The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-10-10
WE WANT A GRAVE.BOARD FOls
M "A,

A boy, not over IL years old, whose
pinched face betrayed hunger, and
whose clothing could scarcely be call
ed by the name, dropped into car
penter shop on Grand River Avenue
the other day, and after much hesita-
ton explained to the foreman: o'n
We want to get graye-board for
Ma. She died last winter, and the
graves are SO thick that we can't hard
ly find hers no more. We went up
last Sunday, and we came awful near
not finding it. We thought we'd git
a grave-board, so we wouldn't lose the
grave. When we thought we'd lost
it, Jack he cried, Bud she cried, and
my chin trembled SO L could hardly
talk
Where is your father P. asked the
carpenter. -.-a. -.fa ...et. ia Co.'S. .-
oh, he's home, but he never goes
up there with us, and we shan't tell
him about the board. l guess he hs-
ted ma, for he wasn't home when she
died, and he wouldn't buy no coffin
nor nothing. Sometimes when we
are sittin' on the door step talking
about her, and Jack and Bud are cry
ing, and I'm remembering how she
kissed us all afore she died, he says
we'd better quit that or we'll get
what's bad for US. But we sleep up
stairs, and we cry and talk in the
dark all we want to. How much will
the board bel
The carpenter selected something
fit for the purpose, and asked:
who will put it up at the grave p
well take it up on our cart, repli-
ed the boy, and 1 guess the grave
yard man will help US put it up.'
you want the name painted on,
don't yon2'
Yes sir, we want the board white,
and then We want you to paint on
that she was our ma, and that she was
forty-one years old, and that che died
the I'd of November, and that she's
gone to Heaven, and that she was one
of the best mothers ever was, and that
we are going to be good all our lives
and go up there where she is when
we die. How much will it cost sir P
How much have you g0t?'
WELL said the boy as he brought
out little calico bag and emptied its
contents on the bench, Bud drawed
the baby for the woman next door
and earned twenty cents Jack weed
ed in the garden and earned forty
cents and he found five more in the
road; run of errands and made kites
and fixed boys cayt and helped car
ry some apple into store,and l earn
ed sixty-five cents. All that makes a
hundred and thirty vc cents, sir, and
pa don't know we got it, cause we
kept in the ground under stone.'
The carpenter meant to be liberal,
but he said: 'ae' sfe
"A grave-board will cost at least
three dollars.' .- .a.- lari5srl
The lad looked from his little store
of metals to the carpenter and back,
realized how many weary weeks had
passed since the first penny was earn
ed and saved, and suddenly walled
out: .slt .,t......t.
'Then we can't never, never buy one
and mas grave will get lost
But he left the shop with tears of
gladness in his eyes, and when he re-
turned yesterday little Bud and Jack
were with him, and they had cart.
There was not only head-board but
one for the foot of the grave as well,
and painter and carpenter had done
their work with full hearts, and done
it we'll. -.... II
sAin't it awful nice-nicer than rich
folks have! whispered the children
as the boards were being placed on the
cart won't the grave look nice, though
and won't ma be awful glad!
Ere this the mothers grave has
been marked, and when night comes
the three motherless ones will cuddle
close together and whisper their graf
itude that it cannot be lost to them,
even in the storms and drifts of win.
ter.-Detroit Free Press.
The city of Paris gets $4,000 a eal
for the rent of its flower stalls.