Grandma Elsie

“ Grandma Elsie.
CHAPTER VI. "We have had a nice day—a very nice one, I think," remarked Elsie Raymond, as they sat on the deck of the Dolphin pursuing their homeward way.
"Where are you going to take us to-morrow, papa?"
"That is a question for the majority of the older people to decide," replied the captain, softly stroking her curls—for she was seated upon his knee—and smiling down affectionately into her eyes.
"That means grandma and mamma, and uncle and aunt, I suppose," said the little girl, looking round inquiringly upon them. "Please, dear, good folks, won't you all say what you want?" ”

“ Elsie accepted the invitation, remarking gayly, "I have no housekeeping cares to prevent me. I'm just a daughter at home in her father's house," giving him a loving look and smile, "as I used to be in the glad, free days of my girlhood."
The captain came down with Gracie in his arms, hers about his neck, her little pale face on his shoulder. She looked thin and weak, but very happy.
Grandma Elsie and Mamma Vi greeted her with loving inquiries and tender kisses.
"Do you feel strong enough for the drive, dear?" asked the former.
"Yes, ma'am; with papa to hold me in his strong arms." ”

“ Lulu's first thought on awaking the next morning was of dear Grandma Elsie. "I wonder," she said to herself, "if papa has not been asking news of her through the telephone; oh, I hope she is getting well!"
Hurrying through the duties of the toilet, she was ready to run to meet her father when presently she heard his steps in the hall without.
"Good-morning, papa," she cried. "Oh, have you heard from Ion how Grandma Elsie passed the night?"
"Yes," he said, bending down to give her a good-morning kiss, "she passed a very comfortable night; is thought to be doing as well as possible. ”

“ Wasn't Elsie dere den? didn't Dod make Elsie up in heaven?"
"No, darling, you were never there, but if you love Jesus he will take you there some day."
"Mamma, how nicely you answer or parry her questions," said Violet. "As her father says, she can ask some that a very wise man could not answer."
"Yes, she has an inquiring mind, and I would not discourage her desire to learn by asking questions," Grandma Elsie said, adding with a smile, "I can remember that her mother used to ask me some very puzzling ones twenty years ago." ”

“ The breakfast-bell rang at that moment; and grandma Elsie, rising, took Lulu's hand, saying, "Come, my dear, you need not shrink from joining us at the table: no one will be disposed to treat you unkindly."
As she spoke, the door opened, and Capt. Raymond and Violet came in. They exchanged morning greetings with their mother; while Lulu, with eyes cast down, and cheeks aflame, half shrank behind her, ashamed and afraid to meet Violet's gaze. ”

“ I am strongly in hopes, however, that when they come to know you and all the rest of my dear relatives here, they will esteem it a delight to live in your midst."
"And I don't believe they can help it," said Grace. "I am sure everybody who knows Grandma Elsie, mamma, and papa—not to mention all the other dear people—loves them and their pleasant society."
"In all of which I am sure you are quite right, Gracie," said Evelyn.
"I, too," said Lulu. "But now let us hear the plans for the wedding."
"They are yet to be made," laughed Rosie.
"You will want a grand one?" ”

“ Oh, I am glad that we may ask our kind heavenly Father for everything we want! Poor Mamma Vi! how her heart must ache! and is she going to stay on at Ion now, papa?"
"Yes; certainly till her mother is out of danger or forever done with sin and suffering. Gracie and our two little ones will stay too; Gracie amusing the others and keeping them in the grounds, or a part of the house so distant from Grandma Elsie's room that their noise will not disturb her." ”

“ I should, indeed; for my sins against God have been far greater, and more heinous, than yours against me or mine."
"But you were always such a good child when you were a little girl, and
I am such a bad one."
"No, my dear; that is quite a mistake; I was not always good as a child, and I am very far from being perfect as a woman."
"You seem so to me, grandma Elsie: I never know of your doing and saying any thing the least bit wrong." ”

“ Lulu sat with eyes cast down and cheeks hotly flushing, her countenance expressing anger and stubborn resolve.
Elsie sighed involuntarily.
"Lulu, my dear child," she said, "do not try this contest with my father. I warn you that to do so will only bring you trouble and sorrow; he is a most determined man, and because he feels that he has right on his side in this thing, you will find him unconquerable."
"I think that is what he will find me, Grandma Elsie," replied the determinately self-willed little girl. ”

“ Violet's face flushed with pleasure. "My dear Lulu, I hope you and little Else are going to be very fond of each other," she said.
"I hope so, Mamma Vi," Lulu answered, pleasantly; then, in a sudden fit of penitence, added, "but I'm afraid she'll never learn any good from the example of her oldest sister."
"My dear child, resolve that she shall," said Grandma Elsie, standing by; "you cannot avoid having a good deal of influence over her as she grows older, and do not forget that you will have to give an account for the use you make of it." ”

“ She was in high good-humor, having enjoyed her drive extremely.
"Mamma Vi," she exclaimed, "we've had a splendid time! It's just delightful to be taken out by Grandma Elsie."
"Yes; I have always found it so," said Violet. "And how has your papa's baby girl enjoyed herself?" drawing Gracie toward her, as Tom set her down, and taking off her hat.
"Oh, ever so much! Mamma how beautiful you look! I wish papa was here to see you."
"That's just what I was thinking," said Lulu. "You are beautiful, Mamma Vi, and then you always wear such very pretty and becoming things." ”

“ She is and has always been such a dear, kind mother to me."
"Yes, she is certainly one of the dearest and sweetest of women," responded Lucilla heartily; "but there are so many Elsies that it really seems a little confusing. I believe I should rather like to have one myself if that were not the case," she added laughingly, "for I do dearly love Grandma Elsie, as I have been used to calling her. My, what a mixed-up set we are becoming! For, as you know, she is mother now to my sister Grace." ”

“ A flash of joy illumined Lulu's face at this new testimony to her father's love for her, but passed away as suddenly as it came.
"I do feel punished in hearing that you were all so troubled about me, Grandma Elsie," she said, "and I mean to be very, very careful not to cause such anxiety again. Please tell Mamma Vi I am sorry to have given her pain; but she shouldn't care anything about such a naughty girl."
"That, my child, she cannot help," Elsie said; "she loves your father far too well not to love you for his sake." ”

“ I shouldn’t like to hurt Grandma Elsie’s feelings, or Mamma Vi’s or even Rosie’s own, by leaving her out.”
“I am rejoiced to hear you say that; I trust there is little or no malice in your nature,” he said, repeating his caresses.
“Papa, I think Lu’s very good ’cept her temper,” said Grace, putting an arm affectionately round her sister’s neck.
“No,” said Lulu, “I’m willful, too; I’ve disobeyed papa more than once because I liked my own way best; and I’m bad other ways, sometimes. ”

“ Most of the young people, especially those of them who had been attendants of the bride and groom, gathered about Grandma Elsie—for they all loved her, and everyone felt that she had particular need of some pleasant distraction of thought just at that time, to prevent her from dwelling upon the partial loss of her youngest daughter. ”

“ CHAPTER VIII.
"Captain, I fear we have been imposing sadly upon good nature in asking so much history of you in one evening," remarked Grandma Elsie; "and you have been extremely kind in complying with the request."
"It has been a pleasure to me, mother," he returned. "There is hardly a subject more interesting to me than the history of my dear native land, and it is my ardent desire to train and teach my children to be earnestly, intelligently patriotic."
"Including your pupils in the list, I presume, sir?" supplemented Rosie, with a saucy smile up into his face. ”

“ Lulu asked, with some little hesitation.
"No; she is my wife, not my child, and old enough to judge for herself."
"She has a great deal of beautiful jewelry," remarked Lulu with an involuntary sigh, "and Grandma Elsie has still more. Rosie asked her once to show it to us children, and she did. Oh she has just the loveliest rings and whole sets of jewelry—pins and ear-rings to match—and chains and bracelets! I'm sure they must be worth a great deal of money; Rosie said they were, and I'm sure Grandma Elsie is a real true Christian—a very, very good one and that Mamma Vi is too." ”

“ It sounds as if you were old, and you are not at all old."
"Well, dear child, you needn't mind. It won't make me a day older," laughed Violet.
"Nor me, although it would seem to make me a great-grandmother," added Grandma Elsie pleasantly.
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"While no one would suspect you from your looks of being even a grandmother," remarked the captain gallantly.
"No," said Dr. Percival; "I have seen many much younger women who looked a great deal older." ”

“ Grandma Elsie replied. "There is none in heaven; there all is peace and joy and love."
"Is it bad men that fight, grandma?"
"Not quite always; sometimes a good man has to fight to protect his wife and children, or other helpless ones, from being injured by a bad man. If a bad man were trying to hurt your mamma, or one of your sisters, it would be right for your papa to prevent him, even if he had to hurt him a great deal in doing so." ”

“ Grandma Elsie answered, with a smile and a loving look down into the wee face.
[50]
“Oh, yes, because Brother Max is her father and his name is Raymond,” said little Elsie, “and Sisters Lu and Grace and I are her aunts. Oh, I think it’s nice to have such a dear little niece!”
“Or cousin,” said Eric Leland. “I can’t be her uncle, but she’s my cousin, because her mother is.”
“Yes,” said Grandma Elsie, “so she is, and I hope you will be so kind to her that she cannot help loving you. Now you may all go out into the grounds and enjoy yourselves there ”

“ Death will be gain to her, but a sad loss to all of us."
Before he had finished Lulu's face was hidden on his shoulder and she was weeping bitterly.
"O papa," she sobbed, "I'm so, so sorry for her, dear, dear Grandma Elsie! Isn't she frightened almost to death?"
"No, daughter; she is very calm and peaceful, ready to live or die as God's will shall be; grieving only for those who love her so dearly and find it so difficult to be reconciled to the thought of losing her; her efforts are all to [175] comfort them. She has set her house in order and seems quite ready for either life or death. ”

“ At that everybody laughed, and Grandpa Dinsmore said:
“Very well, you can visit the monkeys, and the rest of us our relatives.”
Lily hung her head and blushed.
“I didn’t mean I cared more about the monkeys than about aunt and uncle and the cousins, for I don’t.”
“No, dear, we all understand that,” said Grandma Elsie soothingly; “the monkeys are not the principal attraction, but merely an additional one.”
“Yes, ma’am,” returned the child with a relieved sigh. “I don’t want anybody to think I don’t love Aunt Vi and uncle and the rest, because I do; but the monkeys are the funniest.” ”

“ Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, Grandma Elsie, Rosie, Walter, and—could Lulu believe her eyes—yes, there was Evelyn! It could be no one else; and with a cry of joy the two little girls ran into each other's arms. ”

“ These attended to, "Now, daughter," he said, "you may dress yourself nicely for a drive. I am going to take you and your little brother and sisters for a pretty long one. Then I will drop them at Ion, and you and I, after a call of a few minutes to hear how Grandma Elsie is, will drive home together."
"Oh, how pleasant that will be, papa! How good you always are to every one of us children!" she exclaimed, giving him an ardent kiss, then running away to do his bidding. ”

“ Well to change the subject, are you pleased with the prospect of spending the holidays at Ion?"
"Yes, papa; I think it will be lovely; almost as nice as having a party of our own, as we did last year."
"Possibly we may add that—a party here for a day or two—if Grandma Elsie does not use up all the holidays with hers," he said in a half jesting tone and with a pleasant laugh.
"O papa, do you really think we may?" she cried in delight. "Oh you are just the kindest father!" giving him a hug. ”

“ I was one of her bridesmaids, you remember, and should be sorry indeed to neglect her at this time."
"She shall not be forgotten, daughter," was Grandma Elsie's ready response; "we will shortly make out a list of those you wish to invite, that none may be forgotten or overlooked."
"Yes, mamma; if our list contains only relatives and very intimate friends we will be quite a large party, should all accept."
"Now about to-morrow's shopping," said Sydney. ”

“ But, Lulu, your wilfulness is a cause of great anxiety to me. I hardly know what to do with you. I am very loath to burden our kind friends—Grandpa Dinsmore and Grandma Elsie—with so rebellious and unmanageable a child, for it will be painful to them to be severe with you, and yet I see that you will compel them to it. ”

“ Violet and Lucilla came in together at that moment.
“I must have a look at my little niece,” said the latter.
“And I at my granddaughter,” added Violet.
“Oh, mamma, don’t say that,” exclaimed [58] Elsie. “You are too young for it; isn’t she, grandma?”
“She does look rather young to lay claim to that appellation,” Grandma Elsie returned, with an admiring smile up into her daughter’s beautiful and youthful face.
“Ah, but her own grandsire being my husband gives me something of a right in that direction,” laughed Violet. ”