The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-08-25
Adopting Grandpa.

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An old man-not ragged, but clad in
ord and faded and time-worn garments,
and moving with feeble steps and
weary air--sat down under tree on
John r. street the other day to rest a
bit. Three or four children were play
ing in the yard at his back, and directly
a mite of q girl looked through the
fence and asked
'Would you hurt little grip"
'Bless me, no." he replied "Why.
I'd even step aside to pass a, bug or a
worm! No, child, | wouldn't hurt a
hair of your head for all the money in
the world" i
care you anybody's grandpa?' she
inquired as the other children crowded
up.
"No-not now, child. There was a
time-dear me! but it hurts my old
heart to remember it-when children
called me grandpa. 1t was years ago
years and years, but L can almost
hear their voices yet"
'Be you crying?" ''
"N-no. The tears will spring I'D as
| recall the past, but I'm not CRYING.
There are days when | can't keep 'em
back-nights when | am a child, but
m trying to be strong just now"
81 guess I'll come out and see YOU.
MY dolls broke her neck and is most
dead"
Come right along, child! used to
mend legs and arms and necks when
the children brought their dolls to me-"
The little one passed through the
gate and sat down beside the poor old
man, and while he sought to save the
life of the ''most dead" doll by means
of stick and string the child OBJ
served: ..-.t
"You must be quite old, grandpa;
you are all skin and bone"
"Old? Bless you, yes! [ was eighty
one only week or two ago. Yes, I'm
poor in flesh as well as in purse"
$50 your grandchildren had dolls,
eh?'
Eyes, dear-dolls and toys and fine
clothes and books and everything they
wanted. was rich then. "
"And did they comb your hair?"
go, yes"
"And sing to you?'
eyes" .....
"Well, [ guess I'll sing You a song,
for I'm going to ask ma if 1 can adopt
you as my grandpa. You must excuse
my voice, for l swallowed a pin the
other day and ma expects it to work
out of my shoulder this fall. [ guess
I'll sing about the three little graves
Don't look at me or l shall forget"
And in a voice full of childish quavers,
and frequently stopping as if to swal-
low some of the words she sung:
"Under an elm three little graves
Under the sod my children three;
The years may pass, but my heart will grieve
And sorrow will ever rest with me.
Under the elm L walked to-day,
| looked -
"Why, grandpa. the tears are just
running down your cheeks,"
"Y-yes, child can't help it! NV
poor old life is full of graves and
griefs!"
SIS your wife dead?"
''Long ago, child"
"And all the children?'
dead or scattered. am all alone"
'Well, that's funny. You can wipe
your eyes on my apron, if you want tor
"Here's your doll-good as new"
CHATS nice. If l should adopt you
I'd keep you mending dolls all the
time. Have you got over cryingP"
Eyes, child"
"Well, then, you must be hungry.
I'm always hungry after good cry.
Wait minute"
She ran into the house to return with
a generous slice of bread and butter
and piece of meat, and as she handed
the food to the old man she said:
'I've got to go in now, but we IL re-
member that I've adopted you as my
grandpa. Don't cry any more, and
come back tomorrow. Good-by,
grandpa
"Good-by!'
And men who passed by saw an old
man with his face in his hands to hide
his tears, and when they asked the
matter, child who stood by explained:
"Why, sir, he's crying because he's
all alone in the world and little girl
has adopted himn'-Detroit Free Press.