678 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



'I hardly think it's just righl," began grandma. "My dear, do you 

 suppose they would put the blue ribbon on yours if I asked them to?" 



"Oh, no! They couldn't do that, for your flowers are really very 

 much finer than mine, and I am truly glad you got first premium. Why 

 I have blue ribbons on ever so many things over in the other building." 



"Mother," here broke in grandpa, "mebbe that young lady would 

 come and eat dinner with us, and that would help square things," with a 

 man's appreciation of a dinner. 



"If you only would," said grandma, "but I don't even know what to 

 call you." 



"My name is Elizabeth Graham," readily responded the lady. 



"Elizabeth Graham," excitedly repeated grandma. "Then you are my 

 son Frank's sweetheart, and you are not ashamed of country folks?" 



With a bewildered look the girl said, "I don't quite understand, but I 

 am certainly Frank's sweetheart, and if you are his mother I shall be so 

 happy, for I have been afraid to meet her, fearing I was not altogether 

 worthy of her noble son." with the humility of a deep love, "but now, I 

 love you already." 



"So do I you, my dear, and I have been wanting you for my daughter 

 ever since you first smiled at me." 



Taking the hand of the girl in his, grandpa said, "You know, mother, 

 I promised Frank to kiss his girl for him if I met her at the fair, but I 

 never thought I would want to do it for myself," and despite the crowd 

 grandpa kept his promise and always contended that though he didn't get 

 any blue ribbons, he got something far better, and no doubt he was right. 



