When Grandmamma Was New The Story of a Virginia Childhood   By: Marion Harland (1830-1922)

"'I like, best of all, to hear about what happened when Grandmamma was new,' said Fritz." See page 7. ]

When Grandmamma Was New

THE STORY OF A VIRGINIA CHILDHOOD

By Marion Harland

ILLUSTRATED

BOSTON LOTHROP PUBLISHING COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY LOTHROP PUBLISHING COMPANY.

THIRD THOUSAND

Norwood Press J. S. Cushing & Co. Berwick & Smith Norwood Mass. U.S.A.

TO

HORACE AND ERIC FRITZ, TERHUNE, AND STERLING

This Story

FIRST TOLD TO THEM OVER THE LIBRARY FIRE IN AUTUMN AND WINTER EVENINGS IS MOST LOVINGLY DEDICATED

SUNNYBANK, POMPTON, N.J.

Explanatory

It was Fritz who said it first, and when he was three years younger than he is now.

Somebody asked him what sort of stories he liked best. No doubt he ought to have said "Bible Stories," such as his mother tells on Sunday afternoons, and which he does love dearly. But he spoke out what he really thought and felt at the time of asking, and said, "I like, best of all, to hear about what happened when Grandmamma was New."

The phrase tickled my fancy, and, thenceforward, I would have no other title for the sight draughts made by the boys upon my bank of memory. When these "vouchers" grew into a volume, no name would serve my turn except the mot de famille set in circulation by the quaint five year old.

My laddies are well trained. (Good children run in the family.) I record, pridefully, that the sunny head of the least of the band has never drooped drowsily while the tale went on, and that his chirp was distinct in the general plea for, "More to morrow night?" with which the conclave brought up at the call to prayers and to pillows. This has not so far flattered me out of my sober senses as to beget a hope that my reminiscences will find such loving interest and attention so rapt in the larger audience outlying our doors. Yet I dare believe that other grandparents will read and other children will listen to the real happenings of the Long Time Ago WHEN THIS GRANDMAMMA WAS NEW.

MARION HARLAND.

SUNNYBANK, May, 1899.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Tragedy of Rozillah 11

II. A Prize Fight and a Race 28

III. Van Diemen's Land 45

IV. Oiled Calico 63

V. What was done with Musidora 78

VI. The Haunted Room 97

VII. Just for Fun 107

VIII. My First Lie, and what came of it 124

IX. My Pets 144

X. Circumstantial Evidence 164

XI. Frankenstein 182

XII. My Prize Beet 198

XIII. Two Adventures 215

XIV. Miss Nancy's Nerves 232

XV. "Side blades" and Water melons 246

XVI. Old Madam Leigh 257

XVII. Out into the World 282

When Grandmamma Was New

[Illustration]

Chapter I

The Tragedy of Rozillah

"Just look at her now, Molly! Isn't she the sweetest thing you ever saw?"

Molly, that is, Myself, sitting on the door step, elbows on knees and shoulders hunched sullenly up to my ears, did not budge or speak.