Volume 10 — HIS GRANDMOTHER'S WAY

BY FRANK L. STANTON

Tell you, gran'mother's a queer one, shore— Makes your heart go pitty-pat! If the wind just happens to open a door, She'll say there's "a sign" in that! An' if no one ain't in a rockin'-chair An' it rocks itself, she'll say: "Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Oh, my! I'm afeared 'at somebody is goin' to die!" An' she makes me cry— She makes me cry! Once wuz a owl 'at happened to light On our tall chimney-top, An' screamed an' screamed in the dead o' night, An' nuthin' could make it stop! An' gran'ma—she uncovered her head An' almos' frightened me out of the bed; "Oh, dear; Oh, my! I'm certain 'at some one is goin' to die!" An' she made me cry— She made me cry! Just let a cow lean over the gate An' bellow, an' gran'ma—she Will say her prayers, if it's soon or late, An' shake her finger at me! An' then, an' then you'll hear her say: "It's a sign w'en the cattle act that way! Oh, dear! Oh, my! I'm certain 'at somebody's goin' to die!" Oh, she makes me cry— She makes me cry! Skeeriest person you ever seen! Always a-huntin' fer "signs"; Says it's "spirits" 'at's good, or mean, If the wind jest shakes the vines! I always feel skeery w'en gran'ma's aroun'— An' think 'at I see things, an' jump at each soun': "Oh, dear! Oh, my! I'm certain 'at somebody's goin' to die!" Oh, she makes me cry— She makes me cry!