The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-11-13
varsh,s Zone Cn,Iarep.

a boy not over IL years old, whose pinch
ed face betray ed hunger, aud whore clothing
could scarcely be called by the name,
dropped Into a carpenter shop on Grand
River avenue the other day, aud after much
hesitation explained to the foreman:
ave want to get grave-board for ma. She
died last winter, aud the graves are so thick
that we can't hardly ind hers no more. We
went up last Sunday, aud we came awful
near not finding it. We thought we'd lost
it Jack he cried, Bud she cried, and my
chin trembled go tnat could hardly talk!'
Where is your father?" said the car
pen; er.
"Oh, he is home, bu. he never goes up
there with Us. and we shan't tell him about
the board. / guess he hated ma, for be
wasn't home when she died, and he wouldn't
buy 40 coffin or nothin'. Sometimes, when
we are sittin' on the door step talkIn' about
her, and Jack and Bud are cryIn', and I'm
rememberin' how she kissed us all afore she
died, he says we'd better quit that or we'll
ct what's bad for us. But be sleeps up
> airs, and we talk and cry in the dark all
we want to. How much will the board bep
The carpenter selected something fit for
the purpose, and asked:
who will put 1T up at the grave9'
We'll take il upon our cart" replied the
help Us put 1t up"
You want the name painted on, don't
your"
'Yes. sir: we want the board white, and
| then We want you to painJ on that she was
| our ma, and that she was forty-one years old,
| and hat she died on the "a of November,
| and that she's gone 10 heaven, and that she
was one of the 5est mothers ever was, and
| that we are going To be good all our lives
| ana go up where she is when we die. Hew
| mucn will il cost, sir?'
| "Hov much have you got2"
| "Wsll," said the boy, as be brought out
| little calico bag and empsisd the contents
on the b. ncb, Bud drawed the baby foy the
| woman next door and earned 20 cents; Jack
he :dad in the garden aud earned 40
| cents, and he found five more IN the road; L
| run of errauds, made kites and fixed boy s
cart and helped carry some apples into a
store, aud earned 65 cents All that makes
a hundred and thirty cents, sir and pa don't
| know we've got it, cause We kept iJ bid in
the ground under q stone"
The carpenter meant to be liberal, but he
sad:
"a grave board will cost at least three dol
lars"
The lad locked from his little store of met
| ais TO the carpenter and back, realized how
many weary weeks had passed siuce the first
penny was earned and saved, aud suddenly
walled out:
"Then we can't never, never buy one, and
mas grave will get lost"
Bat ne left the shop with tears of gladnesS
| In his eyes, and when he rsturaed yeste rdsy
little Bud aud Jack we're with him, and they
| had a csrt. There was not only a head board
but one FOR the foot of the grave as well, and
| painter and carpenter had done their Wors
with full hearts and done it wei.
"Ain't il awful nice-nicer than rich folks
!; | hsvelp whispered the children as the boards
were being placed on the cart; won't th'
grave look nics, though, and won't ma b
awful ga6p
Ere this the mothers grave has beer
marked, and when night comes the thre
motbsrless ones will cuddIe close togethe
and whisper their gratitude that it can no
, bs lost to them even in the storms aud DRIFT
| of winter. st