GRANDMOTHER 267

“For a long time I did not understand it at all. I
thought that, because grandmothers often were feeble and
old-fashioned, they could never really feel as we children
do; that they needed no particular notice or enjoyment,
for it was their nature to sit in rocking-chairs and knit.
They seemed quite different from the rest of the world,
and not to be especially thought about; that is, by girls
who were as full of merry plans as we were.

“ Grandmother had lived with us of late years, as father
is her only son. We had a vague idea that she helped
Mother mend the clothes, and knitted Father’s woolen
stockings, besides some pairs for our church society. We
were supposed to love her, of course, and we were never
openly rude, for indeed we had been taught to be polite to
ul aged persons. As for Grandmother, she was one of
those peaceful souls who never make any trouble, but just
go on in their own way so quietly that you hardly know
they are in the house. Mother sat with her sometimes,
but we girls, in our gay, busy pursuits, rarely thought of
such a thing. She seemed to have no part in our existence.

“Tt went on so for some time, till one day I happened at
sundown to go into the sitting-room, and there sat Grand-
mother, alone. She had fallen asleep in her chair by the
window. The sun was just sinking out of sight, casting a
ruddy glow of light into the room, and in this glow I saw
Grandmother

 

saw her really for the first time in my life !

“She had been reading her Bible, and then, as if there
had been no need of reading more, since its treasure al-
ready lay shining in her soul, she had turned the book
over upon her lap and leaned back to enjoy the evening.