^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^S .,\Ml£^l> GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. GRANDMAS ATTIC Treasures A STORY OF OLD-TIME MEMORIES By MARY D^ BRINE ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK E. P. BUTTON AND COMPANY LONDON: GRIFFITH & FARRAN 1882 Copyright, 1881, By E. p. Button and Company. TRi\T10K^^ Drsignrt! bv Miss C. A. Northam, J. Francis Murphy, W. P. Snyder. Edmund H. Garrett, W. A. Rogers, W. F. Halsai.l. The book is prepared and the ilUistrations engraved By George T. Andrew. jii^t of 3jUujStratiou0. Grandma's Attic Treasures Frontispiece Heading and Tailpiece 5 "There, give me my knittin', dearie " 9 "Till — Asa came courtin' me " ii " Asa had gone down to the fields for a load of hay " 13 Door Knocker 15 "Wal, so they set down in the settin'-room " 16 " Sech a heap of worn-out stuff " 17 " A part of my cheers and tables " 21 "Ay, Hannah, wife, it is good to rest" . . _ . 23 " So I laid my hand on his dear old head ".......... 25 " He stopped to the barn-yard fence " 27 "As I stood in the kitchen doorway ■' 28 " And father, he 'd set there a-laughin' " 31 " So warm and snug on the pillow " • • • 33 "A spinnin'-wheel " 34 "The oddest lookin' table" ...... 36 "Atop of the kitchen-shelf " 39 '^ So, restin' my head agen the wheel" 41 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Vli Page " As out on the farm-house porch I spun " 42 " Somebody's hands went over my eyes " . . 45 '• There were only two of us, then, you know " 48 "They set to the table in little high cheers" 49 " Sometimes on a summer's day " 51 "At sixteen the village belle " .-55 " I would gather 'em close in my arms " 59 "In the sun of the mornin' skies'' 62 " He pulled me down on his knee " 65 " For here's a letter" 70 " To the distant English shore " 73 " Agen her rosy young cheek " 75 " And now I was goin' to leave him " 79 " And a heap of confusin' gimcracks " 81 "To take a good look at the thing" 85 " And I jest set down to that table and cried the least little mite " . 87 "Till we neared the dear old homestead" 91 "Jest help me in on your arm, dear" 93 " There he is by the pasture bars " 94 ^ GRANDMAS ATTIC TREASURES. There, give me my knittin', dearie, It 's somethin' I can't abide, To set with my old hands idle, Like driftin' along on the tide. I ain't so young as I once was, But there 's one thing sartain sure. To rust out of life, as some folks do. Is a habit I can't endure. lO GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Wal, yes, it is strange how time does fly ; 'Most takes one's breath away: A creetur is hardly born, it seems. Afore she turns old and gray. But I don't complain ; for, if 1 Ve seen A sight of worry and care, There 's been a plenty of sunshine, And I s'pose I 've had my share. Did I use to have beaux ? Yes, plenty, And likely young fellows, too : But I was full of my fun then, — ■ As much of a witch as you Are now, with your face so pretty, And your ways so dainty and fine ; But the beaux you girls have now-days Never were found in mine. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. II But I was a bit particular; So I and my heart were free As ever the wind and summer air Till — Asa came courtin' me. And, oh! I remember jest as plain How his blue e3'es danced and shone The day I promised him truly I 'd be Jiis sweetheart alone. 12 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Of all the days that were glad and bright I think the gladdest were then, When Asa and I were lovers, dear. And over and over agen Kept makin' our plans for the future. Come foul or sunshiny weather, We used to say we did n't care which. So that we shared it together. But what did I promise to tell you When you put me down in this cheer.? Oh yes, I remember now, dearie, I know you wanted to hear About the time of my sellin' The things that folks call antik. Wal, then, the mem'ry of that are time E'enamost makes me sick. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 13 Oh dear ! shall I ever forget that day ? The old man, Asa, had gone Down to the fields for a load of hay, And I felt somehow forlorn And kinder lonesome, and could n't tell why. As I stood there a-washin' dishes, And lettin' my old, onruly heart Get fall of onreasonable wishes. 14 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. You see I 'd been wantin' a bunnit For nigh onto three good years ; And for shame of my shawl so faded I 'd actuaUy once shed tears ; And Asa lie wanted a cow-critter Old Deacon Jones had to sell, And — law ! the half that we wanted I ain't got the patience to tell. So I was a-wipin' my dishes, And now and then wipin' my eyes. And grievin' over the shadows and clouds Which come to every one's skies, Forgettin' the bright and sunny part. Which my eyes warn't willin' to see, Because I thought at that minit They warn't shinin' bright for 7ne, — GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 15 When all on a sudden there came a knock Right smart on the old front door ; (I did n't know when I had heard a sound Agen that door before). So I tidied my hair at the kitchen glass, And smoothed my apern, and then I nearly jumped out of my senses When the knock came soundin' agen. But I went and opened it keerful, And I was amazed to see Two stylish-lookin' gentlemen, And they bowed perlite to me. There, now, if I 'd been Victc'ry, Those fellows could n't a been A bit perliter salutin' to me, Jest like if I 'd been the Queen. i6 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. So I bowed back aofen, of course, My very best curtsy ; for I Was allers taught to be civil, In the civil old days gone by. And I said, says I, "Oh, how do you do? Won't you kindly step in ? " (For I never had shet my door on folks. And I was n't a-goin' to begin.) Wal, so they set down in the settin'-room, And then they waited a bit ; GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 17 For I was so flustered I scarcely knew What on airth to make of it. But finally one of 'em said to me, — " Now, madam," says he, " I hear That you have some antique furniture." Thinks I, "Law sakes ! how queer! "What on airth does he mean, I wonder!" But I said : " Oh, deary me ! I hain't no antik furniture. If it 's that you 're a-wantin' to see. But what I 've got is pozvcrfiil old, And I 'm sure it 's cur'ous enough Why anybody should want to see Sech a heap of worn-out stuff." GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 1 noticed the men, they laughed at me, But there ! I did n't keer ; Thinks I, " There 's allers been lots of fools, And a couple of 'em are here." For cur'ouser folks I never see, A peekin' and pryin' about As if there was n't an airthly thing They did n't want to find out. Wal, arter a spell, when they 'd got through A-meddlin' with my affairs, And I was a-tryin' to get 'em down A-past the garret stairs. One of 'em spoke, and said, " Hold on. There 's one more place to go ; You '11 let us visit your garret, ma'am. Only a minit, you know." GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Wal, there ! I zvas 'most beat, my dear ; But at once to myself says I, " It 's plainer still that the day for fools Ain't anywhere nigh gone by ! " I could n't help but laugh, you know. For I never heard tell afore Of two sech pecular strangers. Says I, " There ain't no more 19 " That 's wuth your lookin' at, Mister, A heap of rubbidge and sich. Old beds and cheers and tables. You can't tell t' other from which. And I do feel mighty ashamed to show Such homely old trash, you see, And they ain't no airthly use to a soul, So you better leave 'em be ! " 20 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. But, dearie, would you believe it ? What did they up and say, But that they 'd ruther have old things Than new ones, any day ! So, — wal, I let 'em look at the duds — But what they wanted to do Was somethin' I could n't onderstand, No more, I reckon, could you. But by and by, when we got down stairs, The men they whispered a bit, And then they said, " Now, madam, look here, If you 're willin' to part with it. We '11 buy your furniture, such as we like, And give you a good, fair price." I looked at them two poor lunatics. And my laugh riz up in a trice. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 21 But I kinder smothered it down, for there, Thinks I, " I 've hearn of folks Who hain't much else to do on airth But jest to be playin' jokes ! " So I asked em kindly, "What did you say? You 're willin' to buy of me A part of my cheers and tables, And t' other old truck you see ? " They bowed perlite, and answered, _,_^ " Yes, certainly, ma'am," said they. ^4 Said I, " Wal, I don't hardly know What Asa, my man, would say. \\ ^~1 But s'posin', you call agen," says I, \1 B w " And I '11 think of the matter some ; / You see I dunno jest what to say When father is n't to home." 22 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. With that, they went away at once, And I could n't but laugh to think I 'd only to say the word, you know, And jest as quick as a wink I could have my bran new bunnit. My new green shawl and all, And Asa could have that cow-critter Along in the airly fall. Wal, pretty soon Asa came along. All tired and tuckered out With turnin' the hay in the medder, And drivin' the oxen about. And down he set in the old arm-cheer, A-leanin' his gray old head Agen the back. And he drew a breath, "It is s^ood to rest I'' he said. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. \m 'ss^mmm m \ \ ' hjjji \m\\M.\< w itiiiiyi mmA\ iii^.jj.jiji«iMi " Ay, Hannali, wife, it is good to rest, And it 's better still to see Your dear old face a-smilin' so sweet, And waitin' to welcome me. I 'm gx'ttin' along, old woman, you know And easily tired, my dear, And arter all, there 's nothin' like home And a comf'table easy cheer!" 24 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Now, would you believe it, those men had chose That partickler cheer, and I Was puzzled to death, when I looked at it, To know the reason why. For a homelier thing I never did see. As plain as a pipe-stem, too; I was so beat when they p'inted it out, I did n't know what to do. Howsomever, I thought I would let it go. For I had n't s'posed Asa 'd keer ; Knowin' how many old things we had, I did n't have thought nor fear That he 'd say a word ; but hearin' him speak In that way, it made me sad ; For, thinks I, " If he knows I 'm willin' to sell, It '11 make him sorter feel bad." GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 25 But I had to tell ; and so I laid My hand on his dear old head, And kind of coaxin' like, said I, " Asa, my dear," I said, pniTfjffiiiwriWBjniiiTwiiMriiip^ miiiimi " The garret is full of old truck, you know. Old truck that we never use, And I 'm thinkin' I 'd like to sell 'em off, And I s'pose you won't refuse ? " 26 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Dear ! how he laughed ! " Why, Hannah, wife, Who '11 buy it, do you s'pose ? The like of our worn-out furniture Every soul in the village knows. No, no, my woman, there 's no one here You can cheat into thinkin' it's new; It ain't so harnsome as once it was. But we '11 have to make it do." Then I up and told him the story, And told him about the men, And how I had said I 'd think it o'er, And they were a-comin' agen. And I said, to him, " Now, father, dear, There 's Deacon Jones' critter, you see, You 've wanted to buy her so long, my dear, Now here 's your chance ; and for me^ GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 27 ♦' I can have that bunnit I 'm wantin', And won't be ashamed, you know, To hold up my head among folks, When next Sabbath to meetin' we go!" And I smoothed his forehead a little, And coaxed till my dear old man Jest give me a kiss, and said, " Wal, des I 'm willin' to sell, if you can." GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. He stopped to the barn-yard fence A minit or so, jest to say, — " You 're'^^/r^ you're wantin' to sell the things? Don't go and be hasty, wife ! " And then he came back and kissed me. Wal, dearie, to save my life I could n't see thro' my glasses For the tears that were dimmin' 'em so, As I stood in the kitchen doorway A-watchin' the old man q:o. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 29 But 't warn't very long afore some one came, Knockin' agen at the door, And them two men stood there a-bo\vin\ Jest as on the day before. The fust thing they asked me to sell 'em Was Asa's old favorite cheer; But you '11 laugh when I tell you I saw him A-settin' into it, my dear, As plain as if really he 'd been there, And, law sakes ! I '11 honestly say It seemed as tho' if they 'd took the chair, They 'd a-taken my man away. For a picter came quickly afore me Of how he did like to rest (And finally get to snorin' With his chin down low on his breast) ) GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. In that homely old cheer they wanted ; And I got to thinkin', you know, Of how that cheer was a part of ourselves In the days of the long ago. For I could n't forget the time, ah, no, To go further back a good bit (Altho' you saucy young witch May set there a-laughin' at it). When all alone in our own snug home, My husband v.ith me on his knee Would sit with our arms 'round each other, Happy as we could be. And the time that followed, you know, dear, When merry as bees in clover Our little ones, restless and sturdy, Had clambered the old thing over ; GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. And father, he'd set there a-laughiii' — Ah me ! the picter was plain, With the babies a-settin' upon his knee, Over and over agen. So I said to the men, " Not that, sir, For I can't let it go ! " With that they looked at me quite surprised 32 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. But I up and told 'em, you know, How Asa had allers loved that cheer, And thinkin' the matter o'er, I guessed we 'd keep it till he had gone Where cheers warn't needed no more. Wal, when we came to the garret They found a bedstead. (You see, I 'd long ago tucked it away up there. For it warn't any use to me.) As plain and old and ugly a thing As ever was made. But there ! As soon as they wanted to take it, 'T was somethin' I could n't spare. For the tears that were dimmin' my spectacles Could n't shet out the sight GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. % Of the dear little heads that had lain there For many and many a night, So warm and snug on the pillow In that very same little bed, After each darlin' had lisped a prayer, And the last good-night was said. I polished my specs a little. And then I says to the men, " I reckon we won't decide 'bout that Until I see you agen. 34 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. For there 's manv a thin 2^ comes afore me To hinder its goin' away ; And so long as there ain't no hurry, I '11 think on 't another day." Wal, they went on with their lookin' From one thing to another, Pokin' and rummagin' all around. And forever a-nudgin' each other, Till at last they spied in a corner A spinnin'-wheel. " Massay ! " I said, " If you 're thinkin' of buyin' that ere thing. You imist be out of your head ! " GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. '■ Says one of 'em, " Madam, that 's somethin' We very much want, and make bold To ask you to sell it." " Oh, lawful sakes ! " Said I, " now ain't it ^cw old ? " They shrugged their shoulders a mite, and then They laughed a minit or two. And one of 'em said, " We '11 buy it, ma'am, If it 's all the same to you." Says I, " Young man, be you married ? Does your wife know^ how to spin ? " " Married ! " laughed he, " now that 's a scrape I have n't yet got in ! " I did n't exactly know what he meant, But I thought I 'd let him know That spumin had gone out of fashion Ever so long ago. 36 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. " I 'm willin' to sell it, Mister, But I feel it a dooty to say That this 'ere spinnin'-wheel ain't no use, And will only be in your way. But law, if you really want it. If you 're set on havin' the thing, I dunno but you 're welcome. For the sake of the price it '11 bring." So they marked it down in their book, And, lookin' round a little more. They diskivered a queer old table A-standin' behind the door. The oddest-lookin' table That ever was seen, I declare. And there did n't seem no reason Why that thing I could n't spare GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 37 It was sort of convenient in one way, It pulled out as fur as you chose, And shet agen as small and snug As you please. Why, ev'ry one knows Them tables went out of fashion Longer ago, I reckon, dear, Than most folks now can remember, — 'T was nigh onto eighty year, Yes, nigh onto eighty year, I 'm sure, If it was a single day. When those pryin' creeturs diskivered it, And wanted to take it away. For Asa's folks had owned it Afore I married their son ; And among the presents they give us. That 'ere table was one. 38 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Thinks I, " They may as well have it," So they writ it clown in their book. And — wal, I hain't time to tell ye Of all those men would 'a' took If i 'd only give 'em the chance. But I got so clean tuckered out, That I hardly knew for sartain What on airth I was about. So at last they whispered together, And one of 'em says, says he, " Will fifty dollars pay you For the things we 've chosen ? " Law me I couldn't believe my senses; But I felt in a sorter flurry, And I told 'em yes, and then, my dear, They went away in a hurry, GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 39 And left me a-standin' and lookin' At a big bill there in my hand ; And I tell you, child, it did look good. And I felt consid'rable grand. All ^/mt for a lot of rubbido-e ? Ah, deary me ! I never ! And I could 'a' kept on lookin' And wonderin' on it forever Wal, the money I put in the stockin' Atop of the kitchen shelf, 40 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. And the very fust chance I had to think A minit all to myself, Says I, " I '11 jest step to the garret And dust off them things a bit." Oh my ! how flustered and queer I felt The minit I thought of it ! So, arter I 'd gone to the garret, And began a-dustin', wal, there ! I had the pecul'arest feelin's Take holt of me, I declare ! I looked at the spinnin'-wheel, dearie, And somehow, I could n't tell why. Before I hardly could help it I was e'enamost ready to cry. There warn't nobody to see me. And I felt mighty glad, GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 41 For ev'rything seemed possest to make My old heart troubled and sad. So, restin' my head agen the wheel In a sort of idle way, I let myself fall to thinkin', And lettin' my mem'ry stray To the time when I was a slip of a gal A-wearin' Asa's ring, Too happy to do a thing all day But lauo^h and chatter and sins:. 42 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. And I minded the times the wheel went round To the merry tunes I sung, In the days when skies were allers blue, 'Cause Asa and I were young. There was many a lovin' secret That I told to my wheel, my dear, With the blushes a-burnin' on my cheek, Tho' nobody else was near,' 'i..:',..,H:.;B^^»f As out on the farm-house porch I spun In the pleasant summer weather, Weavin' many a hank of thread And gay romance together. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. But there came a lover's quarrel, child, A quarrel 'twixt Asa and me, And oh ! the days, the mis'rable days, When his face I did n't see ! How did it happen ? Wal, I forget. It was all so lonof asfo ; But there ! young tongues are hasty of speech, And so were ours, I know. 43 How long did it last ? Oh, wal, my child, It really appeared to me That minits were fairly hours. And the days seemed weeks to be ! I turned my wheel with a laggard foot. And I had no heart for song; And try as I might, it seemed as tho' My work was bound to go wrong. 44 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. But one bright day, I remember, When ev'rythin' seemed so glad That it looked as if I was the only one Of God's creeturs who was sad, I was settin' afore my spinnin'-wheel. But the wheel was movin' so slow That it did n't amount to nothin', And finally ceased to go ; For I dropped my hands in my lap, And I let my foot from the treadle fall, And I set jest idly thinkin', And seein' nothin' at all, Except the face I w^as carryin' In my heart from morn in' till night, And holdin' fast in my dreams Till once again it was light. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 45 Wal, as I was settin' there lonely like, With many a tear on my cheek, Somebody's hands went over my eyes, Ah ! not a word did he speak. But I knew it was no one but Asa, And my heart got a-beatin' so fast I could n't move or say nothin' Till arter a spell was past ; 46 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. But I lifted my hands from my lap, And I clasped 'em over his own, And the tears they came like raindrops; And not only my tears alone. For I felt the tears from my lover's eyes A-splashin' agen and agen On the back of my hand, as he bowed his head, And kissed my forehead ; and then — Ah, wal, no matter what followed ; But till the sun was low in the west We sang together, my heart and I, And — law! you can guess the rest. For Asa called round in the evenin', And we talked our trouble away, And there hain't been another quarrel 'Twixt us since that glad day. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Wal, you see I was thinkin' of all those things That clay in the garret, and so I kinder hated the promise I 'd give To let the old wheel go. But I dusted it off and fixed it up, For says I to myself, " I 'm sure. To break a promise once made 's a thing Hannah Spriggins can never endure ! " 47 Then I went to the table to dust it off, And tidy that up for the men. Till those same cur'us feelin's possest me, And dimmed my glasses agen. That table ! I minded when my old man Sot to it alone with me (When he warn't old by a sight of years) A-drinkin' his cup of tea. 48 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. There was only tivo of us then, you know, For I was a bit of a wife, And never a thought of trouble or care Could hurt my giddy young life. I allers did my own cookin'. And husband, he praised me well, And I was proud of our little home, Prouder than words could tell. Then by and by, when the babies came To open our hearts yet more, GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 49 We made the table larger a bit, — Large enough to hold four. For the little fellers they grew so fast, The two little dimpled dears. That it warn't no time afore they set To the table in little high cheers. Yes, they were twins, them fust that came, And nobody ever see Sturdier, smarter babies than them That belonoed to father and me. 50 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. But sorrow came, and — wal, we made That table small as before, And it almost broke our hearts to know We were only two once more. Wal, time went on, and 't was quite a spell 'Fore we lengthened it out again. But there came at last to the lonely house- To lift its burden of pain — The blessed sound of sweet voices, So dear to a mother's ear, And the laugh of my growin' children Was glad and pleasant to hear. And then my man and I we pulled That table to sech a size As gladdened our hearts, you may be sure. And gladdened our lovin' eyes. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 51 Law ! sech a row of the little heads ! Black and yaller and brown ! We used to think them babies of ours Were jest the nicest in town. But have n't you noticed, deaiie, Sometimes on a summer's day, When there ain't a cloud to be seen in the sky, And as fur as you look away Over the hills and medders The sunshine seems so bright. It seems as tho' 't would be allers day, And there warn't sech a thino: as ni(rht? 52 GRANDMA 'S A TTIC TREASURES. Wal, that is how it appeared to me, And I never once dreamed of sorrow ; Bein' so pleased with the present day, I could n't think of the morrow, Nor sfive a thouo^ht to the sartain fact That a nig/a imtst lie between Two days, you know, no matter if they Are the brightest ever seen. And so when the shadows gathered, They caught me unprepared, And of many homes by a fever robbed. Our dear home was not spared. And father and I awoke one day From a long, unconscious rest. To find our darlin s, our own dear birds. Had flown from the old home nest. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 53 And he and I were again alone, Just as we were afore, Just as we 'd been, you see, dear, At the very fust start. Once more We pushed the table together, And at every meal we two Felt so heart-sick and lonely We scarcely knew what to do. And at last I could n't a-bear it. And I said to Asa one day, " I wish," said I, " you 'd let me put This table out of the way ; And s'posin' you trade for another That ain't so lonely as this." My man, he pondered a minit, Then came and give me a kiss. 54 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. " Ay, Hannah, you 're missin' the babies ! Wal, there is too much of space In this old house, dear wife, I know, At best, it s a lonesome place ! But it 's holdin' you yet, thank Heaven, And, please God, it'll hold you long, And spare your man, my dearest, To work for you good and strong." So 'twarn't long arter, it happened He traded a load of hay, And brought me home from market-town A bran-new table one day. And I put the old one clean out of sight, And forQ;ot it arter a while, 'Specially when a new baby came, And we learned agen to smile. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 55 And all the years it had stood there, Gettin' so awful old, you see, Our one little baby was growin' A pretty young gal to be. At fifteen she was a beauty, At sixteen the village belle; And — my! the half of her lovers I 'm sure I never can tell. 56 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Wal, a likely young feller came to us, And courted her up and down, And the end of it was she married him, And went to live in his town. And soon he took her to foreign parts, And made her so grand and fine You 'd scarcely believe she 'd ever been A darter of Asa's and mine. Oh, yes ! she kept on livin' there For many a month. And then It happened one day when Asa had gone Down to the fields with the men. There came a letter for him and me, And these are the words it said : " A daughter was born last week to us, To-day her mother lies dead !'^ GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 57 I did n't get no farther, child, For I fainted clean away. And Asa was fetched from the medder, And for many a weary day He nussed me keerfully, dearie, But oh ! it was lono- afore I could dry my eyes from their weepin' For the darter I 'd see no more. They kept the baby in loreign parts Where its father's relations were, And the child knew 'bout as little of me As I ever heard of her. But I could n't help thinkin' all the same That things might come about So that somcivhcre on the face of the airth I 'd find my grandchild out. 58 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. But I 'm wanderin' off my subject, Let's see — wal, about the bed. I went to that next to dust it, And, '' I won't be fooHsh ! " I said ; So I stood beside it detarmined To forget the past. But there! There was no use fightin' agen it, For law! dear, I declare. As I stood there lookin' down on it, For all the time passed away. For all I had turned an old woman, Wrinkled, bony, and gray, Yet still thro' the mist on my glasses. And thro' mist of the years long gone, I could see my lost ones before me, As long ago, in the morn GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 59 Of my motherhood, gladsome and happy, When the twins — little Asa and Ben- Had played froni the dawnin' of daylight Till came the oloamin', and then rniini ^ in-nw-^ywymmwwmrmTmwmmmw I would gather 'em close in my arms Till the droopin' of each golden head Would make father remind me, " Come, mother, You 'd better jest snug 'em in bed." 6o GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Ah me ! wal, you 've heani how the Shepherd That loves Httle lambs, thought it best To call my lambkins to heaven In his own lovin' arms to find rest. So the bed, for a spell it lay empty. Till came Hiram and Eben, and soon Two more little fellers a-claimin' A share in the lullaby tune. Laws ! how that bed kept a-stretchin' Like rubber to hold jest one more, Until I went up ev'ry evenin' To kiss and say good-night to four Little frolicksome, rosy-cheeked youngsters All liftin' their dear arms to me, A-tryin' to hug and kiss mother Ahead of each other, you see. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 6 1 Wal, how could I help it, now, dearie. If while I stood thinkin' that day Of the forms and the sweet baby faces So long, oh, so long passed away. These foolish old eyes of mine weakened, And at last I jest dropped my head, And oivin' a sob I could n't keep back, " Oh, babies ! my babies ! " I said. " Only jest for one mi nit to see ye A-lyin' so merry and bright, And waitin' for mammy to kiss ye, My darlin's, for sweet good-night! Only jest for one hour of havin' Ye all to myself once more ! I VI love ye, I 'd kiss ye, my babies. As never I kissed ye afore! 62 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. " Only jest to be able to kneel With my cheek agen yours, my dears, A-hearin' ye lispin' your prayers once more ! Ah me! I'm thinkin' my tears Would all be a-turnin' to di'monds With the smiles that would shine in my eyes. Jest like as the dewdrops sparkle In the sun of the mornin' skies." GRA.XDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 6^ Oh, wal, it warn't no use frettin', And I thought, arter all, 't would be best To forget all about the old treasures And let the bed go with the rest. So, arter I 'd left the garret I went to the settin'-room And drew up the winder curtains To lighten the twilight's gloom. And next day, bright and quite airly (I 'd almost hoped they 'd be late), Two men came drivin' a waggin Close alongside of our gate. (Father had gone an hour afore), Says I to the men, " I s'pose You 're wantin' to cart the duds away. They ain't wuth much, land knows, 64 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. But I 'm kinder sorry I sold 'em." " VVal, ma'am," said the man to me, " I reckon you '11 have to let 'em go, A bargain 's a bargain," says he. So they h'isted 'em into the waggin, And land ! they worked so fast That afore I knew it they driv away, And — my things were gone at last Wal, arter their dust had settled down, And my kitchen chores were done, I looked at the empty places Silently, one by one. I 'm free to confess I polished my specs, (You know I allers do When I 'm the least mite flustered, — Some day, dear, so may yoii) GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 65 But I tried to keep up my sperrits Till dinner-time came, and then (When Asa came home) I clean give up, And bust into tears agen. My good man did n't say nothin' at fust, But he drew his cheer by me. And puttin' his arm about my waist. He pulled me down on his knee. 66 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. " Hannah, old woman," he says to me, A-passin' his dear old hand Over my cheek so lovin' like, As tho' he could onderstand Jest how my heart was a-throbbin', By old-time memories stirred, And he had to do all the talkin', For I could n't speak a word. •' Hannah, old woman," he says to me, " Thro' clouds and sunny weather You and I, my dear old wife, Have been growin' old together. Growin' old together, dear heart. Ay, spared to comfort each other. And tho' our children are all asleep, We still are father and mother GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 6 J " To sons who never will break our hearts With goin' their wilful ways (Like that there boy of the Deacon's And the son of the Widder Hays). We're nearin' the harbor, ain't we, wife? And the children will ferry us o'er The dark, deep river that we must cross To get to the happy shore. " 'T would be hard to bear now, would n't it, wife, If one of us had to live Without the comfort and lovin' care The other is ready to give. If one of us slept with the children, — Wal, there ! the dear Lord knows That it will come 'uiost too hard on one Arter the other goes ! 68 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. " So he keeps us trudgin' together, dear, Along on the way, and I Am nowise afeard he 11 forget us Till it comes our turn to die. Don't grieve no more o'er the things you sold, We needed the cash, I know. And I guess, old woman, that you were wise Decidin' to let 'em go." " Oh husband ! " I said, a-dryin' my tears, " I wish there had n't a mite Of the dear old stuff gone outer the house. I 'd orive a deal for a sio^ht Of that plain old table ! oh my ! I 'm sure I must have been nigh possest, To have spared that table and that there bed ! I 'm full of grief and onrest GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 69 " With hankerin' arter them all aQ^en ! The empty places, you see, Are, oh ! so empty, dear Asa, They look so lonely to me ! Wal, there 's the money a-lyin' Atop of the kitchen shelf ; Do take it out of my sight, my dear, For I'm e'enamost sick of myself!" So, arter that a week went by Quiet and peaceful, and we Were gettin' used to the spaces Where the old truck used to be. I had my Sunday bunnit. And a harnsome new green shawl, And Asa had the promise Of the Deacon's cow in the fall. 70 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. And then one day the Deacon driv Along beside our gate, And hollered, " Hannah Spriggins ! Be ye there ? Wal, I can't wait, So be spry, for here 's a letter. And I reckon it comes from York ; I thought I 'd bring it along this way, But I hain't no time to talk." GRANDMA 'S A TTIC TREASURES. I finished my work in the kitchen, A-wonderin', as you may guess, Whoever on airth could have writ to me. And there, I 'm free to confess I felt that nervous and flustered That I got in a presperation, And thouQ-ht of a hundred worriments That had n't got no foundation. 71 But I could n't feel ready to open it, For somehow I did n't keer To read the letter jest then, you see, When father was n't near. So I finished a-rollin' my dough out, And settin' my bread to bake. And I tried to forget the letter In a pie I had to make. 72 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Wal, when we opened the letter, And read it keerful thro', We both of us looked at each other, — I laughed, and Asa did, too. Then right in the midst of our laughin' What did I do but cry? While Asa, dear heart, I heard him A-heavin' a sort of sigh. For what do you think ! My grandchild Had come from foreign parts With some of her fine relations, And the yearnin' prayer in the hearts Of Asa and me, it seemed as tho' The Lord was willin' at last To grant, and " grandma and grandpa's " love Was growin' sudden and fast. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 73 The child expressed a desire to see Her mothers early home. " Would grandma and grandpa," she wondered, " Be willin' to let her come To the dear old farm for two or three days To get acquainted, before Her uncle would have to take her back To the distant English shore ? " 74 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Wal, when she came, law! dearie, We could scarce believe our eyes ! It did n't seem as if Polly's child Could have grown to sech a size ! A winsome lassie of sixteen year, With her mother's bonny face. And carryin', too, in all her ways, Her mother's innocent grace. I rubbed my specs till they shone so clear I could n't make no mistake ; Then I took her face between my hands, And my heart was fit to break With lookin' into the soft blue eyes That were my dead Polly's own. And hearin' my darter's voice agen In my grandchild's merry tone. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 75 And father, he kissed her agen and agen, Tho' he could n't find words to speak ; But he laid his wrinkled face, my dear, Agen her rosy young cheek. " She 's like her mother, dear wife," he said, " The child who played at our side In the years agone, afore ever she dreamed Of bein' a rich man's bride." 76 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. How long did she stay ? Not long, oh no, For her folks they had to go 'Way back to their own fine home agen In foreign parts ; and so There came to the poor old farm at last A lonely, sorrowful day When the child we loved gave her last sweet kiss, And turned from our home away. And arter that a couple of years Went pleasant and peaceful by. And Asa and me, we jogged along Under a shiny sky. And there warn't no tribulations Nor trials, dearie, you see, A-tarnin' up, as there had been once, A-botherin' Asa and me. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 7/ But durin' then my grandchild, She married a man; and then She said good-by to EngUsh shores And came to York agen. And, my! she Hved so fash'nable, And grew so fine and grand, I never could screw up courage — You '11 easily onderstand — To go and stay to her house. As many a time she sent An invite pressin' and hearty. But I 'd 'a' been glad to went If I hadn't 'a' had a feelin' That a plain old wrinkled creetur With nothin' at all to brag on, Either in form or featur, 78 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. Would sorter be out of place Among things so harnsome and new. And there was father, my poor old man ! He 'd miss me sadly, I knew. But then, I hankered to see her, My Polly's motherless darter; And, wal, I finally said I 'd go, 'Cause Asa, he said I oughter. So I put my duds in the old hair trunk, And airly one pleasant day Asa, he hitched up old Dobbin, And together we driv away To the rail-keer station. Oh, massy sakes ! How I did feel, my dear. At partin' with Asa, for he and me 'd Kept close for nigh fifty year. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 79 And now I was goin' to leave him ! Wal, there, as I set at his side, I 'm free to confess, right straight in the road I presently up and cried. But then old Miss Higgins had promised To look a bit arter my man. And, "Asa, my dear," said I, "you know I '11 come back as soon as I can ! " 8o GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. So at last I got into the steam-keer, And Asa, he called to me : " Good-by, old woman, take keer of yourself, Hannah, dear heart ! " called he. And then there came a rushin' noise, And my head felt dizzy and queer. And thinks I to myself, " I 'd give a sight If I only ivas nt here ! " Wal, I got to my grandchild's house at last; And, sakes ! I was 'most beat To see sech elegant carpits Lyin' round under folks' feet ! And me a-walkin' onto 'em as if They could n't be spiled, my dear. And, law ! if you '11 believe me, child, I did n't see one cheer GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 8i That I really darst to set down in, For somehow it peared as tho' They was powerful weak and brittle, Not a bit like mine, you know. And there were a sifrht of fio-orers On marble stools and sich. And a heap of confusin' gimcracks, — I did n't know which from which. 82 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. And the times I bumped my poor old head Agen a big lookin'-glass, When I see a room where I wanted to go, A-tryin\ you see, to pass Right into it! for how could I tell 'T was only a glass ? and, law ! I never see sech deceivin' things In my born days afore ! But arter I 'd been a-visitin' there For nigh on a week, one day I was kinder wanderin' round the house In a sort of homesick way. When I see my darter in her boodoor. And she said to me, " Come in ! " So I went and set on the sofy. Wal, there ! I can't begin GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 83 To tell the half of the furniture That was fillin' the place! Thinks I, " It s wuth a creetur's life to move, And I 'm sure I dassent try ! " So I went to knittin' on Asa's sock (It was in my pocket, you know ; I allers carry my knittin'-work Wherever I chance to go), And Polly, she set a-readin', And we was as quiet as mice. When all on a sudden I see a thing That riz me up in a trice. It was only a little old table, All polished and shinin' ; but law ! It looked amazin' like that I 'd sold To the men so long afore. 84 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. " Polly," says I, " ain't that there thing A little bit out of place In this here fine house of yours?" And then She laughed right out in my face. " That table, you mean ? why, grandma, That 's as old as the hills, you know ! " Says I, a-rubbin' my spectacles, Says I, " Wal, yes, that 's so, " For I had one amazin' like it, And a lot more rubbidge, I sold To a couple of crazy lunatics Who wanted 'em 'cause they was old. And you would n't believe two human souls Would have actually paid me money For cheers and tables and real old things ; Now, Polly, was n't it funny ! GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 85 " But they lugged 'em away, and it 'peared to me I missed 'em a sight. It 's queer How that there table should make me think Of mine. But, Polly, my dear. If I was yo7i, when my fine friends call I 'd be 'shamed to have 'em see A thing so out of fashion ; it spiles Your room, it appears to me!" i With that I put my spectacles on To take a good look at the thing, GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. A-standin' right out conspicuous With its drawers, and each brass ring A-shinin' as bright as gold, my dear, A-shinin' as bright as gold, And lookin' as chipper and sassy As tho' 'twarn't powerful old. And there set Polly a-laughin'; But then, who keered, my dear? Altho' she was thinkin' 'most likely That grandmas was mighty queer. For I suddenly did diskiver, By a sartain familiar sign, That that there table in Polly's room Had long ago stood in mine. It was jest my own dear table. The one I had grieved for so long; GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 87 And, dearie, the homesick feeliii' Grew suddenly wonderful strong. And I jest set down to that table And cried the least little mite, For them old brass rings that my babies had clutched Were good to my achin' sight. Wal arter Polly stopped laughin' She up and told me, dear, Some funny things, I can teU you, I never expected to hear. For she said there 'd been a powerful rage In New York town, you know. For things folks called antik and sech. And "old as the hills," and so 88 GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. The men who came pryin' to my house, A-meddlin' with things, were expectin' To find big bargains to bring to York, For the store that sent 'em collectin'. And I 'm free to confess I was riled a mite To think they 'd only paid me, For all they had took, fifty dollars, And my grandchild had paid, you see, For that there table alone, she said. Fifty dollars or more ! Wal, there ! I was e'enamost beat, my dear. For in all my life afore I had never heard tell of sech cheatin' men ; My Asa warn't no sech kind ! And a cheatin', deceivin' creetur, child, Warn't never to my mind. GRANDMA'S ATTIC TREASURES. 89 But the table, the dear old table ! Oh, dearie, you surely know How glad I was to get it again In my grandchild's house ; and so I writ to father that very night. And I told him, " Asa," says I, " Our Polly, she says ;/^zty-fashioned things Are all a-goin' by. " A^