Tart as Vinegar, sweet as cider-that is Grandma. Despite having several Score blood relations, she includes everyone on the block in her list of  acquired  relations

Campbell, Doris

English

Digital Commons @ Butler University

My Great-Grandmother . . .A few years back if you could bychance have visited a certain little townin Texas and walked a mile north of thetown, you might have heard the Soundof song coming across to you from whatseemed to be the middle of a big wood.Then, if you had cared to follow thesong, you would have come into a clear-ing. In the middle of the clearing sat ahouse, grayed by the weather and Sur-rounded by a small plot of land, abouttwenty acres, neatly divided into yard,garden, small orchard, cow and horse lot,pasture, and field.On entering the gate you might havestood for a minute and let your eyeswander across the field; and there youwould have discovered the object of yourinquiry, a little, old, dark brown Womanwho looked someWhere near sixty yearsLILLA ADAMSof age and was, in reality, seventy. Therewould have been leaves or small branchesstuck under the battered old straw hatshe wore to shade her face from the sun.Her long dress would have been rolledup around her waist and held in placewith a string. She would have beenstockingless, with brogans on her pigeon-toed feet. In her mouth she would haveheld a small elm twig, chewed at one endfor the purpose of dipping snuff. Some-he wouldwhere along the turn, now, s. b . t the snuffreach mto her pocket, rmg oubox, shiny from use, and take that soul-satisfying dip.By this time you would be able tocatch the words of the song which had. "Low chillun,attracted your attention . . . ,low is da wav=-Da way to git to hebenis by faith an' humble prayer."• • • Grandma 0' MineDORIS CAMPBELLTart as Vinegar, sweet as cider-thatis Grandma. Despite having several Scoreblood relations, she includes everyone onthe block in her list of "acquired"lelations.Of sturdy Tennesseean stock, Grand_ma still Clings to the old custom of a"dram" before breakfast. To any Hoosiera "dram" means the same as a "swig"or a "snifter." Whatever it may be called,it has a pleasing effect on Grandma,sharpening her wit and appetite and mel-lowing her disposition.Grandma has always been intriguedby "bargains," a fact which probablyaccounts for her purchase several yearsago, for only fifty cents, of a pair ofhorn-rimmed spectacles which magnifyobjects to twice their actual size. Thoseglasses have earned their keep throughoutthe years, and there is little possibility(14)that anything but death will part themand their owner.Old and young alike are on an evenplane where my grandmother is con-cerned; she has solved the whole problemby calling everybody "kid." Of late,however, Grandma has felt she is notworth much to anyone, and her "Hi, Kid,"comes out with less vehemence. Thisfeeling of uselessness has begun to witherher spirit.Her faith holds no stock in doctors,or any phase of the medical profession,but Grandma has occasionally betrayedthis faith. To make amends, however, fora week before and after each visit to adoctor, she prays fervently for forgive-ness. I feel sure the doors of Heavenwill not close against her, for who couldresist so simple a plea?There is a bit of the show-off inGrandma, and she is not reluctant toentertain any and all with her versions ofthe various dance steps. She also bragsabout the fine husbands she has checkedoff her list, and she considers the man-power situation of today a source of greatamusement. Like many of the oldergeneration, she also has tales of hair-raising adventure to which all who knowher listen with amused scepticism.Grandma has never grown away fromthe colorful language of Tennessee, andwe hope she never will. She is like abreath of autumn in the summer, then ina moment she is like a whisper of spring,all gentleness and kindness; she is a blendof all races, like America, and, likeAmerica, she has great memories tocherish.(15)

...Grandma O\u27 Mine

https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1354&amp;context=manuscripts

...Grandma O\u27 Mine

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