GRANDMAMA'S STORY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2850, 18 October 1890, Page 4

GRANDMAMA'S STORY.

A TRUE TALE OF THE EARLY DAYS. (Bv a Waikato Lady). CHAPTER I.—The Last Christmas, in Old England. " You have, acked me, my dear children, to tell you a story about Christmas, do you mean in England or here ?" "Both dear grandmama," said a chorus of little voices. They were standing round an old lady, with snowy hair, who sat in a gardon chair, under a lovely magnolia troe, in a shady garden on the banks of the Waipa.

The flowers bloomed all around them and the birds sang, the grasp lawn where they sat, sloped down to the river, which flowed placidly on, speaking of peace and repose. One little maiden with long golden hair was perched on the old lady's knee. The others clustered round, eager for grandmama's tale. " Well, my dears, I will tell you first about Christmas at home, the last I spent there. All the family gathered together to wish us goodbye, on our leaving England in 1853! Your papa at that time was a little baby-of--two months old,

your grandpapa was twenty-one, and myself nineteen, so we were . like boy and girl, and could enjoy a merry Christmas as well as the children.

" There were about ten of your aunts and uncles, and I don't know how many children. Such a party. The morning was bright, cold and frosty. The snow lay thick on the ground. My father proposed that we should all go into the Kensington Gardens and have a game at snowball, ' The last you will have in old England.' "No sooner said than done. With warm fur capee and thick boots. Oh ! such a game we had. We made snowballs and threw them at each other, old and young. The children laughed and screamed. " We were soon hot enough, and had rosy cheeks, not like this pale little blossom," said the old lady, stroking the cheeks of one of her listeners. " After an hour or so of good fun, we all trooped back again, tired and hungry. The folding doors were thrown open, and the long table spread, with such a dinner. Turkeys, roast beef, and such a pudding, all on fire, with holly berries in the centre."

" Ob, but grandmama," said Ida, " There were no flowers to put on the table, and you know that a table looks nothing without flowers." " You are right my dear, bub I often think we should keep our Christmas in the winter, if we want to enjoy it, as they do at home." "Go on grandmama," said a chorus of voices. " What did {you do after dinner ?"

'• Well my dears we cracked nuts and drank wine, all the gifts which my dear sisters and brothers had brought us were put on the table. How kind they were, such useful and pretty things for baby and I, and my husband were not forgotten.

" We were to leave them the next day, for our vessel, so they stayed with us as long as possible, and we all shed a good many tears at parting. But I must not sadden you, bo we will pass over that," said the old lady, as she wiped some moisture off her spectacles. "On the following day, my father drovo down with us, to see us off. Our luggage was all on board. I don't think, my dears, I ever realized what it was to leave my parents, until they were gone, and tho dock gates locked. Then all my sorrow came over me, and I felt heartbroken. All my dear husband's attempts to comfort me, were of no avail, and when I looked at the box-cabin we wore to sleep in, for we were aecond-class passengers, I broke down altogether."

" But grandiiianm," said Charlie, " you say that it is only babies that cry, so you must have been one."

" Isut remember, Charlie, I was leaving my father and mother, perhaps never to see them again."