The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-06-26
rnK ORPHANS

A boy not over eleven years old, whose
pincbed face betrayed hunger, aud whose
clothing could hardly be called by The
name, dropped into a carpenter chop on
Grand River Avenue the other day, and
after much hesitation explained TO the
foreman
We want 10 get graveboard for ma
She died last winter aud the graves are
so thick that we can't hardly find hers no
more We went up last Sunday, and We
came awful near not finding Il. We
thought we'd get a grsveboard, so We
wouldn't lose the grave. When we
thought we'd lost II, Jack be cried aud
Bud she cried, and my chin lrembled SO |
could hardly talk.
Where is your father? asked the car.
penter.
Oh, he's home, but be never goes up
there with us, aud we shsn't tell him
about the board. | guess he hated ma,
for be wasn't home when she died, and
he wouldn't buy no coffin nor nolhin'.
Sometimes when we arc sittin' on the
doorsteps talking about her, and Jack and
Bud are cryin', aud ! am remembcrin'
how she kissed us all afore she died, he
says we'd better quit that or We'll get
what's bad for us. Bun we sleep up
stairs, and we talk and cry In the dark
all we want TO, How much will the
board beY
The carpenter selected something fit
for the purpose, and asked
Who will put II mp at the grayeI
Wen take II upon our cart replied the
boy, and guess the graveyard man will
help us put II mp.
You want the name painted on, don't
you?
Yes, sir; we want the board white, and
then we want you TO paint on that she
was our ma, aud that she was forty.one
years old, and that she died on the second
Of November, but that she's gone 10
heaven, and that she was one OF the best
mothers ever was, aud that we are going
to be good all our lives and 90 up where
she is when we die How much will "
cost, sirl
How much have you g0tf
Well, said the boy, as he brought out a
little calico bag, and emptied its contents
on the bench, Bud drawed the baby for
the woman next door and earned twenty
cents; Jack he weeded in the garden aud
earned forty ceuts, and he found five
more in the road; run of errands and
make kites aud fixed a boys cart and
helped carry some apples into store,
and ! earned sixty-6ye cents. All that
makes hundred and thirty cents, sir,
aud pa don't know we've got it, cause
we kept It hid In the ground under
stone.
The carpenter meant to be liberal, but
he said
A graveboard will cost at least s..
The lad looked up from his little store
of metals TO the carpenter and back, re-
allied how many weary weeks bad pass
ed since the first penny was earned and
saved, and suddenly walled out
Then we can't never, never buy onei
and mothers grave will get lost.
But be left the shop with tears Of glad.
ness In his eyes, aud when he returned
Yesterday, little Bud and Jack were with.
him, aud they had cart. There was not
only beadboard, bnt one for the foot Of
the grave as well; and painter and car
penter had done their work with full
hearts, and done II well.
Ain't II awful nice ei--nicer than rich
folks have, whispered the children, as the
boards were being placed on the cart
won't the grave look nice, though, aud
won't ma be awful gladf
Ere this the mothers grave has been
marked, aud when night comes the three
motherless ones will cuddle close together
and whisper thell gratitude that II can
not be lost to them even in The storms
and drifts of winter Detroit Free Pres.