"GRAN"

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3504, 11 August 1934, Page 10

"GRAN"

HOW WE MISS HER! (Contributed.) All who knew Gran loved her. In a wonderful way she understood the disappointments and yearnings of other people; to her they turned ao if by instinct Big troubles were easier to bear, and petty annoyances vanished as if by magic when we brought them to Gran. Gentle and unassuming, it was not her way to say much; she was one of those restful souls who are, alas, so rare in these days of noise and nerves. She just understood. Gran had known great hardship and suffering, but her brave soul had triumphed; she had come through the cleansing fires with faith still re solute, with a big understanding sympathy and an intense human love for all suffering things. Home does not seem quite the same since she left us. We miss her most in the quiet hours of evening. Then was our time for chat with Gran. Our resting time, when the day's work was done, and the house was stilled of little prattling tongues, and the busy little feet that had danced all day long were snugly tucked in bed. Through misty, unashamed eyes I seem to see her now, seated in her old padded rocking chair, her sweet face illuminated by the beauty of the thoughts within—her, knitting needles flashing swiftly in the light. Sometimes across her face would come a wistful look, and I knew that memory was busy—the years had rolled back, and Gran was living in the past, when her own boyH and girls made big claims on her mother love, when little broken hearts were brought to be mended, and childish squables set right—and John, her big, happy, beloved John, was firm of step and full of vigour. Poor dear Gran! Her eyes would grow very tender and her lips tremulous as she thought of John. It seemed hard that death should part them. They had grown old together, and had found eventide very sweet. We cannot bear to think of that sad time, but we knew that Gran drew more and more on her inner resources and her eyes were more often lifted to the hills from whence came her help, and if it could be possible she gave out more of love and cheer. Gram too, has gone, but it seems as if her gentle spirit still lingers, and through memory her ministry of love and helpfulnes will go on while life shall last.