quarters of an hour, or may
be less, and I shut my eyes and tried not to
think about anything, but we banged and
jounced till my bones seemed as if the^
must be splinters. She be<?an to look out,
and then she said, ' I want to stop at
Myrtle Avenue.' 'There isn't any such ave-
nue,' he said. 'Don't you try to deceive
me,* she said, * T kWow better.' ' All right,'
he said, and walked off. Then pretty soon
she said, ' Isn't this aGlenville car?' * No,
it isn't,' he said, 'j-ou're in Belleville, about
the end of th 3 route. ' She did look then as
if she didn't know what to do, and seemed
kind of sorry. ' We're going right back,' he
said, ' and you can take the right car near
the Morris and Essex depot.' Then I spoke
and said, ' I am so jounced I can't bear it
another minute, and if there's a carria>je to
be had anywhere I want it.' Mrs. Ogden
tried to coax uie not to, but I said I would,
anyway, and would not be hin-
de-ed. Then she said she knew all
about Belleville, and there was a man she
knew that had a nice horse and would take
us for leas than the livery. I said I didn't
care whose horse so long as we get home, for
you'd all be frightened to death, and I
wouldn't have it happen for anything. She
didn't say much, and we got out. It was
sprinkling some, and I turned my velvet cape
inside out, and tied the litth^st shawl over
my bonnet. I thought from what she said
it wasn't but a minute's walk. She couldn't
find it anyway, and at last said she'c been
with Winthrop one day and they went cross
lots; and she was ."^ure she was just at the
place. The street lamps shone pretty bright,
and there was a place in the fence, and she
said that was it, and we got through and
went along, and there we were in a ploughed
fielfl most up to our knees, and it so dark I
didn't know which way to turn. So then I
said: 'I never expect to get out of here alive;
but if I do, the very Hrst man we meet has
got to do something.' Then we kind of
waded out, and the good Lord had sent a
a man, and I just took hold of him and I
«aid : 'You must take us to a livery or I shall
die.' You never saw a man so astonished;
and I told him how we got there, and he took
us into the tavern ana set us down, ami
brought us some lager beer, and I drauk it
and never said no, and to think of it I All
houra of the night and in a lager beer saloon.

I said never would I be caught so again, not
unless wild horses took me there; and thea
we had to wait till a carriage got back from
somewhere, and here we are, and, Eleanor,
don't you ever leave me alone with old lady
Ogden again, for there's no telling what she
might do. And coming home, sopped and
all and ^anost fainting away. I remembered
old Hob Pingree and the way he used t«come
in and say, 'Mis' May, since last I see your face,
I've been through scenes and un-teens,' and I
laughed out, and that made Mrs. Ogden feel
worse than anything that had happened, and
she said : 'I wouldn't be a fool laughing at
nothing in the dark. ' I didn't say a word,
but I did think this time I wasn't the foolish
one. You poor dear children aU worrying
at home !"

" Never mind," I said as 1 t'tcked her in.
" If you are not sick, there is no harm done.

00 to sleep now and lie still in the morning.
I'm afraid you'll be sick."

" I don't believe it," said Fanny as we
went out still shaking with repressed
laughter. "The boy who tuinbles into the
river and is Hshed out never is sick. People
never are from such times. They rise to the
emergency I suppose."

Morning proved the truth of Fanny's
observati(m. Grandmother May's face looked
placid as usual when T went in and she lay
I surrounded by newspapers.

1 " I'm not going to get up yet," she said ;
" but Katy brought me the mail, and I'm
juat reading a little. I'm afraid old lady
Ogden is sick. I haven't heard her."

" Not a bit, " I said, " she ha.s juat gone
lip to Tea's for scmiething. You siiall have
your breakfast soon."

We sat down heavy and stupid as night-
watches will make one. Grandmother Og-
den looked better than anyone, and was e\i-
dently prepared for battle. Winthrop dis-
appointed her. The escapade was not even
alluded to, and ahe rose from the table dis-
appointed and a little ashamed. Rev)roach
would have roused her to defiance. Silence
she did not know how to meet, and in her
discomfiture I saw a future means of dealing
with her.

" I'm going with Tea to do an errand,"
she said after the gentleman had gone, "un-
less you was going to want him."

" No, I shall not want him this morning,"
I answered ; " but I should think you would
be too tired to go out. "

" I've had a night's >' she said, " and

I don't know as I've dc ythiiig to tir*

me so dreadfully. I ain .. owgar nor salt to
melt in a little rain, and riding isn't going
to hurt any more than sitting at home."

" What is under way now ?" said Fanny,
coming in presently from her Hower-bedi.

JIUI I" ' >

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

i
il

thing.

" Tea has gone off in the farm waggon with
Granditiot'ier O^tloii an'l a big emuty box,
and she lo )ke(i as it she was reaily to arrest
all the conductors in New Jersey for con-
tempt."

" Don't ask me, chiM. I shall spoil my
cake if I stop to tlxink. Fanny, if you want
snaps you must oome and maKe them. I
will not 8|)end the whole morning here when
out doors is so heavenly. The ground is just
right after the rain, and I want to transplant
some coleus. "

" I am hungry every moment, "said Fanny
coming in and making ready for baking,"
*' and therefore 1 cannot rind fault with
cookini,'; but oil, what a pity that wo mu-tt
spend so much time I Buy .snap'*. No,
don't, I icn()loro you. They smell of salera-
tus and taste of pepper. VVhy can't a baker
make h >m3 made things ?"

"' Conundrum, Fauny. They can't, or at
any rate they don't, and I am in love with a
moderate amount of cooking, an I dtn't care.
That spou'^e iH perfect to-day. Why, isn't
it high art in its way ?"

*' It is;" said Fanny bending over it, "mil
sois thi.J most entrancing smelling
What if< it ?"

" I did not mean to tell, but I will. It is
an ancient lien, the last of her geiieratioi\,
tliat ' c iuie with tlie place,' aa Tea says, and
that simmered six hours before it yieldel to
my persuasive ways and grew tender. That
was yesterday. This niirnini; the fat was
taken frou the water in wliioh it b )ile'l,
which was a thi;tk jelly. Tlds I meltdl,
atraineil, aad seasoned very highly. Then
every s trap of meat was taken from the
bones and put in layers, dark a id vhite
alternately, with rings of hard 1>i tiled eggs
here an I there. Then the mdtfd jelly was
poured over it, nnd to-morrow it will turn
out a hau'lsome monld in a bed of parsley,
and behold your Sunday dinner. Now I
shall rnake a pin to save (Jr iininiotlier Ogden's
feelings. A pieless dinner is something siie
can't understand ; but 1 will not mike many
when ti.ere are dozens of puildings and we
all like tlieui. Isn't Katy'a biva 1 hand-
some 1 ''

" I don't nndeistand it." said Fanny. "I
never tlmuLrht you could be a hous 'kee|>er,
you disliked it so, and yet how y^ni go on.
And everything is so ince. Not .such a pro
fusion, but tliiiiiis do tii<«te so good.
ever, ever learn ? "

" Nothing to prevent you, silly
Any one with comrion sense can
though there is a difference in the easn and
speed of course. But then, as (Grandmother
May ends her sentences, there are so many
helps from Marion Ifarland and my beloved
Mrs. Cornelius, down to Mn. Warren's little

Can I

child,
learn,

books, from which I learned the mastery of
the Oread question."

'• What is tiie bread question? "

" Wliy I could not tell wnat to do with
all the pieces — great plates of them, and gave
them to the chickens. Now we use a bread
board, and don't make as many, and all that
are left are broken in bits and dried to a
golden brown in the oven. Then we roll
and sift them, and they are used in a dozen
different ways ; cutlets, and frying Hsh, and
for thickening, ami for puddings, now that I
know how to mike good bread pudding.
Not a crumb is wasteil, and stale bread ia
one of the worst leaks in housekeeping
usually. You shall know all that I know,
Fanny, before the summer ends. My suc-
cess, such as it is, came from pure digging.
Yours will be inspiration, I think. I be-
lieve you have a natural gift."

Tlie morning tiew as we talked and worked
till .it noon Katy came running down from
Idea's house, where .she iiad been sent oa an
errand.

"They've come! they've coma I " she
cried, "aud it's in the p'ju I "

" IVhaf is in tiie pen?"

"The pig— the nnw pig. Mrs. O^Ien';*
new pig. They came up Mr. Gay's lane so
we needn't see, aud tlie pig was in the box,
and Tea put it into ttie pen, and the old lady
is coining now."

("xrand mother Ogilen appeared before Katy
en<led.

'•There, ' she said triumphantly, " the pig
is here, and my own too. paid for every cent,
and a small one, so we can grow good uork
on him. Between vva^^te here and waste at
Tea's he ought to be fat."

" L'hf-re is no Austo here," I said hotly.
"I make it pirt of my daily work to see that
there ia no le. Did Winthrop know you
meant to buy a pig"

"No, he didn't, but it's all the 3ame,"8aid
the <dd lady. "I tol 1 him there ought to be
one to e it all the good food I saw in the ort-
pail, and lie didn't say no. If he had, it
w.tuld have been because he didn't know
what he needed ami wiiat he didn't. I
counted eleven good potatoes in the ort-pail
the other day."

"They were tliere because Katy upset a
lamp she was hlling and spilled kerosene on
them."

" They've no business near the kerosene !"

" Very true ; but Katy had forgotten to
put them away, and as we do not Havour poj
tatoes with kerosene every day, ho will go
hungry I am afraid."

"No danger," the old lady said. "He'll
bo fed, and when your butcher bill goes down
half, you will think me may be. "

I was silent. Time enough to protest

CLOUDS AND SUNSIIINK

against pork when it 'came into the house,
and Mrs. Ogden, after waiting a moment,
went up stairs.

Bome I " she

CHAPTER VIII.

CLOtJDa AND SUN.SHINE.

" Eleanor, do you know our expenses are
enormous ? " said Winthrop one morning a
week or two later.

" I knew tliat would come within a day,"
I answered. " You always worry over ex-
penses when you have been shut up with
your grandmother an hour. You might a
good deal better have been watching the sun-
set under tlie trees witli Fanny and me, than
sitting up in that nightmare of a room groan-
ing over a penny lost here or there.'"
VVinthrop coloured a little.
" Don't be violent, Eleanor," he said. " I
don't often groan."

" No, you do not? but, Winthrop, do you
know this is tlie third time since she came
that you have had a blue tit over expenses.
You say sometimes I am more careful of your
money than you are yourself. If you iielieve
it, why not rest in faith, as Graudmotlier
May says ? "

"Bless her dear old soul!" Winthrop
interjected. " But. Eleanor, she has always
had a good deal of money, that is, she did
until that rascally brother-in-law lan away
with it ail. We are limited, you know.
There is the place to be sure, but taxes are
very higli, and it takes a good deal to keep
it up. My profession is a slow one. I don't
turn money like a speculator, and hist year
we had very little over four thousand."

But you paid the ])remiu!M on your life
insurance, and put a hundred in the old
bank."

"I know, but it's the little leaks that'
sink the shij) ; so much tlirovvn away that
might l)e used. You know I hate skimping,
but with times so hard and so many out ot
Work, it seems wrong to waste a thing. Now
grandmother sjiys she saw eleven good pota-
[toes in th<- i-hicken-paii."

'* That is like her," I said a little bitterly.
^ 'Slie knew, for I told her exactly why
they were there. Perhaps she would have
[likeil to eat the eleven, kerosene and all. A
ilanip WHS upsi t and they were spoiled, Win-
jthrop. Do y^u think it part of your sphere
|to see after the chicken pail ? "
Wintlirop looked hurt.
"I certaiidy do not wish to interfere," he
Jsaid. '• But money has to be provided, and
jwe are quite a family now. It is all new tc
Tou, Eleanor."

"Is it? Who knows most about it T I,
|who h.tve given five years of hard conaci< n-
J0U8 study to the whole household economy,

or you, who barely know beef from mutton,
and who listen to the complaints of an old
woman who has not been here long enough
to know either my aims or methods ?"

" Of course she was wrong about the po-
tatoes ; but the bills were very high, Elea-
nor. "

" Your family has doubled, and how
can your bills remain the same ? I detest
running bills. I wish you would make me
an allowance. Fix the amount you are wil-
ling to spen<l, and I will see that we do not
go beyond it."

"But I don't k«ow anything about it,"
said Winthrop uneasily, beginning to walk
up ami down. " I can't tell wliat would be
needed in a nionth, and it would be a great
temptation to have so much money in your
pocket at onee. "

" It would l>e a great deal better to share
the temptation," I said, looking towards a
portfolio tilling quite too rapidly for our
means, with choice |U'iuta. Winthrop
laughed.

" Y(^ have me there, I admit ! " he said,
" but It's no use, Eleanor. We couldn't
manage so. We never know who is com-
ing "

" For a lawyer, sir, vou certainly have the
most remarkable facility in forgetting evi-
dence. I know, and hive toll you I did
several times before, that is, I know the av-
erage nunit»er of guests, anci all yoxi have to
do is to allow so much each one."

" Y''ou can't get^it down to black and
white."

" You can. How many times have I told
you that, yon doul»ting Thomas?"

" It sounds very small to be deciding be-
forehand the cost of all your friends, very
small indeed."

'" Not half as snutU a£ to gruml)le at the
bills af t( r they are gone. Now Winthrop,
just listen. I have the general account in
my house book (»f eacli month's expenses.
Nothing to do but divide the total by the
number of the family. For instance, the
fiMid of ea di person last month — and it is
always aliout the same — cost teu ' liars,
exclusive of the vegetables the place sup-
plies. I hat was in crutie form of course.
Now add to tiiat each one'.s share of coal,
light, wages, wasliing, clothing, newspapers
— evtrytliing bills are sent in for, and why
isn't that the cost of living?"

"It sounds well enough," said Winthrop,
sitting down before nic. " I'll .hink al)out
it. I want you to have all I can afford,
Eleanor."

"I wish you could be a woman for a week,
Winthrop. Then you would know how de-
testable it is to a«k for money, ^iuppnse yon
had to come to me for every dollar ?''

HIS OR/INDMOTHERS.

il 4

^ijM

If"-
!!• ■

i»

III 1

"No comparison, child. It is the man's
business to furnish money and the woman's
to make it fly. "

"That is unjust and ungenerous. I do not
make it fly. Whatever mind I have is used
in making the most of it. Do I have the
sole benefit of the house, or do you and yours
share in it? I hear so many men say to their
wives, 'your hills, your expenses/ as if they
had it ail."

"Well, well, I'll think about it. We
needn't worry, I suppose. We shall get
along somehow. I may earn more this
year." *

"Winthrop, you make me distracted* You
talk as if I were a fashionable spendthrift
and you'd try and bear it."

"What irrational creatures women are !
I talk nothing of the sort, for I know better.
Everything I have is yours and you know it."

"Poetically, yes ; actually, very far from
it. Indeed in New Jersey I have no legal
existence whatever, so how can I own every-
thing?"

"For Heaven's sake, no woman's i4ghts !"
began Winthrop, and at this point Fanny
came in with a roll of new music, and Win-
throp went to the piano as if he had es japed
this time. I went out to the piazza profess-
ing music sounded better at a distance, and
sitting down in one of the Shaker chairs
thought it all over, trying to end as I had
often done before with, "Patience, you will
accomplish it by-and-l)ye."

"I might have done,"^ thought bitterly ;
"but now everything I can say is made void
by this miserable old woman perpetually in-
terfering and spying, and so guarded he can-
not see were it all tends. He is so easy tem-
pered. He ought to silence her once for all.
Why should he listen to hei'. Siie made
endless ti'ouble for his poor mother, and he
knew it. Why can't he see that the same ef-
fect may follow here. I am not gentle and
passive. I dislike her through and through.
I would sent her away this moment if I
could."

Then the thought came, "a lonely, forlorn
woman, with no one but him ;" but the an-
I yer was quick.

"She is lonely through her own fault and
will. Friends are everywhere, if one chooses
to make them. So long as Winthrop thinks
it best to listen to all her out-pouring«, he
will be influenced in spite of himself. She
has absolute genius for misrepresentation. I
never knew anybody who could take a face,
»nd so twist and turn it about that a dozien
little lies become part of it. SomeboHy says
the lie which has a foundation of truth is
•Iways hardest to meet. If there were
children here she should not stay. I would
never let my little ones grow up in such an

atmosphere of deceit and meanness and fault*
finding. Old Mrs. Ward looked at me yes-
terday as if I wer«5 a Gorgon, and if I had
not heard what was said to her, I should
never h ive known why ; but when Mra.
Ogden puts on hei resigned voice, and says
she feels obliged to stay in her room and do
without necessary exercise for fear of being
in my way, and her own room is the only
spot where she seems to feel any right, why
shouldn't soft-hearted Mrs. Ward think her
abused. And then she told Mr. Daly she
never rode, because the young pecple always
wanted the carriage, and he brought her
home and looked so reproachfully at me,
and yet that very morning I had urged her
to ride. I hate her 1''

A dozen instances of double-dealing came
up before me. I tried at last to put them
away and went in, but the evening ended
drearily, and morning found me in much the
same state of mind.

This would never do. The evil spirit
must be exorcised, and hard work I had
always found the best remedy. I put on my
broad hat and fled to the flower beds, where
I weeded for half an hour with a fury which
astonished the hens, out for their morning
walk and on the w;itch for any stray worm
which might be thrown out with my weeds.
Winthrop came out as I turned towards the
house, and looked so bright and happy, so
oblivious of any cause of otfence, that 1 took
courage and determined upon the old Quaker's
three rules of life : " J^atience and Patience
and more Patience." We called on the pig,
who realized all' Fanny's anticiijations, and
added to an exceedingly curly tail all the
fondness for scratching the most exacting
could desire.

" He is very thin," said Winthrop look-
ing at him critically. " Grandmother Og-
den says he never will do well until we have
a cow and he can have plenty oi sour
milk."

" You mean to get one then ?"

"Why, I'm thinking of it. In fact,
grandmother says she would like to buy one
herself, and let iiB have all the miik we
wanted. You know how fond 1 am of new
milk."

" Yes. I know that we have excellent
milk now and rich cream from it for coffee.
To take care of milk properly confines cue
very closely. Pans and temperature, and
everything connected with it must be just
so."

*' Grandmother would attend to all that
You should not be tioubled at all. It might
keep her busy. There is the old milk oeLUur
all ready. You know we used to have a
cow."

"There is the breakfast bell," I said.

CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.

less and fault*
Bcl at me yes-
, and if I had
her, I should
t when Mrs.
oice, and says
' room and do
' fear of beinc;
am is the only
iiy right, why
^ard think her
Mr. Daly she
pec pie always
j brought her
ifuUy at me,
had urged her

!-dealing came
, to put them
; veiling ended
le in much the

he evil spirit

1 work I had

I put on my

sr beds, where

h a tury which

their morning

ly stray worm

/ith my weeds.

pd towards the

and happy, so

;e, that 1 took

heold Quaker's

and Patience

ed on the pig,

icipations, and

•ly tail all the

most exacting

^inthrop look-

ndmother Og-

until we have

)lenty oi sour

it. In fact,
ike to buy one

the milk we
d 1 am of new

)ave excellent
it for coffee,
contines cue

peiature, and
must be just

nd to all that

all. It might

old milk oeUftT

ed to have a

bell," I «»i^

"And see my hands. I must run," and run
I did, feeling as if Grandmother Ogden and
the cow were both pursuing.

We drove to the depot by as roundabout
a road as possible, Wiiithrop chanting,

" What so fair as a day in June?"

and waving a spray of old-fashioned lilac
from the car window as the train moved

• r.

" Fanny," I said, "I am in a state of mind.
I aon't want, to stay in the house or near it
this morning." Let us go home, notify the
grandmothers, j)ut Katy in charge, and flee
to the woods. Shall we?"

" We shvll," said Fanny jubilantly, " and
then we can talk with no key-hole nor crack
where eye or ear can fasten. Wish we could
go part of every day, for I'm sure to be fille<l
with desire to say or tell somethinii I ought
not, the minute I see Mrs. O^den's inquiring
countenance. Even on the lawn I have a
fancy she has an inviaible ear-trumpet out,
and knows all we are saying. Not that we
say anything particularly out <tf the way, but
she always twists what she does hear."

Grandmother May was deep in "Barchester
Towers,' ind only said,

"Uon't you sit down on the damp ground
and don't stay. I shall miss you dreadfully. "
Grandmother Ogden was not to be found, so
we left word for her, and Katy helped to put
up our lunch with a wistful face.

" You shall go Saturday afternoon, Katy,
and bring me some ferns," I said, '"if you
end your week as well as you have
begun; and take good care of the old ladies,
and he patient."

'• That seems to be the family refrain,"
said Fanny as we climbed a fence, and began
our march cross-lots. "I don't believe I
could practise it all the time. I'm provoked
with even little Grandmother May bfC.iuse
she never sees nor knows how you are tried.
It's extraordinary that Mrs. Ogden is such
good friends with her ; but it has its bad
sir'e, fttr I see plainly that she will end in
making Grandmother May believe anything
she chooses."

" Nonsense, Fanny ! she can't. Grand-
mother May is too sweet natured to like
slander or ugliness. "

" You don't know anything about it,
Eleanor. You do know that Mrs. Ogden has
taken a t <, and instead of hating Grand-
mother V y, wants to be with her, and talks
incessantly about all she has done and borne
for the family till she is really convincing
her that you are young and hard on hi-r,
and don't reali.^e her strugjflea and all that.
Mrs. Ogden is a perpetual puzzle ; but I
think the secret is that she poses as a
martyr, and can't be decent unless her role

is accepted. She puts on that air of self-
extinguishment the moment the door-bell
rings. She is an old fox, and yet how she
does work. Tea is quite respectable, she
has mended him so ; but what is the use of
work wh'i'n one never knows what is coming,
and she is so unexpectedly and uselessly
cantankerous ? What are you in a brown
study over?"

" A cow. I'll tell you when this cruel
tramp is over and we are under the trees.
This is the edge of the wood, and in three
minutes we shall be in Sanctuary. You've
never yet been in my Cathedral,"

Fanny stood without a word as we reached
the circle of glorious pines, and stood upon
tlie thick carpet of needles, the deep brown
lighted up here and there by velvety moss
on a gnarled root, or a clump of delicate
ferns. Mere and th( re a ray of sunlight fell
through the thick dark branches, and lay a
shimmering line on the brown below, but
save for this, shadow and silence ruled, and
only a sigh and an odorous breath from the
tree tops swept by a passing breeze, broke
the spell. Below flowed the brook, a soft,
steady ripple, but hidden from us by over-
hanging banks. We laid our shawls on the
ground and sat down, tired and heated, but
resting in every fibre. Fanny had the
nlessed gift of silence in the ritrht place, and
for a long time we kept still toi:ether con-
tentedly. A hook and bit of work s-howed
over the edge of the basket, and Fanny
turned towards it presently with a sigh of
satisfaction.

" Always bring your work," she said.
•'It's so S' othine to the con-cienoe. Yov
know you cou <1 do it, ami it's so delicious to
let it alone. Eleanor, this is pure happini'SS.
What should I do if you didn't love out
doors?"

"Just what I should in case you didn't.
Try and inoculate yon with the fever That
is impossible, though, I believe. It is an
instinct, and no science can transmit those.
It is not only an instinct, but a mania with
me. EvfU Winthrop does not quite love it
as I do practically, though he does theoreti-
cally. He hati 8 bugs, and I don't mind a
a thousand."

" That is the beauty of pine woods," said
Fanny, leaning back luxuriously again^^t a
bed of nio 8. "They are so dean. There is
no undergrowth, and you can't worry about
snakes and creeping things geneially. I
don't min^^ much except measuring worms,
but they are diabolical. Do y< u know,
Eleanor, there was a tall, thin, black one
trav« Uing over my dress yesterday, and it
stood up straij^ht and looked at me, , ac-tually
with (irandmother Ogden's very expression.
It was too uncanny. I picked it rp in a leaf

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

ii:t

I-

and gave it to a hen. Oh, that remiiida me
of tlie cow."

"It is senseless to talk to you about a oow,
chilfl. You woul In't uii'derstatid."

" If I caii't understand a cow what can I
understand?" said Fanny with dignity. "Is
it beyond the average capacity ?"

"This is a prorit and loss ([uestion, Fanny,
and you were never good at arithmetic, be-
guile you as I would. Gramlmother Ogden
wasn't a cow. Nowhavinii a cow means going
without milk and cream, and being
skimped in butter. Skinched is the New
Jersey word."

" A very peculiar result to ffdlow from
owning the fountain of such articles. Ex-
plain.

"Tea knows, and has told me in strict con-
fidence. They Jiad one ten years ayo to
please Mrs. Ogden, and she kept the
family on skim-milk, used the cream for but-
ter, and then hid that, and gave out only
the smallest possible pieces at a time. She
proposes to buy the cow herself, and give us
all the milk we want. Well, part <if the
year it will be dry, and we must buy any-
way, and 1 do want that perfect Verniont
butter, and plenty of it too, and I see break-
ers aheail "

" There is only one redeeming feature,"
said Fanny, "and that is that it will use up
some of her fearful mergy. Of course you
will do as you please about the VernKUit
buiter. hat is the ditt'erente if it only

keeps her quiet ?"

"But don't you see that she will insist
there is plenty of butter, and Winthrop is
only a man, and doesn't umlerstand, and
she will have her own way and our discom-
fort?"

"No,"snid Fanny stoutly. "You are
the judge of what is wanted, and have nttth-
ing to do but use your own sense without
asking anybody."

"Ic will he like the pig. You know we
wondered why Mrs Ogden visited tlie barn
so constantly. Do yon know, as our waste
proved ins'ifficicnt, she has bought corn
privately, and feeds him ht-rself from an okl
Knitting bag that 1 need not know. 1 saw her
ciden tally che other day, and yet this vety
morning she suid the pig wwuld burst if he
was stuHed >o. ('h, bah !"

" Don't think abouc her a minute when
you are not obliged to,," said Fanny looking
at me attentively. " You look so worried
and tired. I thought you never worried."

" I don't mean to ; but she seems to come
in unexpectstlly at all times. Now we won't
speak of her again till we have to. Aren't
you hungry ? Let us have some lunch,
unless thuae big black auts have eaten it
all."

No one can be too thankful for a tempera-
ment which throws off trouble easily ; and
the fact that one can, by no means presup-
poses a shallow nature. To make the most
of the smallest pleasure ; to draw refresh-
ment and comfort from the tiniest source, is
a gift of nature, but a gift that, like the
gospel talent, can be increased tenfold by
careful culture. Though I brooded more or
less, and saw a thousand times more clearly,
than Winthrop the drift of what to him
were the merest trivialities, it was yet
counterbalanced by a steadily growing power
to enjoy the present, even if the next hour
brought its bunlen. So having told part of
my woe, I ate my lunch with creat satisfac-
tion,. drank water from the spring under an
old root, sewed a dozen stitches, an<l then
leanintj back, listened with delight to Fanny's
pure, even, lovely voice as siie read from
"The Eartldy Paradise" the old and ever
new story of Cupid and Psyche, never more
daintily told by mortal man. A wood thrush,
rarest heard of all birds, took up the theme
as she ended, and poured out its heavenly
sweet notes till the deep wood seemed alive
with music.

■' Its heart is at the secret source,
Of every pleasant thin^f,"

Fanny said softly, as the silence came, and
waited in vain for more. "That is not
ShfUey's skylaik, jubilant and soaring ; it is
the full heai t at i est and the music overflow-
ing. We ought to be good, Eleanor, when
we have had that."

•iramlmother May rejoiced over our blue
violets found in the old orchard beyond the
wood. We filled the great fruit-dish with
wet moss, from which they looked up as if at
home, and Winthrop, who came out early,
divided his attention between them and the
mayonnaise Fanny and I concocted bef«»?e
supper.

" I am learning to respect cookery
more and more," Fanny said, as she
dropped her oil slowly into the creamy
mass. "It seems a dreailful descent from
Morris and the wood, and that heavenly
bit d, but it all chimes in after all. It's till-
ing sense as well as soul, and to round out
both perfectly is our work, isn't it ?"

"That ain't the way to treat china," in-
terrupted a voice, and Grauilmother Ogden
appeared noiseles-ly from somewhere. " That
dirt and stuti' will strike through, and you
I can't get the stain out."

"It has done duty for some years, and not
struck through yet," I was able to say plea-
santly. Net vea were in bt-tter order, ai d
even if she was out of harmony, I was not.
Runnins; away from worries a little while
is sometimes the very best prescription, and
everything seemed brighter and better.

A TILT AGAINST "SHIF'LESSNESS.'

CHAPTER IX.

A TILT AOAIN.ST "SHIF'LESSNESS. "

We went iiiuO town directly after break-
fast next morning, to stay only two or three
hours, .ludicioiis inquiry hail lately brought
to light tlie fact tliac Mrs. O^^len had only
one thin dress of uncertain age, a deep choc-
olate-coloured niualin with unpleasant white
dabs by way of figure. Fanny had suggest-
ed the bold idt-a that as her birtliday came
early in July, we' should buy some pretty
material and make cool afternoon dresses for
both the old ladies, so that Grandmother
May might feel attentions equally ilivided.

•'Sh« doesn't really need a new dre-is," S!4i<l
Fanny; ''but then things are no cheap^ anti
the litde old lady does love pretty, bright
things, and ooirht to have them. 'Tisn't so
very nmci> troulju;. "

We bought the very white and lilac strip-
ped jaconets with deep lilac l)ordcr, spoken
of not long before, and then stimidated by
our success, a plain black grenadine

".Sii« will look 3 > mu.!h i) itter in some-
thing nice,'' Faimy said ; "and Th« only
way i.s ju'^t to get it and have it made and
then .she will feel it mu.st not be wasted and
will wear ic. I took her measure one day
'all unbeknownst' when we were comparing
sizes, and she is so up and down that I think
that .md a Bazaar pattern willl be enough
for your bright little dressmuker. How
will she look? Two at once? Only think
of it !"

Beguiled by Fanny's enthusiasm I bought
a cap and some rucnes for her neck, and re-
turned home at once, prepared to cut out as
soon as lunch was over. A wail sounded
from above as we entered, and Grandmother
May trotted down to meet us, much dishev-
elled as to cap and curls, ami very uink as
to cheeks, holding Tea's baby while Norma
Annette looked over the stands.

"I've ilone my part as well as I could,
she said breathle.-sly. "But of all the
babies ever I temied this is the very worst ;
but then, poor thing, its mother all white-
■^ash and suds and it is not able to get at
her; I don't know but I'd scratch and
scieam too. Eleanor, my dear, just you
take It, and I'll run up and try to stop old
lady Ugden. She'll be brought home a
corpsf, I'm truly afraid, if somebody doesn't
Btop her, and the whole liouse out under
bushes ; but then I don't wonder she felt
bad, i'ea's wife in that pink thing, it makes
me dizzy to look at."

I took the baby mechanically, and we
lookeil at one another with a .«ort of fascina-
tion, until, deciding me to be another eneny,
Its mouth opened and a yell of twenty baby.
power begau. JSorma Auuette sac down on

the stairs to receive it and proceeded to ad-
minister pounded crackers and sugar. I
went into my room to take otf my things
and collect my senses ; Fanny followed
laughing, and Katy appeared dushed, and
streaked with whitewash and begau an ex-
planation.

"Mrs. Ugden went up before you had
been gone half an hour," she said, "and to.d
Tei's wife she had come to clean the house,
and they'd all got to turn to or she'd know
why. 8he said, I must go too, but I told
her I couldn't more than an aour anyway,
because all my work was iaid out ; but 1 did
want to see what she woultl do. I'ea's wite
tneil to make believe siie didn't feel very
well, but Mrs. Ugden just snatcheu away
her Peterson antl said, ' Now look here !
It's a burning shame and sin, and a scandal-
ous di.sgrace, a good house like thi.s, and
ants aui I roaches and moths all over ic, and
dirt liive poison so 1 wonder you can stir.
Now I've made up my mind. You liaven't
but four rotmis and an attic, ami 1 say
they shall be clean, and ^ say they shall
be kept cli^&n too.' There's lime ana soap,
and sand and brushes coming from the store,
and you may ju.-^t set everything right out of
doors. Tiiey've got to be scoured inside and
out if it lakes all night.' 'I guess if you had
two or three little children,' Tea's wife be-
gan, but Mrs. Ugden said, 'Now I'm not
gointr to talk, I'm g»nng to do,' and she
pulled open the closet door. It really w. ■
horrid. Kinds and pieces of everything, and
roaches running, and things so sticky you
didn't want to touch tiiem. So 1 said I
could clean tliat, and I'd do all I could in aa
hour, and Mrs. Ugden took tiie baby ani ran
back and told Mrs. May she must see to it,
and it went to sleep on her bed good ascouid
be, with Norm I hnsmng it. Didn't it ?"

"Beautiful !" said(:>iaiidmother May, who
sat in the door-way fanning; "but iheu it
didn't stay asleep."

''Well, it was up here," Katy went on,
"and Mrs. Ogden began at the bedroom and
iiade Tea take down the beds an I set them
out doors. Then she sent him for Mrs.
Slapson, and she came right over antl they're
all working now. Don't you wan't to go up
and see ?"

"Not until we have had lunch. We are
tired and hot, for the carnage was not at the
depot. Next time I go away, Katy, you are
on no account to leave the house nnle^8 I
direct it. I do not wish Mrs. May to be
alone or to be tired out with the children."

"But I d(m't know how to get otf, when
Mr-. Ugden says I must. She'd knock any-
body down that wouldn't. I'm sorry."

"You are not to blame this time,' but re-
member another.''

Bl>a)g!*!rt U!llj ! Il^iLU. ^g8SMBgB

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

111!

til I

Katv rushed away to get lunch, and Fanny
and I looked at one another. Evidently the
children had run riot through the house. A
vase on a bracket in my room lay in frag-
ments ; the old sideboard ■which stood in a
deep niche in the hall was deluged with
waterfmm the ice pitcher; and in the parlour,
books lay on the floor, and the piano cover
had been dragged partly off in an attempt to
open it, ten sticky fingers having left
their mark on that and the polished
front.

''Home Missionary work is very well. "I
said as we finished our examination ; "btit I
prefer to do it in my own fashion. This is
really too much."

At this moment Tea appeared in the open
door, shamefaced and apologetic as his nation-
alty would allow.

"Now Mis' Winthrop," he said, "you're
welcome to scold, an' I wish you would.
Fact is, I hadn't no idee what time
it was, an' when I started to haruet<s,
there you was walkin' in at the gate. J
ain't quite sure whether I'm on my head or
my heels. I put out Prince, and was in the
barn untyin' that ring- tailed i oarer's legs, 1
would say the speckled hen. She's set on
everything, from a cldna egg up to a box of
nails, and at last I tied her lejis up with r»gs
till they was like sausages, and I vow if I
didn't find her this morninji in an old hat
settin' tiptoe. I give it up then, an' I was
undoin' of her, an' thinkin' to myself,
* Well set then, it's the woman in ye, an'
you'll set if it's on red Lot iron,' and 1 hearn
my wife hollerin' to me, pretty lively for
her, an' I ran out, an' there was the old lady
bundlin' her out o' ho ise and home. Be-
tween you an' me, Mis' Winthrop," Tea
went on with a twinkle, "I wasn't sorry to
have something start Almiry up, an' she's
start'jd sure enough. Yc»u wouldn't know
the place this mmute ; but 1 declare I'm
Borry you had to walk."

"Never mind. Tea, only do not let it
happen again. You should have kept the
children up there and not troubled Mrs.
May. She is not strong enough to manage
them, and they have done a good deal of
mischief."

Tea looked miserable.

" Take it out of my wages. Mis' Win-
throp, if it's smashing," he said. " They're
so used to that at home I wouldn't wonder
at it here, but I never thought. The old
lady saya she's going to clean the barn after
she's through with ua." Fanny burst into
such a fit of laughter, that the baV)y crowed
and Grandmother May giggled ill the way
down fitairs.

" I'm BO glad to hear }ou laughing," she
said; "I declare -Eleanor, I did think you

wouldn't like it, but the old lady Ogden
must do something. 'Tisn't as if she was a
useless body like me, but she has always had
care on her mind and she can't get it off;
but then, as i told her, I never should tiare
jio in anybody's house so, but then she is
hard to turn. Shan't you go up aftei her?"

-No, I'll send Katy,"" I began.

"Don't," said Fanny, " or you will not
see her again till the barn is cleaned, and
every nail in every shingle high polished.
SindTeu."

Tea brought back word presently that
she had hud all she wanted, and couldn't
stop for more, and we ate lui,ch with
a delightful sense of freedom. Grand-
mother May, after it was over, put on
several shawls and hei rulbeis and
went up to view the enemy's ground,
l>ut actually frightened at the fury
with whicii Grandmother Ug<len attack-
ed and beat the remains Oi a rag car-
pet, turned and fled back to her own room.
v\ e followed, certain of being called upon if
we were seen, and took rtfuge under the
three great pines at the west end of the
i)l;ice, between two of which a hammock was
swung.

"It will never be perfect till you have one
too,'' Fanny .said, as aft»r protesting 1 ought
to take it, she yielded, and swung lightly
l)ack and forth looking up through the
branches. "In fact there should be three,
.ilia then Mr. Ogden could luxuriate too.
No, though, for the musquitoes won't let UB
enjoy them after sunset. They are only for
summer afternoons. Imagine Mrs. Ogden in
oiie ! Has she evtr stopped to lest one
minute since she was burn ? That sort of
energy is frightful, for when the power to
work is gone, how will she live ? Ehanor,
wlien people's souls are narrowed down in
that fashi(m to one fine point, I wonder if it
doesn't take three or four dying at once, to
make one large enough to even start to-
wards Heaven."

" Fanny !" I began, but stopped as she
rolled from her hammock and flew into the
little summer-house, where I followed witif
equal speed.

Over our pretty lawn careered a small red
cow, closely pursued, flrst by Nep, then by a
man who after a dash through our best
flower bed, and a kick at Nep, did secure the
rope which hung from her neck, and stood
panting before us.

"She's a little lively," he said apologeti-
colly, "and sheered of the dog a littletoo Her
calf s just took, and that mads her, but the
old lady liked her looks."

" Take her out fast as you
" We do not like cows."

"But this is the place I was to bring her

can," I said.

A TILT AGAINST "SITIFLESSNESS.*

(1y Ogden
she was a
ways had
get it off ;
oul<l «lare
h<ii she is
ftei her?"

lU will not

Hiied, and

polished.

ently that

couldn't

i.ch with

Grand-

, put on

be 1 3 and

ground,

the fury

en attack-

, rag car-

wu rooai.

ltd upon if

under the

(ud of the

nmockwas

lU have one
ng 1 ought
i,g lightly
rough the

he three,
.11 i ate too.
oii't let UB
re only for .

O^den in
o lest one
at sort of

power to
Elt anor,
id down in
vonder if it
at once, to
11 start to-
ped as she
;w into the
lowed witif

a small red
», then by a
our best
secure th«
and stood

i apologeti*
ttletoo Her
er, hut the

an," I said.

)o bring her

to," the man said doubtfully. " The old
lady, Squire Ogdeu's mother, she comedown
yesterd.iy mornini^ and bargained for tliis
cow — the milkman he told her about it, and
I was to bring her to-day."

"Take her to the barn then this minute,"
I said, a3 Nep made another demoustration
and the horns waved before us.

"You poor thing !" said Fanny com-
passionately as we ran to the house and sank
exhausted on the great sofa. "I don't won-
der you didn't want a cow. Do you suppose
these are her usual habits ?"

" I (Hn't suppose. 1 only hope Grand-
mother Ogden will milk her, and have ex-
ercise enough to last through the day I
don't believe Winthrop thought of her get-
ting it yet. He didu','; speak of it this morn-
ing."

"No, he couldn't have known." said
Fanny couKilently. "It wouldn't have the
right rtav(»ur unless she could smuggle it in.
I certairdy di^in't mean to enter the house
again for two or three hours, but as we are
here, suppose we go to workagainon Fingal's
Cave. iVIy hivnds are not quite steady yet,
and I shall make more false notes than I did
last time. They are in good condition for
Wagner. He is principally false notes, He
had probvbly h vl a vision of Gra idmother
Ogden and her doings before he wrote the
Flying Dutchman."

" Don't insult what you cannot under-
stand, profane girl !" I said severely. " No,
Fanny, I am utterly demoralized and don't
want to ' cut out' or practise or anything.
The day is ruined. Suppose we call on the
neighbours. I am just forlorn enough to be
willing. "

A prolonged shriek from the barn arrested
me here. We ran to the south windows and
looked. Nep barked, the men shouted, and
Tea's wife stood screaming and helpless.
The wild animal had escaped again, and
plu.iged through and over a circle of stone
pots, crockery, and old tins, scattering them
to the *'our winds.

" \t last," said Fanny, " Grandmother
Ogdtjn has occupation enough. Let us leave
her with her cow and not come home till we
hear the train."

Grandmother May was sound ask.-p iift *\ x
looked intf) her ro<im, and we went tirst to
Mrs. Wingate's, happy to find she was in
town, and from there down the hill, house
after house, till the whistle souudeil and we
turned home again. (Trandmother May sat
on the piazza, well up in a crrner to avoid
draui.ihts, but smiling to think f^he had reaily
at last done what we wished, and come out
to the open air.

" I'm going to stay two or three minutes,"
•he said ; "for it does seem as if you couldn't

take cold and the air like July: but then you
never know what you may take when you're
out, and (dd lady Cigden has come in and
laitl down, the very tirst I ever knew her to
do such a thing. She said she wag all beat
out and it wasn't the cleaning at all; but
she wouldn't tell what it was; but then I
thought most likely it was 'a sinking,' and
I made her take a mite of brandy, — just a
mite and a cracker. She walked lame as
could be, and she's lost her cap and she can't
tell where. Tea's hunting for it now, and
the children to >. Eleanor, I really do think
you ought to hinder her some way from work-
ing so. She'll kill herself."

As this remark was made twenty times a
day, there was no particular answer. I went
up for a moment to Mrs. Ogden's room,
found her asleep, probably the first time in
her life she had ever slept in the day-
time, and went down the back stairs to
speak to Katy. Tea had just come in, and
held out a purple and black rag, which on
examination proved to be Grandmother Og-
den's caj).

" Where did you find it. Tea ?"
" In the hen house," said Tea, shaking si-
lently, " where the animile aent it flying. J
tell you. Mis' Winthrop, I was considerably
scared, for I didn't know but what the old
lady might 'a broke some bones. I told her,
says I. 'There ain't no use in your tryin' to
nnlk that beast. You can see it in her eyo,
and she's ma I for her calf. I don't think
much o' your bargain, though she may turn
out a good milker.'

" That made her kind o' riled, an' for all I
could say she hunted up the old milkin' stool,
an' got the pail an' went up. The cow just
looked round out o' one eye an' stood.
' There, you s^e.' says she, ' you don't know
anything about it. She stands well enough.
I gutss I haven't forgotten how to manage a
cow.' The words wasn't out of her month
when over she went, an' that cow head
down, heels up, ready to go at her again. I
sprung, I can tell you, and gave it to her
with a pitchfork I had handy, but it was all
I could do to take un her mind with whang,
ing while the old lady crawled up. She
triol to walk off natural, and Mis' Slapson
ii.\c.l ■: •;• no with arnica, but she won't feel
like doin' much more mdkin'I guess. I bed
to tie the thing up l)efore I could get nigh
her; but I'm bound to pay it's tip-top milk.
Kind o' heated and roilly with her cuttin's
up, but yaller and good."

" Take it home and give it to the pig. I
don't want litnited milk."'

" I wouldn't mind," Tea said; " b-it you
see the old lady might, as the cow'b her'n.
She's p'etty particular, you know."

I flushed involuntarily, but s&id, " I for*

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

\ fj i i

!!l:^

ills

ii I

!i h

;ot it was not mine to dispose of. Take it
own stairs and leave it it in the milk cellar.
Always take it there. V^ e have nothing to
do with it."

At this point (J rand mother O^'denajipeared,
pale and wincing a little as sjie m(»ved, but
otherwise as usual.

" I'll see to it niysclf, ' she said. " I choose
to. I ain't j/oing to have ajiyhody else
touch it. I've got a • sealed quart, so's to
know exactly how much she gives from the
very lirst day. None of your guess woik
for me. "

" Here's your cap, marm," said Tea, "but
I reckon it's driie for. The old rooster
grabbed it and he and the young one had a
tight, and I trvul it in before I seed it. May-
be you can mend it."

(Grandmother Ogden took it without a
word and went oft'with herpnil.

"i he's a plucky one," .said Tea admiring-
ly. "Never see such a woman since I 'las
born. If that cow had danced a horiipi])e
on her she'd never let on ahe minded. Nut
8he !"

"She must be terribly tired," I said as
half an hour later she w;dked into theparlonr
in her Sunday cap, the etl'ect of which was
heightened by a ban<]age around her fort-
head, half hiding the great black-and-blue
bruises.

(Grandmother May broke out into pitying
exclamations; but the indomitable old lady
waveil them aside impatiently.

"There's nothing to make a fuss about,"
she f^aid. "Cows in a strange place ain't
likely to stand still. One thing's done any-
how. Tea's wife has got a clean house in
spite ot herself, a' 1 it's got to stay clean or
I'll know the reat.^i' ■'•'by. Shif'less thing !"

CHAPTER X.

INTERLUDES.

For a week we saw very little of Grand-
mother Ogden. The milk-cellar, really only
a large closet with stone tluor and two broad
low shelves, was scrubbed and whitewashed,
aid a dozen bright pans in rows, her little
stone pot tor cream, her skimmer and "seal-
ed quart," made quite an imposing array. A
amall stiuk hung from a nail, the use of which
Ral>enstein learned at once. His nose had
9;nelled cream, and his crafty mind determin-
ed upon having it ; but Grandmother Ogden
divined his deepest thought, and never once
had he stolen softly down the cellar stairs,
without finding his enemy, rod in hand.ready
for vengeance. Everything gave way to the
milk, and if late for breakfast or tea, or not
n proper costume for seeing callers or going
to ride, it was because ahe had either just
begun to skim or just been skimming, or

scouring her ])ans, or taking them in from
their morning sunning and air-
ing. Any baliy would have^ thriven,
washed and scrubbed and sunned with
the same <legree of enthusiasm,
and why not then the milk, which certainly
wa^ ))er feet ?

Wliy it was not "heatril" every aitrht, I
could never tell ; for the cow ]»ractised
every sort of liL'ht and heavy g^ ;iii:a>tics.
Siie trod suddenly upon so many chj<ken8
that the speckled hen trailed her wings and
chicked with fury if she drew near. She
unhooked the barn-yard gate and ate u]) the
young c.irn and two rows of peas just ready
for Itushing. Milking time was known
throughout the neighbourhood by Tea's
shouts of " Steady now ! Whooa up !
Stand still, you l)east !" and the children's
screams as they stood watchins.' their father.
The pail wjis kicked over until Mis, Ogden
said she should charge Tea so much a (juart
for loss, and then he tied the cow's leys in
sojne mysterious fashion, so that lashing her
tail in his eyes or whisking ()lf his hat was
the only action left.

Two quarts a day were sold to our oppo-
site neii:hbour at the milkman's price, and I
begged for the same arrangement. This
could not be. Skim milk was good enough
for the family and might be had for less titan
half pi ice, so every drop of cream went
into the stone pot, coming out every Satur-
' day a small ball of golden butter, very de-
licious, but doled out with such anxious
scrutiny of each crumb, that all enjoyment
was lost, and I longed to end the nuisance.
Winthrop alone was allowed a full fresh
])int every morning, and timling at last it
was useless to contend with her, I ordered
the milkman to come as usual, and once
more I'ejoice.l in the little pitcher of cream
for our morning coffee.

Mrs. Ogden saiil nothing to me, but a day
or so later as Winthrop sat down to his
goblet with an apiiroving nod, remarked in a
casual manner,

" You seem to like it better'n El'nor
does,"

"How so?"

" Oh. she's gone back to the milkman and
takes of him."

" That's ritliculous, when we keep a cow."
Winthrop began.

"So I think," said I, seeing that battle
was inevitable. " If your grandmother
would give me two quarts of fresh milk a
day. I shtmld take it gladly, but she skims
it first, and I prefer not to use skimmed
milk."

" Boil it then," said Mrs. Ogden. "It's
better skimmed than milkman's milk with
the cream left on. When butter's forty

m in from
ftiid air-
B^ thriven,
inecl with
Bnthnsiasm,
!h certainly

cry uii-'ht, I
V practised
jjy!iM;a^*tic8.
iiy chickens
• wings a'ld

near. Slie
(I a'e u]) tlie
18 iuat ready
waH known
by 'J'ea's
i\'liooa up !
lie cliildren'a
their father.

Mis, Ofiden
nuch a (juart
;ow'a leys in
t lashing her

his hat was

to our oppo-
price, and I
jnitni. This
^'ood enough
for less than
cream went
every Satur-
ter, very de-
uch anxious
dl enjoyment
the nuisance,
a full fresh
ing at last it
er, I ortlered
lal, and once
cher of cream

ne, l>ut a day
rlown to his
emarked in a

itter'n El'nor

milkman and

keep a cow."

ig that battle
grandmother
f fresh milk a
but she skims
use skimmed

Ogden. "It's
n's milk with
butter's forty

INTERLUDES.

cents a pound you've no business to want
cream. You'll call for «l(dlar bills on your
brea<l next. "

"^Ve cannot keep a cow and buy milk,*
said Winthrnp emphatically. "Can't you
settle it with Eleanor and let her have it
fre^h?"

"It's my own cow."

'•Very true; but Tea takes care of it and I
pay his wages and tlif" fet-d bill too. Charge
whatynu please, l)ut let ua have some share
of the milk."

"I'll buy tlie feed mynelf," retnrneil Mrs.
Og<len wiatlifnlly. •'! never thouglit to
have a bag or two of feed thrown at me.
Yt»u aliali have the whole, and El' lor can
take charge and see how slie likes work for a
change."

"The cow might far better be sold for beef,
than constantly make trouble,"! said. "But
there need l)e no troyhhi if you will simply
'sell ua two (juai'ts a day or more when nee<l-
ed, just as you do to .Mrs. Cochran "

"Well, I've no objcitions," said Mrs.
Ogden reservedly, and Winthrcp with a —
"There Eleanor ! You see there need be no
fuas. "turned away.

For a week this lasttsd. Then one morn-
ing going tlirough the cellar. I s»w Mrs. Og-
den turn out oie quart of fresh from the
foaming pail just brought in by Tea, and
adil one quart from the skimmed pan of the
previous night, shake tliem together to- give
the frothy look of ucsw milk, and walk out
with the p ul in her hand. She changed
colour slightly as she saw me.

"I want three pints extra this morniu'r if
you can spare it," I said. "I am going to
make custards."

"Here's a pan with just three pints, I'll
take off the cream. "

"No- I want the cream stirred in. "

" VVSll, I'll just take it off. It turns easy,
and you'd better heat your milk without it^
and '■'tir it in afterwards."

"Very well," I said thinking, "anyway,
so long as I get it." And Mrs. Ogden hav-

fmt the cream into a cup with a loving and
itu'ering tenderness over every drop, follow-
ed me up stairs,

"Suppose for once you leave out the
cream, ' she said, after watching me for a few
moments. "See how they'll be, and if yoa
don't like 'em, I won't say a ward next
time."

Her tone was so unusually pleasant that I
hesitated.

"Very well,
you must remember vour
side of the bargain. "

"I ain't or)e to go back on what I say,"
•he answered briskly, and I went oi turning
my Dover egg-beater till the eggs were a

^ "No," I began.but stopped.
I'll try it once; but you must

smooth yellow cream, then mixed them with
the milk and sugar, and went to the closet
with a pan in order to till it with cups. The
slide between kitchen and dniing-room
clogets had been opened, an<l as I l»ent over
to ])ick np a towel I saw (Jrandmotiier Oyden
with a quick motion junir the cup of cream
into the custard and walk away carelessly.

Her small plot was plain l)efore me, but
after the tirst im])ulsive movement. I said
nothing, determined to bide my time until
the right moment.

The cnstar Is were baked, cooled, and put
in the refrigerator to wait for teatime, John
VVd ler came out with a basket of atr.iw-
berries finer than any our beds ha<l pn -
duced, and (Jrandmother Ogden voluntarily
broutrht up a cup of cream.

"You'll have all the more," ahe said,
pleasantly, "for having saved some this
morniiii; "

I smiled and waited.

" Pretty good custarila," she said as half
an hour later we all sat .about tlie tea-table.
My best loved neiglib"Ur, gentle Mrs. (;rray,
had come in, been bejruiled itito staying,
and now smiled approval back again.

"Now you see," grandmotlier Oi,'den went
on, "they (//v gooil enovufh even if you do
laave ont the cream. Esjgs m ike up for it.
I tell El'nor, Winthrop, that slie might save
consid'able that way. and she was accommo-
dating enough to try these with just the skim
milk."

" Tiiey are delicious, whatever is in them,"
busy on his third.

" There is no reason why they should not
be," I began, then hesitated. It was an ex-
cellent opportunity for a small revenge, but
pity hatl its way. It was folly to spoil the
family peace for the evening, only I would
have the comfort of telling Fanny by-and-bye.

Grandmother Ogden, delighted that her
little fraud had succee>led, exceded herself
and was really entertaining in some curious
reminiscences of the fight in Portland Har-
bor between the Boxer and the Enterprise in
the war of 1812.

" I've got a tirkin the captain of the Boxer
gave my father afterwards," she said, "A
little one, painted red, that holds just sev«n
pounds, and I used to keep white sugar in it.
You !ike out of-the-way thinus so much,
Eleanor, I'll hunt it up some day. Father set
considerable 8to»*e by it, and gave it to me
when I was married."

" I remember writing a composition about
it and getting no end of complimeuts on my
historical knowledge," said Winthrop laugh*
ing. " That fight is all the United Stateg
history I know,"

" Winthrop !" said Grandmother Ogden
severely. " And you with a college educa-

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

ill

tion, and your father before you, and rows
on rows (.;" histories in the library."

'* I doii t mean it is all I have read grand-
mother, but all that impressed me profound-
ly ; that and our ancestress being hung for
•witchcraft."

«• I wouldn't tell of it," said Mrs. Ogden
colouring deeply. " Slich things ain't to be
talked about. Our family has always been
decent, Godfearine people, respectable every
one ill them, that never want«d to make talk
for the town."

*' I consider her the most respectable of
them all," said Winthrop stoutly. "For she
had character and strength enough to resist
every temptation they put before her, and
died rather than confess to acts of which she
knew her innocence. She was a martyr and
is a saint. I arink to St. Huldah !"

"The cup ought to crack for such blas-
phemy," said Grandmother Ogden. as we all
rose and drank standintr. "I sha'n't stay
by to countenance it, whatever the rest do.
You might have a word to say, Mis' May,
and he your own grandson swearii g about
his own great-great-great grandmother."

Weall laughed exoeut Grandmother Ogden,
who went down to her milk pans holding
her head very high, and when she reappear-
ed tlec^lined firmly joining us on the piazza.
The night was stiding hot. Though only
the last of June dog-days seemed to ha' e
begun, and for t .o or three days we had suf-
fered as much as in August. Giandmotlier {
May laid aside her shawls and began to fan,
and to-night sat with us, though in the corner
behind Winthrop.

" That's two musquitoes I've killed," she
said presently. "And it's growing damp.
I'll go in 1 fuess. "

"You're niintaken, I am sure," said John
leaning over and feeling of the urass. There
isn't one droj of dew. You will melt in the
hou e. It war eighty-six in the parlour,
and up stairs it is one hundred and eighty-
fix."

" Well, I can't more than melt, said
Grandmother May placidly, "and I'm 'most
melted now. I never did see such weather;
but then we onght to be thankful for any ;
but then I don't know as wo shall live to
need it if it keeps on so. "

"Come up on tlie roof," said Winthrop.
** It is always co(d there.

" My heart !" exclaimed Grandmother
May, really turning pale. "I wouldn't for
the world, and I won't hear to your doing it
either. You'd all fall ofl'and no way of sav-
ing one of you. "

" There's a railing over a foot high about
it. "

"You'd break it and roll through."
"The piazza would stop us."

" Now I do know better than that. There's
no railing to th^-m an I the scuttle stairs no
more than a ladder. Souiebody would
break something."

" Don't hti troubled," said Mrs. Gay.
" Thej' can't do it now for somebody must
go home with me. That is the penalty for
keeping me when I did not mean to stav. "

•' We wdl all go," I said. " We can't be
any hotter and the evening is beautiful after
all, unless you had rather ride. Shall I send
for Tea?"

"No, indeed, thank you. Let us just
say good-night to Mrs. Ogden. She ought
to be here enjoying the night."

"I leave that for folks that ain't particu-
lar about doing much," said Grandmother
Ogden appearing from the hall but evidently
intending no ofience. "The cow seemed to
whee/e to-day, and we've been giving her a
mash with a sftrinkling of hops. The milk-
man said it would be good for her."

" 1 feel impelled to state that the cow has
made several mashes with hops in them,"
said Winthrop, "but refrain, the family
feeling against any trifiiug with language
being very strong."

"That reminds me," said Mrs. Gay.
" Alice went to the seM'ing school at the
cha]iel this morning, and one of those bright
little Heckel children had to rip out a seam
she liaii spoiled. Alice said slie sat there
with the perspiration in drops on her little
freckled nose, pulling out the grimy stitches,
and sail!, ' I know a verse about this kind of
work, teacher.' 'Do you,' asked Alice.
'What is it?' 'They that sew abundantly
shall rip abundantly, and they that sew
sparingly shall rip also sparingly.' Alice
laughed so she could hardly explain."

" I don't see anything to laugh at," said
Mrs. Ogden, " making light of Scriptifre that
way. If that's all they learn at these mis-
sion schools I don't think much of 'cm.
There's too much spent on em, to my
mind."

Mrs. Gay said good night and turned
away, evidently not intending to be drawn
into any argnnient. She did more good
than any other woman in Glenville, but so
quietly that few realized it ; the ladies of
the mission-school itegun by her being quite
sure the thought had origin.ated with them.

" Neither you nor I have have ever down
any woik in them." I said, "and so we know
nothing about it and cannot judge."

"I guess T can have an opinion," said
Mrs. Ogden. "That's free if nothing ebe
is."

'Winthrop hurried out, as he always did
when the war-note sounded, and Mrs. Ogden
shut the wire door energetically and went in

DRIFTING.

at. There's
e stairs no
)dy would

Mrs. Gay.
jbody must
penalty for
to stay. "
Ve can't be
lutiful after
Shall I send

jet us just
She ought

n't particu-
randmother
at evidently
V seemed to
civing her a
"The milk-
ier."

the cow has

33 in them,''

the family

ith language

Mrs. Gay.
jhool at the
tlioso bright
out a seam
le sat there
)u her little
imy stitches,

this kind of
sked Alice.

abundantly
y that sew
ngly.' Alice
)lam."

igh at," said
icnptllre that
it these mis-
mh of 'em.
em, to my

and turned
to be drawn
more pood
ville, but so
the ladies of
;r being quite
with them.

ve ever down
i1 sowekuow

pinion," said
nothing else

e always did
d Mrs. Ogden
Y and went in

to Grandmother May, who sat fanning herself
on the great sot?.

" Win," said John on the way home, "do
you remember how we used to camp on the
rrof when we were students? Your grand-
mother had the same objection Mrs. May
has, and we used to steal up m our stockings
after she was safely in bed. There was an
old husk mattref^g in the attic, and we took
it up and slept deliciously upon it till day-
light, while the bedrooms were a fieiy
furnace."

" The mattress still lives," said Winthrop.
"We can do it again, but she may iind us
out. She did then."

" But only because your inordinate and
untimely appetite would have its way. The
pantry door would creak and she heard that.
Winthrop had a whole pie, Miss Walton,
and I was the only one she ever forgave for
stealing pies. She followed swift and silent,
and when he rose up through the scuttle and
waved his pie, she rose too, snatched it and
ordered us in, in language I am powerless to
describe. She wept over that mittress, for
it had been rained on and dried and rained
on again till it was mildewed and used up
generally."

" I gave her five dollars to cover wear and
tear," said Winthrop, *'and the property
is mine now. We can leave it where we
please."

" It is in the attic now," I
have done notliing with it,
grandmother said it was hers,
are two, just about alike, both equally good
for nothing."

" AH the better," .said Winthrop. "You
and Fanny shall have one and John and I
the other, and for ouce we'll be thoroughly
cool."

Grandmother May had gone to bed when
we got back. Grandmother Ogden was in
her room. We shut up the hmise as usual,
and each went to their respective quarters.
Half an hourlater, Grandmother Ogden came
to our door —

" It seems just as if I heard a creaking on
the roof," she said. "Where's the garret
key ?^ I'll go up."

" Nonsense, grandmother," said^Winthrop,
who had just retnincd from a trip to that
region. " I'll attend to it if it's neeessary.
Roofs often make noises after a hot day."

"I've heard they would," paid Mrs. Oirdon
doubtfully, "but this sounded to me like
steps. "

" Well the door is looked, and burglarf
don't generally begin on the > oof. Go to bed,
grandmother, and rest easily. I shall hear
ADv alarm."

Twice the old lady sallied out as we made
a move.

said, "and I

because your

In fact there

At last silence settled down, and one by
one we stole up the attic stairs. Winthrop
locked the door, pocketed the key, and in a
moment we were out of the stifling, pent-up
heat, had slid the scuttle door back to its
place, and stood under the starlight. Win-
throp had put the mattresses at a point where
the new roof sloped down and met the old,
thus making a couch on which we leaned back
luxuriously.

The moon had gone down and we conld
barely distinguish one another's faces, but
the darkness took away all sense of height,
or thought of falling. Fanny clasped her
hands over her head and looked up. We
were all still. Talking might have roused
the ever- vigilant Grandmother Ogden, and no
one cared to talk. The peace of the night
over-shadowed us and entered in. I looked
up and beyond the stars till the deep, intense
blue seemed to close about me and make a
cradle in which I rested sate and sure. We
rested quietly till the dew began to fall, then
stole down again to our rooms, doubly hot
after the free breath of the upper air.

"To-morrow I'll rig a canvas or some-
thing," said Winthrop, " so that one can stay
there all night. I'lii not sure we should get
any cold even without one, for regular camp-
ers-out never do ; but you will have the
canvas and make sure. Then I see no reason
why we should not use our roof all summer."

"What Mould Mrs. Grundy say if she
knew ? " I sugcested.

" Mrs. Grundy be hanged I" Winthrop
returned energetically. "If Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacol» slept on the house top with their
whole families, why not we? Are we wiser
than both disp', nidations ? The roof it shall
be, and now fo.- a summer's circumvention of
our friends snd relations." ,

CHAPTER XI.

DRIFTING.

"Something has got to be done with that
dog," said Grandmother Ogden a few days
later. " 1 believe he is ]'osijessed. between
his howling and yowling antl the evei lasting
creaking that tin roof Veeps up, I can't get a
mite of .sleep h.nlf the time. Give me plain
phingleh, though I will say I think that tin
is put on wronc. Smith is a shif'less fellow
and always was, and likely didn't more than
half nail it. 1 hat's the only way I can ac-
c«iuiit for the way it snaps and t.tarts. Any-
how, that d(>g h»K got to be hushed up. I'm
' ^ good a mind as ever was to shoot him my-
.eir*

"Now you don't mean'it," said Grand-
mother May, as Fanny flashed a look at me
over the cofl"ee cup. "You know you
wouldn't have the heart. I looked ont laat

i i

];

HIS GRANDMOTHERS,

lii

l|il!

night just to see what he could mean, and
the moiin shining so beautiful you'd think, it
■would have kept hitn still, but then it didn't.
There he was sitting up straight and his
nose in the air, howling so melanchcdy and
all the do^fs everywheie howling back. It
did sound for all the world like tuning a
dozen old V)a33-viols. Vou cuuMn't very
well get a much deeper bass than Jeep's
voice ; almost musical, only it went up too
sudden '

"' If his bark sinks 'tis to another C,'"
quoted Fanny wickedly. '"The amuhing
thing to me is the quality and extent of yelp
in tbat small terrier oppo.site, and the intense
and painful scjueak of Mrs. (,'ochran's pug.
Then did you hear the butcher's dog answer
in a roaring bass always on one note? There
is a cat's fugue, why not a dog's ? I will try
it to-day."

*' Don't you ttdnk it's enough if you listen
to it at niglit, wichout doing it yourself in
the daytime? but then I don't suppose you
could make quite so much noise. You
wouldn't want to either," Grandmother May
remarked meekly,

'•She'll make all shvT can, I'll be bound,"
said Mrs. Ogdtn grimly. " I'm going up on
the roof to see if that tin can't be fastened.
If it's loose enoutth to snap the way it does,
the Hr«t high wind'll take it olf, and then
wher '. li you be ? And I will say, Wmthrop,
I thin.v It rather queer iloings in Eleanor to
keep th'j garret locked and I always want-
ing to go up to my things. It would
be much more proper for me to have the
k. y "

vVinthrop looked at me. Our roof was in
camping ordfcr,and how was she tobeheadep
oft"? We had spent half of one night rigging
u sort of canopy which could be raised or
lowered at will, and had wrapped the ham-
mer in flannel so thatithe few nails which
must l)e driven need not betray us. The
carpenter had been smuggled up during one
of her absences and had put ujj strong hooks
from which hammocks could swing. Two
were hung, though one mattress remained as
divan, the other being returned to the attic
to divert suspicion in jase Mrs. Ogden should
penetrate there.

" Tell her outright and stop this ridiculous
mystery," I had said to VV inthrop, " We
are not children or fools, and she should un-
derstand that we do what is beat for us,
though it might not be for her."

*' But don't you see," said VVinthrop, "ahe
is honestly afraid of our catching cold and
dying. What ia the use of worrying htr
aad spoiling her rest when by a little strat-
egy we secure hers and our own too ?"

" I am tired of strategy,' I said hotly.
"It is degrading to steal up there like

thieves and never speak above our breaths.
I shall tell her." .

. "What an unreasonalde creature you are,
Eleanor. I really believe you relish ,i. squab-
ble, and burn like the Paildy to have some-
body tread on your coat tail. Do let well
enough ahme. "

I was silent. Certainly the fights did come
oftener, try as I would to be patient. I puz-
zleil over the rights and wrongs of our daily
living; wondered why truth must not alwa_\8
be best, and whether inevitable deterioration
of moial fibre did not .ensue when one must
perpetually shift and eva<le.

Stolen waters were not .sweet. I resented
more and more the petty curiosity which
hesitated at no (|Uestion and demanded as a
rigiit every lea^^t detail. No unhajniy beeile
on its pin ever writhed more than I under
tliat microsco{)ic investigation. Was my
fate always to l)e impaleitieiit on an interro-
gation point ? Certainly I wan not secretive.
On the contrary, too open and outspoken
with those in whom I l)elieved, yet Mrs.
Ogden had set ine down as not only secre-
tive, but deceitful aii.l defiant, and truly I
did at times seem all three.

Duty was yi^owiiiL' less absolute — more
relative. Must my own soul shrivel because
heis was small ? Must my weakest points
be always attacked and my stronghohls fail
before so petty a foe?

*' It its my (liscipline," ^ said many times a
ilay. " How utterly petty must I'e my
nature when a word or look can so chate and
irritate that one alone often ruins my day.
Learn to be still. Slie cannot change and
\ou can. In qui-'tncs.< shall be your strength. "

Excellent preaching, but oh, the wea'-y
practising ! For myself I might bear it,
l)ut the home life wa.s changing, and against
tliat I struggled with all my strength. It had
meant so much I could never let it mean less,
yet how helpless I stood before this shiw-ris-
ing tide ot petty misrepresentation, misun-
derstanding, peevishness and narrowness. It
should not swamp us, and I laugheil a forlorn
laugh as Mrs. Partington and her bro<>m oc-
curred to me. At least the broom should fly
till v^orii to a stump even if the ocean had its
way at lalt.

I had lost myself, and roused with a start,
as Mrs. Ogden said loudly ;

"I auppoae it's manners so long aa you do
it ; but in my time fidka answered questions,
and didn't go to sleep over 'em."

"I beg you pardoK, " I said hastily, "jou
were speaking of the key. Winthrop has it,
I think."

"Yes, and I shall keep it, grandmother.
You mustn't go into that stifling attic and
fry your brains in such weather as this. I

DRIFTING.

)nr breaths.

ire you are,
ish a squab-
have soine-
Do let well

its di<l come
uit. I}>uz-
of our tlaily
t not alwa\8
leterictration
len oue must

I resenteu
iosity which
Lianded as a
happy beetle
un I under
Was my
n an interro-
lot secretive.
\d (»ut!»pokea
ed, yet Mrs.
)t only secre-
juid truly I

isolnte— more
iri\el because
eakeat points
ongholds fail

many times a
must I'e my
1 8c> chate and
lins my day.
change and
)ur strength."

tlie wea'-y
litrht bear it,

and against
ength. It had
it mean less,
this slowris-
ition, misun-
urtowntss. It
Lihed a forlorn
ler bro<<m oo-
lom sliouid fly

ocean had its

with a start,

onjr as you do

red questions,
t>

hastily, "you
inthiop has it.

grandmothen
ing attio and
r as this. I

know you will if I leave the key at home,
and so I take it."

"Dh I don't mind particularly if you'd
rather have it. I only didn't want to be put
upon, or have f(dks take too nmch on them-
eelve.". That's all only aliout the dog. Some-
thing .'<hall be done this very night."

"Let him sleep in the kitchen," 1 said.

"And lioLi's hair in every mouthful you
eat. If you like it, why I don't "

"Then put him down (cellar "

"And my milk, and he buratiig open
the door aiid licking up every mite of
cream "

"Tie him to the stairs then." I fiaid,giv
ing the last availa'de su^Lrei^tiou.

"That's a goo i ilea," said Winthrop.
"Then if a burglar does come, the cellar is
our weakest ]ioint, and once in, he'il find a'l
unexpected friend waiting for him. I'll try
it tonigliL"

Nep protested when tlie time come, but
yieliUy finally, and missing the accusto.ned
challenge, our neigid)Ours' dogs grew com-
paratively qnitt, so that a tolerably peaceful
night was passed.

Joi.n congratulated us on the happy
thonght,and Grandmother Ogden's only com-
plaint now was the curious and persistent
cracking of the tin roof.

'I he dresses had been ma<le, and though
declined at first. P^mny'.s theory had proved
true. So much exjienditure must be
utilized, and for the first time witlnn my
kiiowleilge, and probably in her lite, the old
lady looked as well as nature would allow.
In spite of herself a look of gratitied piide
struggled with shampfacedness, as Winthrop
said tlie first time he saw the lilac caniliric.

" Why, Grandmother Og<len ! I never
knew you were s-o handMome. You're really
more stunning than (Jiandmother May."

" I've got more important things to think
about than clothes, I hope," returned Mrs.
Ogden ill a mildly severe manner.

" 1 always tohl you you ought to fix a
leetle more, and you do look so well," said
Grandmother May, nodding approvingly.
" Now just a mite more stuffing, and there's
not many young women with a good a figure
I wish 1 had it."

Grandmother Ogden laid down her knife
and fork, and sat for a moment paralyzed.

" Mrs. May," she said s(demuly, " I want
to kiio\¥ ! You don't mean you wea'-
■tuthng ! I never would have thought it of
you ! "

" Of course I do. I should liks to know

by not," returned Grandmother May with

exasperating uahnness. " And there's

notlier thing you really ought to do. My

lessed mother always ilid it. Just to dry a

ittle starch and pound it tine, and sift it

through book-muslin, and then you put a
little on a flannel and just rub it on your
face. It's very cooling, and it lakes ofl all
the shine, and you know v^ oiking round in
the lieiit you do get so shiny."

Gran(lm(.ther Ogden became rigid.

" I thank the Lord I never knew whether
I was shiny or not ! " she saitl. " Stuthng,
and whitewasiiing, and 1 supnose painting.
Your mother must have been near a tool, and
I feel to say you're one too, at your liwie of
life to be going on like a painted actress or a
Jezebel."

(Tiandinother May's cheeks flushed pink.

" I've lived seventy-four years." she
answered shiwly, ''and that's the first time
I ever heard such wonls apjdiod to my
blessed mother. I never sai<i 1 was anything
but foolish, but a lady the ■wh<de parish
looked up to, ami my father bowing as if she
was a queen when he handetl her into her
pew, ana tears in your eyes to see him, and
the fiandsomest couple in Cheshire Couiity."

" I've heard she was a very nsptctable,
stirring woman," said Grandmother Ogden,
intending ;in apology, but (Jrandmothsr May
was not to be appeased at once.

"There's sometliiny beside stir," she said.
" My mother was stirring, but .die had a
smile and a good word foi' tlie whole world,
and no church could lioM the peojile that
came to look at lier in her coitin, and followed
her crying to her grave. She powdered her
face and took care of her hands and crimped
her ruffles, and she walk(d like a (puen, and
they called her Lady Huntingdon to the last
minute she lived."

" Well, well I'" said (Jiandmother Ogden,
uneasily, " I wasn't sayii g anything against
her. I didn't mean much."

" I'm glad you didn't," said Grandmother
May, settling he*- plumes like a belligerent
bantam, ami beginniiig to smile again. " [
suppose it is foolish to think too much about
your figure; but then it did try nie always tv»
see my India shawl and know I was so high
shouhlered I never could slioyv it ofi well, and
there was our black Nance, with a hgure like
an anyel you might say, if you only saw her
back."

At this point the iceman's bill made a di-
version. Mrs. Ogden descended to hermilk,
Fanny and <l(din went out for a button h<de
bou(^uet, and Winthrop's white forehead
wrinkled unpleat^autly us he looked at the
total.

" Double what is needed," he said impa-
tiently. "Grandmother says if she took
care of the ice she would get along on quar-
ter the amount. Wo must economize."

" We will," I said. 'We can easily dis-
pense with the broken ice for claret, and

■^ii

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

With the fruit ices for dessert. In that way
we shall save fully half the bill."

Witithrop looked provoked. Ices were
his weakness, and I knew it, and gratified it
whenever I could. My freezer was an ex-
cellent one, and I had experimented with
every variety of fruit, till my reputation
grew more brilliant with each venture.
Creams I seldom tried. Fruit ices were
cheaper and quite as delioiou.s; and currants,
raspberries, strawberries) peaches, all yielded
up iheir souls to my persuasive power, and
appeared in a spiritualized and ravishing
form at my bidding.

Winthrop handed me the bills without
speaking, l)ut I could not keep silent.

"If you only would yive me an allow-
ance," I said; " we should be saved this end-
I J38 jar over bills. I should pay everything
weekly, and you would never be frightened
at the totals."

" It's bad enou^jh as it is," he said, look-
ing gloomily into his pocket-book. "You
harp abominably, Eleanor, if an idea is once
fixed in your mind. What is the difference
80 long as you get all you want ?"

"Never mind," I said. "If you do not
understand, there is no use in talking
of it."

I went out. Fanny and John were in the
summer-house, Fanny fastening '.v rose in his
button-hole, and John looking down at her
with an expression which told the whole
story. I had exnectod it, but not so soon.
He coloureil as he met my look; then smiled;
the smile of a man who means to win, and
sprang from the low wall lo the path below
where Winthrop in a moment joined him.

" Handsome fellows, aren't they ?" said
Fanny, quite unconscious of what had gone
on. "Do you know they are decidedly the
finest-looking pair who go in and out ? The
Jersey men, the natives at least, are so hard-
featured and narrow, John and your VVin-
throu look so generous and fine in com-
parison."

1 smiled privately at the simply spoken
"John,"' though as we all called him so, it
was hardly surprising she should use it.
Then I sighed a little too. Love was good,
and a true marriage the best life this side
Heaven ; hut all the same, my pretty Fanny
would never be quite so much mine again. I
had so few, and a shadow seemed creeping
between me and them. Tears of self-pity
rose in my eyes. Then I shook them
away.

"Don't be mandlin, Eleanor," I said to
luysolf. " Nothing i.s so easy ;\s to dissolve
over one's own woes, and nothing is so M'ell
as to lock them up and lose the key. Look
out and not in. Look up and not
down."

" You dear soul I" Fanny said giving me
an impulsive squeeze most refreshing in its
character, " I know all about it. Oh, you
needn't think I don't see, but I know it will
all come out right. Wait and see."

" Always waiting," I said. "That is the
hardest service in the world. I can fight, I
cannot wait. Fanny ? What is that ! Is
Te« crazy ?"

Fanny stood spell-bound a moment : then
fled into the summer-home and mounted the
seat, closely followed by myself, while
through the grape-vines and over the flower
beds rushed the pig squealing as became, and
leaping from \\all to terrace, from terrace to
road with a frightful abandonment. After
him came Tea with rolled up sleeves and a
broken bottle in his hand, but stopped as he
saw me.

"'Tain't no use Mis' Winthrop," he said
mournfully. "That pig's a goner, but I
wouMn't a believed it."

" Why is he out of his pen ?" I said. "I
saw him come out of your house. Tea What
do you mean ? "

" ^'hy it's this," Tea answered, meanwhile
stretching his neck to look up and down the
road up which a faint squeal still came on
thewind, "that pig's been kind o' dumpish for
two or three days, and stiff" like as if he had
the rheumatism, and this mornin' he lay
out, like he was pretty nigh dyin'. So I
thouL'ht I'd try that liniment the Indian doc-
tor left. It's powerful strong, an' it couldn't
hurt him anyway. He ain't very hefty, an*
I gt)t him out an' carried him into the kitchen
stove ao't I could rub it in well. He took it
like a lamb, and the children was all standing
round interested as could be, when that
blasted pig rose right up under the cookin'
stove. 1 reckon he smarted, for he gave a
squeal and a hist, an' away went the loose
leg an' down came the tea kettle an' the pot
o' hot ninsh. He knocked everyth ng end-
ways before he got out, an' Almiry's hollerin
and pickiu' up coals yet. He'll have to be
shot. He's scalded as if it was killin' time."
" Shoot him then qnickly and put him out
of his misery. It is a mercy none of the
children were hurt. Run, Tea, or we shall
have the whole neighbourhood upon u.'*."

I went up a moment to condole with Mrs.
Fuller, who had restored the stove leg, and
now sat sobViing among her brood, all wailing
ii -horus. Mush smeared everything, "The
piji had been impartial in its distribution,
and the room was slimy to sight and touch.
Mrs. Slapson was still at the house, hav-
ing cal'ed in search of a possible day's work,
and I sent her up at once, much to Mrs.
Fuller's satisfaction.

Mrs. Ogden's sense of outrage when she
heard the story was beyond telling. Sh«

REST.

givinj; nie

hing in its

Oh, yoa

mow it will

B."

That is tho
jan Huht, I
s that! Is

ment : then
nounted the
^self, while
r the flower
he came, and
m terrace to
(lent. After
eeves and a
topped as he

op," he said
Toner, but I

I said. "I
Tea What

d, meanwhile
iikI down the
still came on
V dumpish for
e as if he had
jrniu' he lay
dyin'. So I
e Indian doc-
n' it couldn't
|ery hefty, an'
the kitchen
He took it
s all standing
•when that
tbe cook in'
ir he pave a
ent the loose
.e an' the pot
^ryth ng end-
fiiry's hoUerin
1 have to be
killin' time."
I put him «)ut
none of the
,, or we shall

pon us."

Idle with Mrs.

tove It^g. and

1, all wailing

ythin^. The

diatrtbulion,

it and touch.

house, hav-

B (lay's work,

uch'to Mrs.

comforted herself by putting down the re<
mains of the pig scientirically, but as we
positively declintd to touch it in any from.
Bold it at last to i'l-a, who had no scruples
and rather enjoyed ti)i» destruction of his ad-
versary. That the cow might soon follow
became the next wish ; but mush was inade-
quate to this end and once more I waited.

CHAPTER XII.

BEST.

" ^^'here is the summer ?" Fanny asked
suddenly one morning. " I had planned to
do everything, and here is August half gone
and I've done nothing. What does it mean ?
I shad practice the whole morning to make
up for lost time. It is those abominable jams
and ' jels' as (Grandmother Ogden calls them,
The jel that wouldn't jel, and the jel that
did jel. To think how much I know about
them all ! I'm weighed down with general
information and can't see how you bear up so
beautifully under it. But where is the

summer

►ge

when 8h«

telling. Sh«

I could have told Fanny why the last
month had sped jn such unprecedented fashion
but would not. So far as it was possible I
had prevented the usual chaffing which
accompanies the lovers' progress from single-
ness to doubleness. fJrandmother May
opened her gentle eyes widely when I begged
her to take no notice, but listened to my
views with more attention than they usually
received. How I detested the atmospheie
ordinarily surrounding such an acquaintance-
ship, and how jealously I watched lest
Fanny's present unconsciousness should be
rudely broken in upon and become oidy an
anxious evasion of advances. 1 wanted it all
to grow naturally m ith no outside influence
to either hasten or diday the course of true
love. How Fanny could help seeing what
lay before her Wi<8 a puzzle, and p!ivately I
concluded that she tiiought more than 1
suspecteil, but kept up the delusion to herself
as much as possible. John was not demon-
strative. In fact I think Grandmother Ogden
had decided he had no intentions whatever,
and was rather pleased that Fanny had failed
to secure him. I knew he would soon speak,
and was only waitinti; to feel surer, and so the
days went oi<.

Fanny sat down al the piano and began a
difficult study, and I shut myself up for some
letter writing, which went on quietly for an
hour. Then I heard Tea's atep followed by
loud talking in (Jrandmother Ogden's room,
and at last a rash through the hall to my
door.

•* I say he's got to go for a cow doctor this
minute," she said as I opened the door. "He

needn't talk to me about distemper and a
cow that cost forty-five dollars. I won't
have it. ''

" The cow will, even if you don't, ma'am,"
said Tea. "I'll do anything that I'm told,
but you might as well be reconciled."

" What is the matter?" I asked, for both
were talking at once, and which had the dis-
temper it was difficult to decide.

" It's round;" said Tea argumentatively,
" an' why our cow shouldn't havp it as weil
as another cow I don't see. Bat 1 ain't
certain it's that. She's so pizen ugly it's
equcil to distemper any time; but now she's
standing like a lamb an' her cud gone."

"What difference does that make?" 1
3aid.

Tea looked at me pityingly and answered
slowly, as if explaining to a child.

"About the same as if you'd swallowe<l
your stomach, supposin' you could, an' was
calkilatin' to get along without it. I can
make a cud, but I ain't sure about it.
There's old Brinckeihoff' down the road a
piece. He'd know, an' so would Bartelow. ""
" Go for them then fast as possible," I said,
antl Tea hitched away.

"It's shif'lessness of some sort," said
Grandmother Ogden positively, shaking her
head. " I'll see to it. I'll hook up that cud
if I die for it."

"How can you? She'll hook you. Don't
be rash."

"Hash is not my way. I've seen more
cows than you're years old. I'll manage htr,"
and the old lady seized a duster and sped up
to the barn. 1 followed, sure of instant de-
struction for herself or the cow, but poor
Molly's viciousness was a thing of the past.
Dim-eyed and with hanging head, she stood,
a picture of mute <iistre!^s, and nty heart
smote me that I had wished iitr out of the
way.

Grandmother Ogden took down the whip,
bent it into an oval and tieil the duHter firmly
over it. Then hoMing the two sides closely
together, pulled open the cow's mouth.

"She'll bite. Oh, do stop!" I aaid.
" What do you mean?"

"She won't. This is what they do to a
cow. I poke it down and let go, and it fliei
open, and if anything can bring up a cud it's
this."

Twice Grandmother Ogden poked that
whip down tht unhappy Molly's throat and
twice with a vbake and a cough it was re-
jected. Then Tea appeared, followed by
two men. Old Brinckerhoff, a dirty yellow,
beginning with skin and ending with clothes;
old Bartehtw, coal bluck and chewing a straw
KcientiHcally. Both wore hats made on the
disiovery of New Jersey, belMike as to
crown, moth-eaten and flufly as to nap.

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

Mil .

with the general effect of having been sat
upon ti)r several generations. Oil Bcincker-
holf, bearing a knobby stick, lin^-armed an I
knock-kneed, with hands \v;irty and un-
pleasant as a toail's back, seemed the twin of
a pale gorilla, at whom I looked with a cer-
tain fascination. Tea listened to him with
au uidooked-for and respecttul attention
which showtid he must i)e an oracle, and
Grandmother Ogden, daunted l)y his calm
disregard of such mete accidents as two wo-
men, was quiet. I left, tnough she would
not, and only some hours later did I hear
Tea's acc(»unt of the consultation.

" 1 wouldn't a brought 'em both if I'd a
known," he said. '• For one was so afraid
of letting on what he knew to the otiier that
they dilly-dallied, an' 8hilly-.«hallied, an'
you couldn't get at nothing. I got clean out
o' patience at 1 ist, an' I ses, ' Yon go hom.e,
both on ye, an' tight it out together, an' I'll
tend the cow.' That b'ought 'em to, an'
they agreed that it was most likely ' Hern
all,' an' may be ' Wolf in the tail,' an' any
way it ha I got to l)e opened. Brinkerhotf
split it with his knife an'put salt an' pepper
an' some sugar all the way down, an' tied it
up in cabbage leaves, an' that beast hardly
stirred. Bartel'iw he bored her horns witn
a gimbletan' rubbed kero:4ene dnwn the spine
of her back, an' she took it about the same
wav, an' now I'm boiling turnip for a new
cud."

" But, Tea, how can she chew boiled tur-
nip?"

"Oh, that's only for the soft. It's tur-
nip you see, an' chopped hay, an' I've come
f(»r some yarn to mix in; woollen yarn an'
that's something that'll hold. If she'll
be^in to chew she'll live, an' if she won't,
why she won't. It's bad luck for the old
lady."

" I never will touch the milk again," I
eaid Hrmly. " If she gets well, between the
salt and pepper and tlie kerosene, there'll
be no natural ci>w constitution left. Let
her die, Tea, and don't torture her any
more."

" I'll do what I kill," said Tea mournfully,
leaving it an open (piestion whether it would
be for or against the cow.

By teatiine Molly was (icolared to be very
slightly better. Grandmother Ogden had
viltrated between the house and l)arn all the
afternoon, niinouncing ea(di new symptom
or change to Grandmother May, who re<(nn-
mended every bottle on her list of remedies.
Both went to bed very early qnite worn out
with the excitement. Winthrop was deep
in a case he had brought home, and
had shut himself up in the dining-room,
and John looked at me so be>eechingly
that I went up at last toGrandmother May's

room finding her wide awake and quite ready
for ;i trossip.

As 1 went finally to my own room, a dark
little tii^urn rose from the corner and clasped
me convulsively.

"Finny!" I said, amazed. "What are
you doing here? I thought you were down
stairs witii John."

•'I was," faltered Fanny ; "but he aston-
ished me so, I couldn't stay there. He's on
the roof now, and I've been waiting for you.
» hat shall 1 do?"

• Nothing that I can tell yon, foolish
child. If your own mind and heart give no
answer, do nothiui.'. "

'•I knew he would, but I did hope he
wouldn't just yec," said Fanny incoherently,
p. illin^ me down beside her. "I am friglit-
ened to <leath when I think how much I did
not mean to fall in love till I was wiser, and
how we have talked about it all, and I don't
dare say yes ; but I don't dare say no, either.
I said he must wait, and he said he would
not and could not, and was oh, so bumptious,
and m I'le inn — just midi'. me promise t > t^•ll
him to-morrow. O Eleanor, how can I ? Do
talk to me.''

'■ N'lt one word," I said imperatively.
" Yon know all I have to sav. Y m know
jnat what John is. Go aw.iy. You know
your niiiid is made up. and tiiat all I shall
have to <lo tomorrow is to aay — ' Ble.ss you,
my ch Idren, bless you !' No, you cannot
wheedle me into expounding any more. Go
away."

Fanny hugged me spasmodically : then ran
to her room and loi ked the door. John
remained on the roof and went away on the
early train next morning, rather to Fanny's
surprise, I think, as she had expected to be
forced into answeiintj directly after break-
fast. She was restless all 'lay, and tlie
return t.f the cud and Molly's con.«eqnent
convalescence, flid not nause more than a
ripple of excitement. Grandmother Ogden
herself seemed to think the cow had better be
sold as soon as well enough, and lale that
atternoon went down to old Brinckerholt's
to see how soon a bargain could be made.

John and Winthrop came out togethe»".
Fanny kept close to nie, evidently knowing
it was not safe to be left alone, declined g<'i g
to walk, and after tea took a book. I with-
drew discreetly, but she followed at once.

" I'm going up to nee the sunset," she said.
" 1 want the key. Won't you come too?"

"Presently," I snid, "when 1 have
finished this bit of work."

She did not locK the door, I noticed, and
soon John sauntered by in a diKengag< d
manner, not in the least suggestive of a
tortured and distracted lover, and tip toed
up the stairs.

REST.

:^uite ready

)m, a dark
iid clasped

•What are
were down

t he a^ton-
5. He's ou
ing for yoa.

on, foolish
sart give tio

id hope he
loohereiitly,
[ am fright-
much I did
3 wiser, and
and I don't
ly no, either.
1(1 he would
I) bumptious,
•omise t > t*'U
svcani? Do

mperatively.

y )u know

You know

t all I shall

_' Bless you,

you cannot

more. Go

: then ran
.ioor. John
xway on tlie
r to Fanny's
pected ti» be
ter break-
and tiie
conseqvient
re than »
..w^aer Og«>en
|had better be
,1,1 lale that
^rinckerboti'a

mixle.
together.

knowing
lined g<'i g
I with
at on«e,
she said.
Icome too :
Ihen 1 bave

notice*', a»<l

disengag' d

jgfstive of a

and tip tued

" Bless their silly hearts," I said. ''It
will be all settled hefore they come down."

Mrs. (Jochian canie^n just as I had grown
tired of waiting and decided to go up, and
detained me far into the evening, (irand-
mother Ogden returned, tired and hot and
went to her room at once. Winthrop made
himself agreeable for a time, but at last
yawned openly. Grandmother May went
calmly to sleep, and I had lost the last
remnant of patience when at length she left,
after various inquiries for the young people.

I had clos) d the door and shut the bolt
with a long sigh of mingled relief and weari-
ness when (irandmother Ogden's voice
Bounded at its loudest, an<l she projected
herself into our midst like a rocket — fizzing
as she came.

•• Such doings in a house that calls itself
decent, I never heard, no, nor ever expect
to. That hussy on the roof and my chairs
and my mattress for all the wnrld as it they
lived ihere ! ' Konfs ofien crack alter a hut
day,' do they V Oh, yes! 1 should think
tluy might. 1 wonder they don't open and
swadow up such wiiikeduess."

tirandmother May began to cry.

"Is it murder?" she said faintly. "I
always did feel as if there might he some
tiling dreadful going on up there and those
strange noises, but then 1 never thoueht
John would do it. Has he hurt aiiyboiiy ?"

" It's a pity he hasn't," returned (Jrand-
mother Oirden with fury. " A designing
hussy out there by moonlight, and doing all
she can to trap him."

"That is (}iiite enough Grandmother,"
said Winthroi) imperatively " Please uii
derstand once for all, that if .Miss Walton is
willing to marry John Wilder, he will be
almost as happv a man as I was and am.
Not one word ahout it phase. So long as we
ap|)rove of what you call 'the goiiig's on,'
that is sufficient. Use yonr gooil sense,
grandimtther, anil be ulad John has d(me so
well."

" I'll leave the house to-morrow," gasped
Grandmother Ojjden, astonished at the turn
aff.iirs had taken and almosc clmked with
conflicting emotions. "I'll leave the house
and take my things. I won't stay here to be
iusuted. "

" Very well if you like, but go to bed now,"
and \Vinthropactu dly forced the bel igeient
oltl lady off to bed, while I performed the
same office for poor little, bewildered Grand-
mother May.

Fanny and John descended as soon an
quiet came, and when congratulati<m8 weie
over told the tale.

"I heanl a noise in the attic, but never
thought but that it was one of you, ' said
John. "Fanny was sitting ou one of those

old chairs and I in tlie other, and I was too
busy coml)atiiig her ritliculous arguments to
listen to anything else. I got her to the
point where she had not one more word to
say, and in my enthusiasm jumped U|> and
knocked the chair over. We stood there,
when suddenly a puri)rebow rose up through
the scuttle and Grandmother Ogden gazed at
us, half in, half out, wholly petrified. Never
shall I forget that loi'k. She had been pok-
ing over her things in the attic, and nevtr
would have known if that chair had not
gone over. She spoke in the voice of Neme-
sis.

" * My cane-seat chairs and my mattress
out in all weathers ! Hammocks too, and
that hussy here fooling you out of your
senses ! You'd better take care ! A young
woman that nseets young men on the roof
ain't any better than she sh(mld be.'

"'Take care,' 1 said. 'She is my wife,
or will be as soon as she will let me make
lier so, ' "

"She glared at us both ; murmured
again ; 'My cane-seat chairs out in all
weathers, ' and sank down slowly. I don't
know what followed."

"I rlo," I said, " but I am heartily tjlad
she knows. Now the door shall be kept
unlocked and we will go up and down open-
ly. 1 don't wonder she wao angry. I should
havt. been so too."

A suspicious creak of the dining room
door ariested me. 1 sprang to it with such
unlooked-for haste that the retreating figure
had no time for concealment. A step back-
ward. Then came a heavy fall ; a loud,,
long growl from Nep in the u^ual j>lace at
the foot of the cellar stairs : tiien, a deadly
silence.

Winthrop grew verv pale.

"(io," he said. "1 canimt."

" It IS Grandmother Ouden," John said as
he bent over lier with the lamp She lay at
the foot of the stairs senseless, one arm
floubled under her, and as we lifted her,
bio. 'd was on her face and shoulder.

Nep, the most peaceful <if dogs, suddenly
roused from ^leep by the tall of this heavy
body upon him, had set his teeth in her
shoulder and worried it Hercelx, slunk hiick
now ashamed of his terror ; but the mischief
was done. She had stolen down softly to
listen and meant to hi le on the ':ellar-l Hid-
ing till we had ended, but my haste had
8 artled her, and a misstep sent her to the
liottoin.

Poor, wi etched old soul ! All that night
and through the next day she wandered,
pulling oH splints and bandages to see wh; t
the matter was, till we were forced for the
time to tie her sound arm to her side. The
fiacture wa^ a severe one at both wrist and

HIS GRANDMOTHERS.

upper arm, and the wound in the shoulder

Suite as troublesome. Tea insisted that
[ep must be shot else she would have hydrb-
phobia, and showed so much horror at our
refusal, that John at last took the dog away
and loaned him till she should be well
Again.

It was a new experience for her. Sickness
and helplessness maddened this self-reliant
nature, and I doubt if real hydrophobia could
have made much more commotion. Grand-
mother May hovered over her; cried daily at
her sufifering and endured every pang vi-
cariously; but as the slow- weeks dragged on
confinement did its work. The poor, pinched
face ceased to express struggle and defiance,
»ud only the worn-out, defeated look re-
mained. The bones would not unite proper-
ly, and she knev that practically her life
was over; the life of grinding care and sordid
labour ; the life of little things ; of petty
interests and lowest aims. What was there
beyond ? I could not tell. An obstinate
silence held her, and there I left her. Other
hands than mine were to do the work; hands

mighty in their very feebleness. When th«
summer was over and gone, a new sound was
heard in t^e ^'ouse, a sound to which Ruben-
stein listened with grave attention, while
Nep picked up his ears jealously.

Grandmother Ogden's face expressed only
deep disgast when told that a baby girl had
been ach'.ed to the family, and for the first
few weeks she paid no attention to this new
proof or *■ shif'lessness. " But one dav when
the child lay by her side and s* denly,
smiling the sweet, far off b ..de of .rlj' in-
fancy, clasped her finger firmly with its little
hanil, a new look came upon her face. What
dim memories of her own baby wero stirred,
I cannot tell. Oidy, I saw a change. She
watched eagerly for the little thing; ?id was
never so content as when it laid near her.

That which time and life had failed to do
might still come to her through this new
little soul fresh from the Father's house, and
again I waited the end with the growing be-
lief, all things are possible. And so with
tiny Tim I say, "Good night, and God Wess
us every one !"

I*!

IB. When th«
lew sound was
which Ruben-
ten tion, while

!xpres3ed only
baby girl had
id for the Hrst
on to this new
one dav whea
md 8- denly,
ie of .rlj' in-
' with its little
er face. What
y were stirred,

change. She
;hing; ?nd was
I near her.
ad failed to do
)Us4h this new
er's house, and
he s;rowing be-

And so with
and God Mess

>i\r.