Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01
Hannah Jane.

Poor old man he walked feebly and dis
consolately about the leaf strewn cemetery
and paused now and then with weak, irreso-
lutte air of uncertainty that betokened
failing and troubled mind he seemed TO be
looking for some one or something, and yet
he did not stay his footsteps at any of the
graves, and he passed the costliest monu-
ments without glance. Presently he re-
traced his way and seeking here and there
among the unmarked graves in the same
listless, dazed way, approached a laborer be-
ing in one Of the avenues and asked, trem-
ulously "Can you tell me where Hannah
Jane is buried, my friend ?" The man
looked up roughly, and if the speaker had
been arrayed in fiue broadcloth, with weed
in his hat, would have given him an un-
gracious answer but he saw thin old face
set in frame of white hair, bent and
shrunken form in humble garb, and he an
swered respectfully "Who did you say, sir
-wot name ?" Hannah Jane she's my
wife, you know, and because Of my son they
buried her here instead of down in the
country graveyard, where we used to live
years ago. My sons big man here-a
business man--and he gave us lot worth
two hundred dollars TO bury her in.
bought Virginny rose and sweet briar
mebbe you'd know it now" al don't know
as l do" said the workman, gently, " but il
you think you can tell me about where the
grave is, I'll try and help ye." They walked
up and down for little, then the old mar
stopped beside a splendid white marble shaft
that reared its fair proportions far above the
neighboring monuments, and shaking his
head feebly, said with the old irresolution
ats very strange, an can't make it out a
all-mebbe I'm gettin' old, but | was SURE
this was the spot" The workman put VI
his hand to hide smile. "That ere grav,
don't look like as it ever had sweet william
planted on it, does it, old man 2 I'm favor
able to them flowers myself. Halo Wo
did you say the name was 2" "Hannai
Jane" answered the old man, reverentl
lifting his hat from his white hair, an,
wherever you are, my dear, God bless you !
he added, looking up to heaven. oval
now," said the workman, getting down Of
his knees to look at the lettering on tn
brand-new shaft, this beats me. Here's
II and Jane; what's the rest of tn
name? Foster ?" "Yes, yes" answere'
the old man eagerly; then look of bite
disappointment crept over his face. "Yo,
don't mean it," he said, slowly, "they'v
never gone and put their great monumen
over Hannah Jane, she that wanted bird
and flowers, and the sun shinin' and the dev
fallin' on the spot where she slept she tina
built ladder to the skies in good deeds ant
was humber than little child, and woul,
rayther have had a board at her head, dow
in the old graveyard, with plain Haunal
Jane on it carved by me 1t don't seen
right, that's all !" He went away sadly anc
lingeringly and he never came back, but tn,
man he talked To planted sweet william
and rose slips on the grave and it look
strange to see them tangled in wild pre-
fusion about the stately marble, and when
ever he sees funeral stop near that spot h
looks to see if another grave is dug ther,
for some day." he says to himself while h
works, " my old man will come back to hi
Hannah Jane."-Detroit Free Press.