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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
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 Tine Library of Congress 
 
 http://www.arGhive.org/details/wooingofgrandmot01wood 
 
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TH E 
 
 Wooing of Grandmother4jrey 
 
 BY 
 
 KATE TANNATT WOODS 
 
 lllcai)tFated 
 
 BOSTON 
 LEE AND SHE PARI) PUBLISHERS 
 
 N K W YORK 
 
 CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM 
 
 1890 
 
 \S:> •% 
 
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Copyright, 1S89 
 By lee and SHEPARD 
 
 The Wooing of Grandmother Grey 
 
 PRESS or 
 
 KcicktatU anU (Cf)urrf)iU 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 
THE WOOING OF GRANDMOTHER GREY 
 
 It was Christmas Eve, and the stockings hung 
 
 In varied hues before the fire. 
 
 And grandmother's Ivettle swung and sung. 
 
 As tlte sparlvs flew higii and tlie smoke rose liiglier. 
 
"I was thinkin", Jabez," said Grandmother Grey, 
 " How it all was so long ago, 
 When you lived with your father miles away, 
 And the ground was covered with heaps of snow. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " Then Christmas was very different, you know 
 I was young, and fair to see, 
 And, Jabez, you didn't mind rain or snow 
 When you came a-courtin' me. 
 
 11 
 
''One night, kiud sakes, I remember it well, — 
 It was on a Christmas Eve, — 
 You said '3-011 liad a story to tell,' 
 And I thought it make believe. 
 
 " You took from your pocket this little ring, 
 It was larger then a sight, 
 And you tried it on my finger, you know ; 
 Sliall I ever forget that night? 
 
 " Oh, I was proud as a girl could be ; 
 
 I had never a ring before. 
 
 And I wanted to cry and I wanted to laugh. 
 
 When Grausir opened the door. 
 
 13 
 
" I sot up straight as straight could he, 
 And pretended I'd dropped a stitch 
 In the okl Ijlue stockiu' that hiid on my knee, 
 And you gave your chair a hitch. 
 
 " Gransir he coughed a little, you know, 
 And my cheeks was red as fire, 
 And he said, as nat'ral as nat"ral could be, 
 'You hain't seen nothin" of Miah?' 
 
 17 
 
" And 3-011 said ' No ; ' but still I blushed, 
 And I 'most blowed out his light, — 
 A candle he held in his dear old hand ; 
 Oh, I shan't forget that night ! 
 
 19 
 
•'He went down cellar to fill Ids luuo-. 
 All striped with yellow and blue, 
 And I said, to cover my blushes up, 
 ' Hold on ; I'll go down too ! ' 
 
 '•We filled the mug with cider old. 
 And my apron with apples red, 
 For you and I to eat upstairs. 
 When the old folks went to bed. 
 
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Well, the old folks went ; and you and I 
 
 tlieie by the open fire, 
 id I wanted to sorter laugh and cry 
 When ^ou lutdied your chair up nigher. 
 
 '<y 
 
 "We ate our apples and popped our corn, "~~^--s«;»5 
 
 And talked of the singin'-school, ,:5^»^ 
 
 And I hardly knew a Avord I said, - ^:^-'^r 
 
 And acted just like a fool. 
 
 23 
 
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"And then when yoii kindly tuinv 
 
 To see if the ring was right. 
 
 You kissed it, Jabez, — you know j^ou did: 
 
 Ah, I can't forget that night I 
 
 " I trembled so, and my heart it thumped 
 Like it wanted to get away, 
 And you looked in my eyes so kind and nice, 
 And said, 'Would I name the day?' 
 

4 
 
 *•' Like a goose I said, "It is Cliristmas Eve, 
 And it kind of feels like snow ; 
 Von mnst -wrap yonr tippet np warm and tiglit 
 P>efore yon have to go.' 
 
 " ' I know it is Christmas Eve,' says you, 
 As prond as prond eoidd l)e ; 
 ' But ril stay here, liovvever you Inn.t, 
 Till you promise to marry me.' 
 
 29 
 
/| " I was scared worse than ever, but up I spoke : 
 I 'I wish I'd a present for you,' 
 I And you was so pert I thought I would choke ; 
 I You said, 'I must give you two.' 
 
 I '"And one,' — -oh, you had such a masterful way,— | 
 I ' One was a kiss,' you said, %. 
 
 1 ' And the other, to name our weddin' day, |; 
 
 I Then you would go home to bed.' f 
 
 31 
 
" It was awful tryin', — you see I was shy ; 
 I could kiss my old dad, and the boys, 
 But you, I couldn't no ways in the world ; 
 Besides, it might make a noise. 
 
 " My little heart fluttered and danced up and down, 
 Like a puddin" in mother's old pot, 
 And my hands trembled awful, I couldn't look up. 
 And my cheeks was just blazin' lior. 
 
 " ' Well,' says you, ' Jerusha, if that is your way, 
 I'll take what you'll not give ; ' 
 And you kissed me over and over again ; 
 You did, as sure as you live. 
 
 " It is years ago, and this old ring is worn ; 
 Of trouble, Ave've seen a sight ; 
 But, Jabez, somehow I'm always young 
 When I sit and think of that niglit. 
 
 33 
 
" It is kind ill the children to give us this room, 
 With a few of our dear ohl things, 
 And the open fire, and the andirons too, 
 And the kettle, that always sings. 
 
 " I wanted their stockin's all hung up here ; 
 Their ])resents, so rich and fine. 
 Won't gladden their little hearts as nmcli 
 As this old ring gladdened mine. 
 
 33 
 

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 " We will hear their shouts in the early morn, 
 Long, long before it is light ; 
 But, Jabez, we must not mind, you know: 
 We will both remember that nio-ht." 
 
 37 
 
New Year's morning came, and Grandmother Grey 
 Was silent, and pale, and cold; 
 Jnst as the old year faded away, 
 The years of her life were told. 
 
 Tlie children were there, with tears in their eyes ; 
 The parents were whispering low, 
 "INIay our hearts be as young and pure as hers, 
 When we are called to p-o." 
 
 On one wrinkled hand was the old, old rino-. 
 Thin, worn, and dull to the sight ; 
 On the wrinkled face was a smile of peace : 
 She began a New Year tliat night. 
 
 39 
 
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