GR A N D MA S

’
AT TIC T R E A SU R E S .
 I B rs ig n t D b y

M I SS C A
. . N O RT HA M , E D MU N D H. GA R R E TT ,

J . FR A N CI S MU R ! HY W . A . R OG ER S,

W . ! . SN Y D ER . W . F . I {A LS A LL .

T h e b o o k is p re p are d an d t h e il l u s tra t ro n s en gr a e d v

B Y G E O RG E T . A N D R EW .
 M at Of Sl l l ufitratton z .

GR A N D MA S
’
A TTI C TR E A S U R E S

HE A D T
I N G A N D C A I L! I E E

T here gi e m e my k itti dea r ie

,
v n n
’
,

T ll
l A came co u r t i n m e
sa
’ ”

“
A had go n e do w n t o t he field s f a load o f h
sa or a
y

D OO R K C ER N O K

W l s o t hey s e t do w n i n t h e s e tt in room
“ ’
a ,
-

S ech a hea p f w orn o ut t ff

”
o -
s u

“
A p ar t o f my ch e e rs and t a b le s

A y Ha nn ah w i f e i t i s good t o re st
”
, , ,

S I laid my ha n d on hi s dear old head

o

H st o ppe d t o t he b arn ya r d fen ce

e -
”

A I st ood in t he ki t chen door w ay

s

A d f a t her he d s e t t here l
’
n
gh i a au n
-

S w arm and s nu g on t he p illo w

”
O

“
A p i i w heel
’
s nn n -

T h odde st look in t a b l e
“ ’ ”
e

“
A t o p o f t h e k it ch e n s hel f -

S o, re st i n my head agen t he w h e el
’
 L S I T OF I L L U S TR A TI O /V S . v ii

A o ut on t h e farm ho us e p orch I pu n
s -

S om eb ody s ha n d s w en t o e r my eye
’
v s

T h er e w e r e only tw o o f us t h e n yo u kno w, ,

T hey se t t o t he t a b le i n li t t le hig h che e r s

”

S ome t ime s o n a s u mmer s day

’

“
A t s i xt e e n t he ill ge be lle
v a

I w o u l d ga t her e m clo s e i n my arm s

’

I t he s un f t he ki es ’ ”
n o im o rn n s

“
H pu ll e d edo w n on h i s knee
e m
”

F or here s a le t t er
’ ”

T t he di st a nt E n gli s h hore
o S

A gen her ro s y yo un g ch e ek ”

“
A d no w I w goin t o lea e him’
n as v

“
A d a h ea p o f f i gi mc r ack
’
n c o n us n s

T t a e a good look a t t he t hi ng
k
”
o

“
A d I je st s e t do wn t o t ha t t a b l e and cried t h e lea st li tt le mi t e
n

“
T ill we n eared t he dear old home s t ead ”

J e st h e l p me i n o n yo u r arm dear
'
“ ”
,

“
T here he i s b y t he p a stu re b ar s ”
GR A N D MA S A TTI C TR E A SU R E S
’

’
T HE R E ,
give m e my k n ittin , dearie ,

’
It s can t abide
’
s o m e t hin
’
I ,

T o set with my old hands idl e ,

driftin
’
L ike alon g on the tide .

I ai n t so young as
’
I on ce wa s ,

’
B u t the re s on e thi ng s artain s u re ,

T o rust out of l ife as some folks do

, ,

’
I s a habit I can t e ndure .
I O G R A ZV D M A
’
S A TTIC TRE A S U RE S .

Wal yes it is strange how time does

, , fly !
’
’
M ost takes o ne s brea t h away
A c re e t u r is hardly born i t seems , ,

A fore s he t u rn s old and gra y .

’
B ut don t complai n ! fo r, if I ve see n
’
I

A sight of worry an d care ,

’
T here s bee n a ple n t y of s u nsh i n e ,

’ ’

A nd I s pose I ve had my s hare .

D id I u se t o have beaux ? Yes p len ty

, ,

A nd l ikely yo ung fello ws t oo ,

But I was ful l of my fu n then ,

As m uch of a witch as yo u
A re n o w, with yo u r face so pret t y ,

A n d yo ur ways so dai nty a nd fi n e !

B u t t h e beaux you girls have n ow days -

N e v er we re fou n d i n m i n e .
 G RA NDMA ’
S A T TI C TREA SURES .
I I

B ut I was a bi t partic u lar !

S o I an d my heart were free

As eve r t he win d and s ummer air

T ill — Asa came cou rtin me ’
.

A nd oh !
, I remembe r j est as pl ai n
H ow his blue eyes dan ced and sho n e
T he day I prom ised h im truly
’
I d be s weetheart alone
'

I zzs .
I 2 GR A N D l /A
r
’
S A TTIC TR EA SUR ES .

Of all t he da ys that were glad and bright

I t hi nk the gladdest were then ,

Whe n As a and I we re lovers dear , ,

A nd over an d over agen

K ep t makin our plans fo r the future
’
.

C ome foul or su nsh i ny weather ,

’
We used to say we d id n t ca re which ,

S o that we shared it togethe r .

B ut what did I promise to tell you

When you pu t me down in this cheer ?
O h yes I remember now dearie
, , ,

I kn o w yo u wan ted to hear

About the time of my sel lin ’

T he th i n gs that folks call cm l zl é .

’
Wal t h en the
, , m em r
y of that are ti me
’
E e n am o st makes m e sick .
 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES . 1
3

O h dear ! shall I ever forget that day ?

T he old man Asa had gone, ,

D own t o the fields fo r a load of h ay ,

A nd I felt someh ow forlorn

A nd kinder lo nesome and co ul d n t tell why ,
’

’
A s I stood there a -
washi n dishe s ,

’
o n ru l
A nd letti n my o
l d , y heart
G e t full of o n re as o n a b l e wishes .
I 4 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTI C TREA SURES .

b u n n it
’
wa n t in
’
Yo u see I d bee n a
For nigh o n t o t hree good years !
And fo r sh ame of my s hawl so faded

I d ac t ually o nce shed t ears !

’

A n d A sa I re wanted a cow c rit t e r -

Ol d D eaco n J o n es had t o sell ,

A nd — law ! the hal f that we wan ted

’
I ai n t go t the patie nce to tell .

w ip in
’
S o I was a -
my dishes ,

’
And no w and t he n wip in my eyes ,

i in
’
And gr ev ove r th e shadows an d cloud s
Which co me to every o ne s sk ies ’

’
F o rg e t tin t he bright an d s un ny part ,

Which my eyes warn t will i n to ’ ’

s e e,

B ecause I though t at that mi n it

’
T hey warn t S hin i n brigh t’
fo r m e,
1 6

M y ve ry best cur t sy ! fo r I

Was allers taught to be c ivil ,

I n the civil old days gon e by .

A n d I said says I , ,
“
Oh how
,
do you do ?
”

Wo n t yo u kindly step i n ?
’

!For I n e v e r ll aa
’
she t my door o n folks ,

goi n t o begin !
’

A n d I was n t ’
a - .

Wal so they set down i n th e sett i n room

,
-

A nd then they wai t ed a bi t !

 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .
I 7

For I was so fl u s te re d I scarcely kn e w

What o n ai r t h to make of it .

of
’
B ut finally o ne em said t o me ,

”
“
N ow m adam, , says h e ,
“
I h ear
T hat y ou have som e antique furni t ure .

T hi n ks I ,
“
Law sakes ! how quee r !

What o n ai rth does he mean I wonder ! ,

B u t I s aid !
“
O h deary m e ! ,

ti/a furn iture ,

’
I hai n t n o an

wa n tin
’ ’ ’
If it s that yo u re a -
to see .

’
B ut what I ve go t is fio w erf u / ol d ,

’
A nd I m sure it s ’
c u r o us
’
e n ough
Why anybody sho uld wan t to s ee

S ech a heap of worn o ut stu ff -

.
”
1 8 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

I n oticed the men they laughed at m e , ,

’
B u t there ! I did n t keer !
’
T hi nks I T he re s allers been l o ts of fools ,
“
,

’
A n d a coupl e of em are here .

folks
’
For c u r o use r I ne v er see,

’
e e k in i
’
A p and p y n r abou t
As if there was n t an th ing
'
’
a z rt z l /y
’
T hey did n t want to fi n d out .

Wal arter a spell when they d got thro u gh

, ,
’

’
A -
m e ddl in with my affai rs ,

A n d I was tryin t o get em down

’ ’
a -

A -

past th e garre t stairs ,

’
One of e m spoke and said ,
“
H ol d on
, ,

’
T here s o ne m ore place to go !
’
You ll l et us v isi t your garret ma am ,
’

O n l y a m init yo u k no w , .
”
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SUR ES .
I 9

’
Wal there ,
! I wa s most bea t my dear !,

B ut a t o nce to mysel f says I ,

’
“
I t s plaine r still that t h e day fo r fools
’ ”
Ai n t anywhere n igh gon e by !
’
I could n t help b ut laugh you kn ow , ,

For I n ever heard tell a fore

’

Of t wo sech e c ul a r strange rs
p .

S ays I ,
“
T here ai n t n o m ore

’
T h at s ’
w u th you r lookin at M iste r ,

A heap o f ru b b idg e and sich ,

Ol d beds and cheers and tabl es ,

’
Yo u can t t ell t oth er from which
’
.

A nd I do feel migh t y asham ed to sh ow

S uch homely old trash you see , ,

’
And they ain t no a irth l use to a so ul
y ,

’ ”
S o you better l eave em be !
20 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TR EA SUR E S .

B ut dearie would
, , y ou
'

b e l ie v e it ?
What did t hey up an d sa
y ,

B ut that they d ruther have ’

o/ o th ings
’

T han n ew o n es any day , !

So — wal I let em look a t t he duds

’

, ,

B ut what they wanted to do

’
Was e th in I could n t ’
som on de rs ta n d ,

N o m ore I reckon could yo u

, ,
.

B ut by and b y whe n we got down stairs

, ,

T h e men t hey whispered a bit ,

A nd the n they said ,

“
N ow madam look here
, , ,

If
’ ’
you re willin to part wi t h i t ,

’
We ll buy yo u r fu rn iture such as we like , ,

A nd give you a go o d ,
fair price .

I looked at th em two poo r l unatics ,

An d my laugh r z i up i n a t rice .
 G RA ND A /11 ’
S A TTI C TRE A SUR ES .
21

B ut I kinder smo t hered i t down , fo r the re ,

’
T hi nks I I ve hearn of folks
“
,

’
Who hain t m uch else t o do o n airth
’
B u t j est to be l a in j okes ”

p y !
’
S o I asked em kin dly ,
“
What did yo u s ay ?
’ ’
Y ou re willi n to buy of me
A part of my cheers an d tabl e s ,

’
A nd t other old t ruck you see ?

T hey bowed perl ite and answered , ,

’ ”
“
Y es certainly m a am
, , , said they .

’
S aid I ,
“
Wal I don t hardly k no w
,

Wh at A sa , my man would say , .

”
o s in
’ ’
But s p , you call age n , says I ,

of
’
“
A nd I ll th ink the matter some !
i

Y ou see I du nn o j es t what to say

Whe n fa t her is n t t o home ’
.
22 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

Wi t h that th ey wen t away at once

, ,

A nd I could n t b ut laugh to th in k
I d on ly to say t he word yo u know
’

, ,

A n d j est as quick as a wi n k
I co uld have my bra n new b a n n it ,

M y n ew green shawl an d all ,

A n d A sa could have that cow critter -

Along i n the airly fall .

Wal pretty soon Asa cam e along

, ,

Al l t i red and tucke red ou t

’
With t a r m i n th e hay i n the m e dde r,

d riv in
’
A nd th e oxen about .

A nd down h e set i n t he old arm chee r -

A l e a nin
’
-
h is gray old head
Agen the b ack . An d he drew a breath ,

“
I t is g o od to 7 6s t ! he said .
24 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

N ow would yo u bel ie v e it those me n had ch ose

, ,

T ha t a rtic k l e r cheer an d I
p ,

Was pu z z led t o death whe n I looked at it , ,

T o know t he reaso n why .

For a h omel ier thing I n eve r did see ,

As pl ai n as a pipe stem t oo ! -

I was so beat when t h ey p in te d it o u t

’

’
I did n t k no w what t o do .

H owsomeve r I tho u gh t I wo uld let it go

, ,

’ ’ ’
Fo r I had n t s p osed Asa d kee r !
’
K n o w in how many old th ings we had ,

’
I did n t have th ough t n or fear
’
T hat h e d say a word ! b ut heari n h im speak ’

I n Ma t way it m ade m e , sad !

For t hi nks I If he k nows I m will in to sell

“ ’ ’

, , ,

’
I t ll make him sor t e r feel bad .
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TR EA SURES .
2
5

B u t I had to tell ! and so I laid

M y hand on his dear old head ,

’
A n d ki nd o f c o a xin like said I
, ,

”
“
Asa my dear
, ,
I said ,

T he garret is ful l of old truck yo u k now , ,

Old truck t ha t we n ever use ,

o ff,
’ ’ ’
A nd I m th in k in I d l ike to sel l e m
’

’
’
A nd I s pose y ou won t re fuse ?
26 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

D ear ! how he laughed !

“
Why H an nah ,
,

’ ’
Who ll buy i t do you s pose , ?

T he like of o ur worn ou t furn it u re

-

E very soul i n t h e village k nows .

’
N o no my woman there s n o o n e h ere
, , ,

’
th in k in
’
You can cheat i nto i t s n ew !
’
I t ai n t so h a rn s o m e as o n ce i t was ,

’ ”

B ut we ll h ave to make it do .

T he n I up and told h im th e s tory ,

“

A n d tol d h i m about th e me n ,

’ ’
A n d how I had said I d th ink it o e r ,

’
A nd they were a -
comin agen .

A n d I said t o him , ,
“
N ow , father ,
dear ,

’
T here s D eacon J ones cri tt er you see ’

, ,

’
Yo u ve wanted t o b uy her so long my dear , ,

’
N ow h ere s your chance ! and fo r m e,
 G RA NDMA ‘
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

’
I can h a v e that b u n n it I m

A nd won t be ash amed yo u k no w

’
, ,

To hol d u p m
y head among folks ,

we go !
’

When n ex t S abbath to m e e t in

A nd I s moothed h is forehead a l ittl e ,

A n d coaxed t ill my dear old m an

j est give m e a k iss and said , ,

“
Wal dear , ,

I m will in to sell if yo u can

’ ’
.
,

Wal n ext day brigh t an d airly

, , ,

’
Whe n h usband was goi n away ,
28 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

H e stopped to the barn yard fe nce -

A min i t o r so , j est t o sa
y,

w a n tin
’ ’
Yo u re you re to sell th in d
’
“
s u re s ?

D on t go an d be hasty wi fe !
’ ”

A n d t he n h e came back an d ki ss ed
Wal dearie to sa v e my l ife
, ,

’ ’
I could n t se e th ro my glasses
Fo r the tears tha t we re d im m in

A s I stood i n the ki t chen doorway

’
A w a tc hin
-
t
 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES . 29

’
B ut ’
t warn t v ery l ong a fore s ome o n e came ,

’
K nocki n age n at the door ,

A n d th em two me n s t ood th ere a -

b o w in ’

J est as o n t h e day b e fore .

T he fust
’
t hi ng th ey a s ked me to sell em
’
Wa s A s a s ol d fa v orite ch ee r !
’
B u t you ll laugh when I tell yo u I s aw him
’
A -
setti n i nto i t my dear , ,

’
A S plai n as if really he d bee n t here ,

’
A nd law sake s ! I ll hon estly
,
sa
y

I t s eemed as t h o if they d took th e chair

’ ’

’
T h ey d a -
take n my man away .

For a p ic t er came qu ickly afore m e

Of how h e d i d l ike t o re s t
s n o rin
’

!A nd finally get to
a
W ith h is chi n down l ow o n h is breast !
3 0 G R A N D /WA
’
S A T TI C TR E A SURES .

I n that h omely old cheer they wanted !

t h in kin
’
An d I got t o , you kn ow ,

Of how that c heer wa s a part of oursel v e s

I n the days of the long ago .

Fo r I could n t forget th e time ah no

’
, , ,

T o go furthe r back a good bi t

!Altho yo
’
u saucy yo u ng witch
’
M ay set there a -
langhi n at it ! ,

W he n all alon e i n o ur own snug home ,

M y husband w ith me o n his k ne e

’
Would sit with ou r arms roun d each other ,

H appy as we could be .

A n d the time t ha t followed yo u kn ow dear , , ,

When merry as bees i n clover

O ur l ittle ones restless and stu rdy
, ,

Had clambered the old t h ing over !

3 2 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

’
B ut I u p and told e m yo u k now , ,

H ow Asa had allers lo v ed that cheer ,

’ ’
And th in kin t h e matter o er ,

’
I guessed w e d keep i t til l he had gone
’
Wh ere cheers warn t needed no more .

Wal wh e n we came to the g a rre t

,

T hey fo u nd a bedstead .
!Yo u see ,

’
I d long ago tucked it away up there ,

’
For it warn t any use to m e ! .

A s plai n and old and ugly a t hing

As ever was made . Bu t there !
A s soo n as [k ey wanted to take it !
’
T s o m e th in
’
w as I could n
’
t spare .

For the tears that were dim m in

’
my s p ect acle s
’
C ould n t shet out the sigh t
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

33

Of the dear little heads that h a d l a in t here

’

For many an d many a n ight ,

S o warm an d s n ug on the pillow

I n that very same lit t l e bed ,

’
A fter each darlin had lisped a p rayer ,

A nd the l ast good n ight was said

-
.

I polished my specs a l ittl e ,

A n d the n I says t o t he m en ,

’ ’
I reckon we won t decide b o u t
U ntil I see yo u age n .
34 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

For the re s many a thi n g come s afore m e

’

’
T o hinder it s goin away !

’
A n d so lon g as the re ai n t no h urry ,

’ ’ ”
I ll thin k on t anothe r day .

’
Wal th ey wen t
, on wi t h thei r looki n
Fro m on e thing to an othe r ,

’ ’
Poki n and ru m m a
g in al l aro u nd ,

A n d fore v e r a n u dg in
-
’
each oth e r ,

T ill at last they S p ied i n a corner

in n in M a mm y !
’
A Sp -
wheel .
“ ”
I said ,

’
If t h in k in
’
you re of buyi n ere thing
’
t/z a t
“
,

”
Yo u m ust be o ut of you r head !
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

’
of
’
S ays o ne em ,
“
M adam that s , so m e th in
’

We v ery m uch want and make b old ,

”
T o ask yo u to sell it .
“
O h law ful s a kes !
,

’
S aid I ,
“
now ai n t it few old ? ”

T h ey shrugged their S houlders a m ite and the n ,

T h ey laughed a m i n i t or two ,

A n d one of
’
em said ,
“ ’
We ll b u y it m a am ,
’

If
’
it s all the same to yo u .

S ays I ,
“
You ng man be yo u m a rried ? ,

D oes your wi fe k now how to sp i n ?

’
M arried ! ”
laughed h e ,
“
n ow that s a sc ra p e
’
I hav e n t yet got i n !

I did n t exactly know what he m ean t

’

’
B u t I thought I d let h i m know
T hat had gone o u t of fa s hion

E ver so long ago .

3 6 0c N D M A as A T TI C TREA 5 17 1 35 5 .

’ ’
“
I m will i n to sell it M ister , ,

B ut I feel it a d o o ty t o say
’
i
’ ’
T hat this ere s n n in wheel ai n t no u s e
p
-

A n d will o nly be i n your way .

B ut law , if yo u really want it ,

If
’ ’
you re set o n h a v in t he thing ,

I d u n no b ut yo u re welcome
’

For the sake of th e price it ll bri n g ’

.

S o t hey m arked it down i n th ei r book ,

’
A n d looki n rou n d a l ittl e more
, ,

T hey d is kiv e re d a queer ol d table

’
A -
S tandi n behi n d the door .

T he oddest looki n tabl e -

’

T ha t ever was seen I declare , ,

d id
’
A n d t here n t seem n o reason
Why {I z o d thing I could n t spare ’
.
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .
37

I t was s ort of con v enie n t i n o n e w ay ,

I t pulled out as fu r as y ou chose ,

A n d she t agen as small an d s n ug

’
A s you please . Why ev ry on e know s
,

T he m tables went out of fashion

Lo n ger ago I reckon dear

, , ,

Than mo s t folk s n ow can remember ,

’
T was n igh onto eighty year ,

’
Ye s n igh o nto eigh ty year I m su re
, , ,

If it was a S ingle day ,

’
Wh en those p yir
n c re e tu rs dis kiv e re d it ,

A n d wanted to take i t away .

For A sa s folks had own ed it

’

A fore I married thei r so n !

A nd among the presen ts the y gi v e u s ,

’
T hat ere table was on e .
 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

”
T hi nks I ,
“
T hey may as well ha v e it ,

S o they wri t it down i n thei r book .

A nd — wal I hain t t ime to tell y e

,
’

’ ’
Of all thos e me n woul d a took
’
If I d o nly give em the chance
’
.

B ut I got so clean tuckered out ,

T hat I hardly k new fo r sartai n

What on airth I wa s about .

S o at last they whispered together ,

’
And one of e m says say s h e , ,

“7 ill fi fty dollars pay yo u

’
Fo r the thing s we v e ch ose n ? Law
’
I could n t bel ie v e my senses !
B ut I felt i n a sorter fl u rry ,

’
A nd I told em e
y ,s an d th en my de a r , ,

T hey we nt a w ay i n a h u rry ,
4o G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

A nd the ve ry fust chance I had to thi nk

A min it all to mysel f ,

S ays I ,
“
I ll j es t step t o th e garret
’

o ff
”
A nd dus t them th ings a bit .

O h my ! how fius te re d and qu e e r I felt

T he min it I thought of it !

’
S o arte r I d gon e to the g a rret
, ,

A nd began a there !
I had the p
’
ec u l a re s t fe e l in
’
s

T ake h olt of me I declare !

,

I looked at the in n in wheel dearie

°

sp -

, ,

A nd s omehow , I could n
’
t tell why ,

Be fore I hardly could help i t

’
I was e e n am o s t ready to c ry .

’
T here warn t n obody to see me ,

A nd I felt mighty glad ,

 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

4 1

e v ryt h in
’
For g seemed p o s s es t to
make

M y old heart trou b led

S o restin my head agen the wheel

,
’

I n a sort of idle way ,

’
I let mysel f fall t o th in k in ,

’ ’
A nd let t i n my m em r
y stray

T o the time wh en I w as a slip of

’
A w e a rin
’
-
Asa s ri ng ,

T oo happy to do a t hing all day

B ut laugh and chatter and S ing .
4 2 G RA NDM A ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

A nd I mi nded the times th e w heel w e nt r o u nd

T o the m erry tunes I s u ng ,

I n the days whe n skies were a l l ers ol u o

,

’
C ause Asa an d I we re yo u ng .

’
T here was many a lo v i n secret
T hat I told to my wheel my dear , ,

’
Wi t h the bl ushes a -
burn i n On my cheek ,

’
T ho nobody else was n ear ,

As ou t o n the farm house porch I s p un

-

I n the pleasan t summer weather ,

W in
’
eav many a hank of thread
A nd gay romance togethe r .
 GR A N D /WA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

43

’
B ut there came a lo v er s q u arrel child , ,

’
A quarrel t wixt A sa and me ,

A n d oh ! th e days the
,
m is
’
ra bl e days ,

Whe n his face I did n t see ’

!

H ow did it happe n ? Wal I forget , ,

I t was all so lo ng ago !

B ut there ! young t ongues are has t y of spee ch ,

An d so were o urs I k now , .

H ow lon g did it last ? Oh wal my child

, , ,

I t really appeared to me
T hat m in its we re fairly hours ,

A n d the days seemed w eeks to b e !

I turned my wheel with a laggard foot ,

A nd I had n o heart fo r song !

’
A nd try as I might it see med as tho,

M y work wa s bou nd to go wr o ng .
44 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

B ut o n e b right day I remembe r , ,

’ ’
Whe n ev r
ythin seemed so glad
T hat it looked as if I was th e only o ne
’
O f G od s c re e t u rs who was sad ,

’
in n in
’
I was s ettin a fore my sp -
wheel ,

’
B ut the wheel was movi n so slow
’ ’
T hat it did n t amoun t to n othi n ,

A n d fin ally ceased to go !

For I dropped my hand s i n my lap ,

An d I let my foo t from the treadle fall ,

A n d I set j est idly thin kin

’

’
s e e in
’
A nd no t hi n at all ,

E xcept the face I was ’

c a rr
yin

I n my h eart from m o rn in
’
till n ight ,

’
A nd h o l din fast i n my dreams
T ill once again it was l ight .
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TR EA SUR E S .

45

’
Wal as I was setti n t here lo n ely l ike
, ,

With many a tear on my ch eek ,

’
S omebody s hands went o v e r my eyes ,

Ah ! n ot a wo rd did h e speak .

B ut I k n ew it was n o o ne but A sa ,

A nd my hear t got a -
b e a tin
’
so fast
’
I could n t move o r say nothi n ’

T il l arter a spel l was past !

4 6 N D M A as A T TI C TRE A SURES .

B u t I l i fted my ha n ds from my lap ,

’
A nd I clasped e m o v er h is own ,

A n d th e tears they came like raindrop s !

A n d not only m y tears alo ne .

’
For I felt the tears from my lo v er s eyes
A
’
-
sp l a s h in age n an d age n
O n the back of my hand as h e bowed h is
,

A nd kis s ed my forehead ! and the n

Ah wal n o ma t ter what foll owed !

, ,

B ut t ill t he s un was low i n th e west

We sang together my heart and I , ,

And — law ! yo u can guess the rest .

Fo r Asa call ed rou nd i n th e even in ’

A nd we talked our tro uble away ,

’
And there hai n t bee n an other quarrel
’
T wixt us S ince that glad day .
 G RA ND MA ’
S A TTIC TRE A SUR ES .

T here was only fw o of us the n you know

, ,

For I was a bi t of a wi fe ,

A nd n ever a t hought of t roubl e or care

C oul d h u r t my giddy young li fe .

c o o kin
’
I allers did my o wn ,

A n d husband h e praised me well

, ,

A nd I was proud of ou r l i t tle home ,

Prouder than wo rds could tell .

T he n bv and by w he n the babies c ame

,

T o ope n o ur hearts yet more ,

 G R A N D /V A S
’
A TTIC TREA SURES .

49

We made the table larger a bit ,

Large e nough t o hold f o u r .

For the little fellers they grew so fast ,

T he two l ittle dimpled clears ,

’
T hat it warn t n o time a fore they set
T o the table i n l ittle high cheers .

Y es , they were twins them , q t that came ,

A nd nobody ever s ee

S t u rdier s marter babies than the m

,

T h at belonged to father an d me .
5 0 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

B ut s o rrow came an d — w a l we made

, ,

T hat table small as be fore ,

A n d it almost broke our heart s to kno w

We we re on ly tw o once more .

’
Wal time wen t o n and
, , t wa s q u ite a sp ell
’
Fore we lengthen ed i t o ut agai n .

B ut there came at las t to th e lonely ho us e

To li ft its b urden of p ai n
T he blessed sou nd of sweet v oice s ,

’
S o dear to a mothe r s ear ,

’
A nd t h e l a u gh of my ro w in ch ildre n
g

Wa s glad a n d pleasan t to h ear .

A nd then my man and I we p ulled

T hat tabl e to sech a si z e
A s gladden ed ou r h earts yo u may b e s u re
, ,

’
A nd gladde ned Ou r l ovi n eyes .
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

Law ! sech a row of the little heads !

Black and y lal er and brown !
We used to think them babies of o u rs
Were j est n ice s t town .

B ut have n
’
t you noticed dearie , ,

’
S om etimes o n a su m mer s day ,

’
When th ere ai n t a cloud to be seen i n th e
A nd as fu r as yo u look away
O v er th e h ills and medders
T he su nshine see m s so bright ,

’
I t seems as tho ’
t wo uld be allers day ,

?
g
’
A n d there warn t sech a th ing as m /rd
 GR A I VD M A
’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

Wal tha t is how it ap p eared to me

, ,

A n d I n eve r o nce dreamed of sorrow !

B ei n so plea s ed wi t h the present day
’
,

I could th ink of the morrow

’
n t ,

N or give a thought to th e sartai n fact

T hat a m
g
r/z! m ust lie b etween
T wo days yo u k now no matter
, ,
if they
A re the b rightest e v er s een .

A nd so whe n the shadows gath e red ,

T hey caugh t m e u nprepared ,

And of many homes by a fe v e r rob b ed ,

O ur dear home was n ot spared .

A nd father and I awoke one day

From a long u n conscious rest , ,

’
T o fi nd our da rl in s, our own dear bird s ,

H ad fl own from th e old home n e s t .

 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TR E A S U R
“

S .

A nd he and I were agai n alo ne ,

j u st as we were a fore ,

j ust a s we d been , yo u s ee, dear ,

At the v ery fust start . O n ce more

We pushed the tabl e toge t he r ,

A n d at e v ery meal we two

Felt so heart S ick and lonely
-

We s carcely k n e w w hat to do .

’
A n d a t last I coul d n t a -
bear it ,

A nd I said t o A sa on e day ,

’
“
I wish ,
”
said I ,
“
you d let me put
TI z z s table ou t of th e way !
'

’
o s in
’
A nd s
p you trade fo r another
’ ”
T ha t ain t so lonely as th is .

M y man he pondered a m in it
, ,

T he n came and give me a kiss .

 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTI C TREA SURES .

’ ’
Ay , H an nah yo u re m is s i m the babie s !
,

Wal there,
is too much of space
I n th is ol d house dear wi fe I know , , ,

’
At bes t it s a lon esome place !
,

’
B ut it s ’
b oldi n y o u yet thank H ea v en
, ,

A n d please
, Go d ,
it ll hold yo u lo ng
’

A nd spare you r man my dearest , ,

T o work fo r yo u good and strong .

’ ’
So twa rn t long arter it hap p en ed ,

H e traded a load of hay ,

A nd brought m e home from marke t town -

A bran n ew table on e day

-
.

A n d I pu t t he old o n e cl ean ou t of s ight ,

A n d forgot it a rte r a while ,

’
S pecially wh en a n ew baby came ,

A n d we learn ed agen to s mile .

 GRA NDM A ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

Wal a likely you ng felle r came to u s

, ,

A n d courted he r up and down ,

A n d the e nd of it was she married him ,

A nd went to l ive i n h is town .

A nd s oo n h e took her to foreign parts ,

A nd made h er so grand an d fine

’ ’
Yo u d scarcely belie v e she d e v e r b ee n
’
A darter of Asa s and mine .

O h yes s he kept o n livin there ’

, !

For many a mo n th . A n d the n

I t happened on e day whe n Asa had gon e
D own to th e fiel ds wi t h the m e n ,

T here came a letter fo r h im and me ,

A n d thes e are the words it sai d !

“
A daughter was born last week t o us ,

T o day h er m o t/z er
'

-
I z es dea d I
 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TR EA SUR E S .

5 7

i
’
I did n t get n o far t her , c h il d ,

Fo r I fain t ed clean away ,

A nd Asa was fe t ched fro m th e m e dde r,

A nd fo r many a weary day

He n usse d me k e e rfu l l y ,
dearie ,

B u t o h ! it was long a fore

I could dry my eyes from t heir w e e p in
’

’
For the dar ter I d see no more .

T hey kept the ba by i n foreign parts

Where its fa t her s relation s were
’

of m e
’
An d the child kne w bout as l ittle
As I ever heard of I z ar .

’
B I could n t h elp th in k in all the same
’
ut

T ha t t hi ngs migh t come abo ut

S o tha t s o m ow /z ore on th e face of t he a irth
’
I d find my grandch ild o ut
’

.
 GR A N D /V A ’
S A TTIC TR E A SUR ES .

B ut I m wanderi n o ff my subj ect

’ ’

Le t s see
’
— wal abo u t t he bed , .

I wen t to t ha t n ex t t o d us t i t ,

’ ”
And ,
“
I wo n t be foolish ! I said !

S o I s t ood beside i t d e ta rm in e d

T o forget t he past . B u t t here !

T here was n o use fig h t in age n it
’

For law ! dear I declare , ,

’
As I stood t here l ooki n down o n it ,

For all t he time passed away ,

For all I had tu rned an old woman ,

Wrinkled bo ny and gray

, , ,

Yet st ill t hro t he mis t on my glasses

’

’
A n d th ro mis t of the years long gone ,

I could see my l ost o nes be fore m e ,

A s long ago i n t he morn

,
 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TRE A SUR ES .

Of my motherhood gladsome and happy

, ,

Whe n t he twi ns — l i t tle Asa an d Be n

of
’
Had played from th e da w n in dayligh t
’
T ill came the l o a m in an d t hen
g ,

I would ga t he r em c l ose i n my arms

’

T ill th e d ro o p in
’
of each go l den head
“

Would make fa t her remind me ,

“
C ome , m o ther ,

’ ”
Y ou d bet t er j est s n ug em in bed
’
.
60 G RA NDMA ’
S A 7 TIC TREA SURES
‘

’
A h me ! wal you ve hearn how the S hepherd
,

T hat loves li tt le lambs tho ught i t best ,

T o call m
y l ambki ns to heave n
’
I n his own lovi n arms t o fi n d rest .

S o t he bed ,
fo r a spell i t lay emp t y ,

T il l came H iram and E ben an d soo n

,

’
T wo more l ittl e felle rs a c l a im
-
in .

A share i n the lullaby t u n e .

Laws ! how that bed kept a s t re t c h in

-
’

Like rubber to hol d j es t on e more ,

U ntil I wen t up ev ry even i n ’ ’

T o kiss an d say good n ight -

to fo ur

Little fro l ic k s o m e, rosy che eked youngsters

-

All li ft in t hei r d ear arms t o me

’

’
A t ryin
-
to h ug an d kiss m other
Ah ead of each o t h e r you see , .
 GR A N D AI A
’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .
61

W al , ho w c o uld I help it n ow de a rie , , ,

If while I s t ood t h in kin t hat day

’

O f th e for m s and the sweet baby faces

S o long oh , , so long passed away ,

T hese fool ish old eyes of m in e weake ned ,

A n d at last I j es t dropped my head ,

’
A n d givi n a sob I co uld n
’
t keep back ,

“
O h babies !
, m y babies ! I said ,

O nly j est fo r on e mini t t o s ee ye

A l yin
-
’

so merry and bright ,

’
A nd w a itin fo r mammy to kiss ye -

My d a rl in
’
s, fo r swee t good nigh t ! -

’
O nly j est fo r on e hou r of b avi n

Ye all t o mysel f once more !

’
I d love ye I d kiss ye my bab ies
,
’

, ,

A s n eve r I kissed ye a fore !

 GR A N D /II A
’
S A TTIC TR E A SUR ES .

O nly j est to be able t o k n eel

Wi t h my age n yours my dears , ,

‘ cheek
A -
heari n ye
’
l is p in
’
your prayer s once more !
’
A h me ! I m t h in kin my t ears
’

'

tu rn in
’
Woul d al l be a -
to di monds
Wi t h the smiles tha t would shi ne i n my eyes ,

j est l ike as the dewdrops S parkle

’
I n the su n of the m o rn in skies .
 GR A /VD M A
'
’
S A TTIC TR EA SURES .

’ ’
B u t I m ki nder s orry I sold em .

’
Wal ma am , , said t h e man t o me ,

’
I reckon yo u ll have t o l et em go ’

’
A bargain s a bargain ,
says he .

’ ’
S o t hey h isted em i n t o t h e w a gg in ,

A n d land ! they worked so fast

T hat a fore I kn ew i t th ey d riv away ,

And — m y t h i ngs were gon e at las t !

Wal arte r thei r dust had settled down

, ,

A nd my kitche n chores we re do ne ,

I looked at th e empty places

S ilen t ly one by on e
, .

I m free to co n fess I polishe d my s p ec s

’

!Yo u kn ow I allers do
’
When I m t he least mite fius te re d,

S ome day dear s o may , , y ou .

!
 GR A I V D M A
’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

B u t I tried to keep u p my s p e rrits

T il l di n ner time came , and t hen

-

!Whe n A sa cam e home ! I cl ean gi v e u p ,

A nd b ust i nto tears agen .

’
nothin a t fust
’

M y good man d id n t sa
y ,

B ut he drew his ch ee r by me ,

And p u ttin
’
h is arm about my wai s t ,

H e pulled me down o n h is k ne e .
66 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURE S .

H a n nah old woman , , h e says to me ,

’
A -
p a ss i n his dear old hand
’
O v er my cheek so lovin l ike ,

de rs ta n d
’
A s tho he could on

th ro b b in
’

j es t how my heart wa s a -

By old time memorie s sti rred

-

A nd he had to do all the tal ki n

’

’
For I could n t S p eak a w ord .

H an nah old w oman , , h e s ays to me ,

’
T hro c lo u ds and s u n ny weather
“

You a n d I my dear old wi fe , ,

’
H a v e b een ro w in ol d together
g .

C rowi n
’
ol d t og otfior, dear heart ,

Ay , spared to com fort each other ,

’
And th o our ch ildre n are all aslee p ,

We s till a re father an d mother

 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SUR ES .

To sons who n e v e r will b reak our hearts

’
With goi n thei r wil ful ways
Like that there boy of the D eaco n s
!
’

An d the so n of t h e Widder H ays ! .

’ ’
i
’
We re n ear n the harbor ai n t we wi fe ?
, ,

A nd the childre n will ferry u s o e r ’

T he dark deep rive r tha t we mu s t cro ss

,

To get t o t he happy s hore .

’
T wo u ld be hard t o bear n ow would ,
n t

If on e of u s had to l i v e
W i t hout th e com fort and lovi n care
’

T he other is ready to give '

.

If one o f us slep t wi t h th e ch ildre n ,

Wal there ! the dear L ord kn ows

,

’
T hat it will come m os t too hard o n o ne
A rter the othe r goes !
'
68 G R A N D M A as A T TI C TR E A

’
S o he keeps us t ru dg in together de a r , ,

Along o n the way a nd I ,

A m nowis e afeard h e ll forge t us

’

T ill i t comes
'
our t u rn to die .

’
D on t grieve n o more o er t he thing s yo u s o ld
’

We n eeded th e cash I k now , ,

A n d I guess old woman that yo u were wis e

, ,

’ ’ ”
D ecidi u to l e t em go .

O h h usband ! I said dryin my tears

’

, a -

“
I wish t h ere h ad n
’
t a mi t e
Of t he dear old stu ff gon e outer the ho u se .

’
I d give a deal fo r a sigh t
Of t hat plain old table ! oh my ! I m sure
’

I must have be e n n igh p os s es t ,

T o have spared th at table an d that th ere bed !

’
I m fu ll of grie f an d o n re s t
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TR EA SUR ES .

’
“
With b ank eri n arter them all age n !

T he e mp t y places you see , ,

Are oh !, so empty dear Asa , ,

T hey look so lo n ely to me !

’ ’
Wal there s th e mo ney
, a -
l yin

Atop of the kitchen sh el f !

D o t ake it out of my sight my dear , ,

”
For I m ’ ’
e en am ost sick of mysel f !

S o arter th a t a week we n t by
,

! u iet an d p eace ful an d we ,

Were ge tt i n used to t he S paces

’

Where the old truck u s ed to be .

I h ad my S unday b u n n it ,

And a h a rn s o m e n ew gree n sh aw l ,

A n d Asa had th e promise

Of th e D eaco n s cow i n t he fall
’
.
70 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SUR ES .

A nd t hen o n e day th e D eaco n driv

Alo n g beside our gate ,

A nd hollered ,
“
H an n ah S priggi ns !
’
B e ye there ? W al I can t wait
, ,

’
S o be spry , fo r h ere s a lette r ,

A nd I reckon it comes from York !

’
I thought I d bri ng i t al ong this way ,

’ ”
B ut I hai n t n o time to talk .
 GR A /V D M A r
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

Wal wh e n we ope n ed th e letter

, ,

’
A n d read i t k e e rfu l thro ,

We b oth of us looke d a t each other ,

I laughed and A s a did too

, , .

’
T he n right i n th e midst of our l a ngh i n
Wha t did I do b ut cry ?
While A sa, dear heart I heard , Aim
’
A -
heavi n a sort of sigh .

For what do yo u t h ink ! M y grandchild

H ad come from foreign parts
With some of h er fi ne relations ,

’
A n d th e e a rn in praye r in th e heart s
y
’
Of A sa an d m e i t seemed as tho ,

’
T he Lord was willi n at last
’ ”
To grant and ,
“
grandma and grand p a s l ove
’
Was g ro w n i su dde n and fast
 G R A N D AI A
’
S A TTIC TR EA SUR ES .
73

T he child ex p ressed a desire to see

’
H er mo t her s early home .

“
Would grandma and gran d p a , s he wondered ,

’
“
B e willi n to let her come
T o the dear old farm fo r two o r thre e days
T o ge t acquai nted be fore ,

H e r u ncle would ha v e to take her back

”
T o the distant E nglish shore ?
74 GR A N D AI A ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

Wal whe n
,
she cam e l aw ! dearie
, ,

We co u ld scarce bel ieve ou r eyes !

if
’ ’
I t d id n t seem as Polly s child
C o ul d have grown to sech a si z e !

A winsome lassie of sixtee n year ,

Wi t h her mo t her s bo n ny face ’

’
And c a rr
yin , too i n all he r way s
, ,

’
H er mother s in noce nt grace .

I r u bbed my specs till they shon e s o clear

’
I c ould n t make n o m istake !

T hen I took her face be tween my h and s ,

A nd my hear t was fit t o break

Wi t h lookin i nto th e so ft bl u e eyes
’

’
T h at were my dead Polly s own ,

’ ’
A n d h eari n my darter s voice agen
’
I n my grandch ild s merry tone .
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

A nd father he kis s e d her age n and agen

, ,

’ ’
T ho he could n t fin d w ords to S peak !
B u t he laid his w rinkl ed face my de a r , ,

Age n h e r rosy yo u ng cheek .

S he s l ike h e r m oth er dear wi fe

’

, , he said ,

“
T he ch ild who played at ou r s ide
I n the years agone a fore e v er she d reamed
,

’ ’
Of b ei n a rich man s bride .
76 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

H o w l ong dl d S he stay ? N ot l ong oh no

, ,

For he r folks t h ey had to go

’
Way back to the ir ow n fin e home agen
I n foreign parts ! and so

T here cam e to t h e poo r old far m at last

A l onely s orrow ful day
,

Whe n the child we l oved gave her l a st s weet

A n d tu rned from ou r home away .

A n d arter tha t a coupl e of years

We n t pleasan t an d peace ful by ,

A n d Asa and m e we j ogged along ,

U nder a sh in y sky .

’
A nd there warn t n o t ribulations
N or trials dearie you see
, , ,

’
A ta rn in
-
up as there had bee n o nce
, ,

’
A b o th e rin
-
A sa and me .
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

77

’
B ut duri n then my grandch ild ,

S he married a man ! and the n

S he s aid good -
by to E ngl ish shore s
A nd came to York agen .

she fa s h
’
A nd my !, li v ed so n ab l e ,

A nd gre w so fin e and gran d ,

I n ever co uld screw up courage

’
Yo u ll ea s ily o n de rs ta n d

To go and s tay to her ho u se ,

A s many a time sh e sen t

’
A n i nvite p re s s n i an d hearty .

’ ’ ’
B ut I d a bee n glad to we n t
’ ’ ’
fe e l in
’
If I had n t a had a
T hat a plai n old wri nkled c re e t ur

’
Wi t h nothin at all to brag o n ,

E ither i n form or fe a tur,

 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

Would s orter be o u t of p lace

A mong things s o h a rn s o m e and new .

A nd there was fathe r my poo r old man , !

’
H e d miss me s adly I knew , .

B ut the n I ha n kered to
, s ee he r ,

’
M y Polly s mo t he rless darte r !
’
A nd wal I fi nal ly said I d go
, ,

’
C a u s e Asa he said I ol i h t e r
,
g .

S o I put m y duds i n th e ol d h a ir t r u nk ,

A n d airly o ne pleasan t day

Asa h e hitch ed up old D obbin
, ,

A nd together we driv away

T o the rail kee r statio n -
. O h massy s ake s !
,

Ho w I did feel my dear , ,

’
fo r
’
A t partin with Asa , he an d me d

K ept clo s e fo r n igh fi fty year .

 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

S o at l a s t I got i nto th e steam kee r -

A nd A sa , h e called to me
G ood b y-

, old woman take keer , of y o ur s el f

,

H an nah dear h eart ! , called he .

’
A n d th en there came a rush in noi s e ,

A nd my head felt d i z z y a nd quee r ,

’
A nd thi nks I to mysel f ,
“
I d gi v e a sigh t
’
If
”
I on ly was u t fiere I

Wal I got t o my grandch ild s ho us e at

,
’

’
A n d sakes ! I was most beat
,

T o see sech elegan t c a rp its

’
L yin
’
ro u n d u nder folks feet !
’ ’
A nd me a -
walki n on to e m as if
’
T hey could n t b e spiled my dear , ,

if
’
And l aw !
, you ll bel ie v e me child , ,

’
I did n t see on e efieer
 G RA N D M A S A TTIC TREA SURES
’
. 8 1

T h a t I really darst to set down in ,

e a re d
’ ’
For someh o w it p a s tho

T hey w as power ful w eak an d b rittle ,

N ot a bit l ike m in e, yo u kno w .

A nd there were a s ight of fig g e rs

O n marble s tools and sich ,

’
A nd a heap o f c o n fu s in gimcracks ,

I did n
’
t know wh ich from which .
82 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

A n d th e time s I bum p ed my p o o r old head

’
Agen a big l ooki n glas s -
,

Whe n I s ee a room wh ere I w a nted t o go ,

’
A tryin
-

, y ou see, to p a ss
R ight i nto it ! fo r ho w co u ld I tell
’
T w as only a gla ss ? a n d la w ! ,

’
I neve r see sech de c e iv in th ing s
In m
y b orn day s afore !

a v is itin
’ ’
B u t arter I d b ee n -
th e re
Fo r n igh o n a w eek , on e
'

da y
’
I was kin der wanderi n ro u n d the ho us e

I n a sort of homesick way ,

When I s ee my darter i n her b o o do o r,

she
”
A nd said to m e ,
“
C ome i n !

S o I we n t and set o n the s o fy .

’
W a l th ere ! I can t begin
,
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

TO tell the hal f of the furn i t ure

’
T hat was fil l in the p lace ! T hinks I ,

’
It s w u th a li fe t o move
“ ’
c re e t u r s ,

’
A nd I m sure I dassen t try ! ”

k n ittin
’ ’
S o I wen t to on Asa s sock

!I t was i n my pocket yo u k now ! ,

’
I allers carry my k n ittin work -

Where v er I chan ce to go! ,

’
A nd Polly sh e s et
,
a -
readi n ,

A nd we wa s as quie t as mice ,

When all on a s u dde n I see a thing

T hat i
rz me up i n a t rice .

I t was only a l ittle old table ,

l aw !
’
All pol i s hed and shi n i n ! bu t
’
a m a z in
’
I t looked like that I d sold
T o th e me n so long afore .
84 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

’
Polly ,
say s I ,
“
ain t that there thing
A [iii/e bit o ut of p lace
I n th is h e re fine house of yo u rs ? A nd
S he laughed right o ut i n my face .

T hat table yo u mean ? why grandma

, , ,

’
T hat s as old as th e hills yo u know ! ,

a ru b b in
’
S ays I ,
-
my S pectacle s ,

’
S ays I ,
“
Wal yes that s so
, , ,

’
Fo r I had one a m a z in l ike it ,

A n d a lot more ru b b idg e , I sol d

T o a couple of cra z y l u natics

’ ’
Wh o wanted em cause th ey was old .

’
A nd you would n t bel ieve two hu ma n so u ls
Would hav e act u ally paid me money
For cheers and tabl es an d real old things !

’
N ow Polly w as
, , n t it funny !
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SUR ES .

’ ’
B ut they l ugged em away and i t , p e a re d to
’
I m issed em a sigh t .
’
I t s q u eer
H ow that there table sh ould make me th ink
Of mine . B ut Polly my dear
, , ,

If I was y ou , w he n my fin e friends call

’ ’ ’
I d be shamed to have em see

A th ing so o ut of fash io n ! i t spiles

Your room i t ap p ears to me !
,

Wi t h that I put my spectacles o n

T o take a good look at the thing ,
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TR EA SURES .

’
A -
standin right out con s picuou s
With its drawers an d each bra s s ring ,

’
A -
shin in as bright as gold my dear , ,

’
A -
shi ni n as b right as gold ,

’
A nd looki n as chi p pe r and sa s sy
As th o ’ ’ ’
t w a rn t powerful ol d .

’
A nd th ere s et Polly a -
langh i n !

B ut the n who , k e e re d, my dear ?

th in k in
’ ’ ’
Alth o s he was most l ikely
T hat gran dmas was migh ty quee r .

For I s udden ly did dis k iv e r ,

By a sartai n famil iar S ign ,

T hat that the re tabl e i n Polly s room

’

H ad long ago stood i n m ine .

I t was j est my own dear tabl e ,

T he o n e I had grieved fo r so lo ng !
88 O R A N D M A as A T TI C TREA SURES .

’
The me n wh o cam e p yir
n to my ho u se ,

e xp e c t in
’ ’
A -
m e ddl in with things were ,

To find b ig bargain s to bri ng to Yo rk ,

’ ’
For the store th at s e n t e m collectin .

A nd I m fre e to co n fess I was riled a m ite

’

’
T o thi nk th ey d only paid m e,

For all they had took fi fty dollars , ,

A nd my grandchild had p aid yo u s ee , ,

For that there tabl e al one S h e said , ,

Fi ft y dollars or more !
’
Wal t here ! I was
, e e n am o st beat my dear
, ,

For i n all my l i fe afore

of
’
I had n ever h eard tell sech cheati n men !
’
My A sa warn t n o sech ki nd !
’
d e c e iv in
’
A nd a cheatin , c re e t u r, ch ild ,

’
Warn t n ever to m
y m i nd .
 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

B u t the ta b le the dear ol d tab le !,

O h dearie yo u s u rely kn o w
, ,

H ow glad I was to ge t it agai n

’
I n my grandch ild s ho u se ! an d so

I writ to father that v ery n ight ,

A nd I told h im ,
“
Asa ,
s ay s I ,

O u r Polly , she s ays n ew -

fashio ned thing s
’
Are all a -
goi n by .

N ew -
fash io n ed times is behin d th e age ,

O l d fash ion ed
-
things is n ew ,

w u th
’
A nd thi ngs ai n t n ew or , a c en t ,

’
nl ess they re é too
'

U a u tz .

A n d th e p art of it all my man

’
c ur o us , ,

’
l a rn in
’
I s a l esson I m well
T he duds stowed away t hes e forty years
’
A re l oo f a s z ua/ él e t o s el l .
9 0 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

’
B ut law ! th ere s o n e thing p u z z les m e ,

’ ’
A nd I m w o n de rin , Asa cl ear ,

If the world thi nks any t he more of

Who are rut her an t ik and queer !

B u t there ! I recko n t hat n ei t her of us ,

M y man will ever be abl e

,

T o pro v e ou r w u th com p are d with that

”
Of
’
a oa l u ol e a ut u
é l a dl e .

B ut
’
I did n t stay long at Polly s ’

Fo r somehow I could n t stay ’

’
A k n o win
-
the ol d man missed me .

S o airly o ne pleasan t day

M y g ra n dc h il d s husban d t ook me
’
‘

T o t he k ee rs , and we said good b y -

And I was so glad to be gettin h ome ’

I was really a fraid I sho u ld cry .

 G RA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TR EA SUR ES .

W
’
al ,
Asa was there at t he sta t ion ,

fo r
’
and w a tc h in me
’
A w a it in
-
,

A n d as soo n as the k e e rs reached o u r v illage ,

His face was the fust th ing I see .

S o we rode i n t he w a g g in , side by S ide ,

Back over th e road age n ,

T ill we n eared th e dear home

s t ead

U nder elms ,
92 GRA NDMA ’
S A TTIC TREA SURES .

M y man he turned h is face to me

, ,

A n d t he tears were i n h is eyes

“
O h H an nah wi fe the su n has come
, ,

S traight back t o the old home skies !

’ ”
You re welcome home dear h ear t ! , he said !

A nd he put a kiss o n my cheek .

I kissed h im back bu t my heart was fu ll , ,

’
A nd I did n t dare to speak .

Wal we settled do w n agen a t la s t

,

I n the quiet old home together !

A nd whatever t he gloom , w ha t e v e r the s hin e

Of l i fe its wind a n d wea t he r
, ,

We shared al ike my man an d m e , ,

’
As p lease
, Go d , t o our old li fe s end
We may share t oge t her whatever of j oy
O r grie f he may choose to sen d .
 RA N
G D M A S A TTIC TREA SURES
’
.

93

T here n ow yo u hav e heard my s tory

, , ,

’
A n d Asa s stocki ng is do ne !

!D ear me ! it i s late — ’
it s ti me h e was back ,

An d t he m edde r is hot with the su n !!

j es t hel p me in o n yo u r arm dear , ,

’ ’
A n d n ow as you re goi n home
, ,

’
I ll s et to the wi nder awhile alon e ,

And watch fo r A s a to c o me .
94 GRA NDM A ’
S A TTIC TR EA SURES .

S ee ! there he is by the past u re bars ,

A
’
-
wavin his h an d to me '

’
He é u ows I m h ere by th e wi nder

A wa tc h in
’

-
fo r him you see
, .

Wal good b y dearie ! come ofte n

,
-

With you r bright and bo nny you ng face ,

you ain t a feard that amongst the a u tzl é

’
If

Y ou r s t yle will be — out of pl ace .