Smyrna times., 1883-08-22
Adopting Grandpa.
THE LITTLE GIRL WHOSE HEART WAS
TOUCHED BY THE OLD MANS
STORY.

An old man not ragged, but clad in
old and faded and time-wOrn garments,
and moving with feeble steps and
John r. street the other day to rest a
bit. Three or four children were play
ing in the yard at his back, and direct
ly mite of girl looked through the |
fence and asked:
"Would you hurt little girl ?"
"Bless me, now he replied. "Why, |
I'd even step aside to pass bug or
worm No, child, wouldn't hurt a
hair of your head for all the money in
the world"
"Are you anybodys grandpa?" she
inquired, as the other children crowd
ed up.
"No-not now, child. There was
time-dear me! bat it hurts my old
heart to remember it-when children
called me grandpa. 1t was years ago
years and years, but can almost
hear their voices yet"
" Be you crying?"
N-no. The tears will spring up as
l recall the past, but I'm not crying.
There are days when can't keep 'em
back-nights when l am a child, but
Pm trying to be strong just nOw."
Il 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 tried to save the
life of the "most dead doll by means
of stick and u string, the child OBJ
served:
"You must be quite old, grandpa ;
you are all skin and bone"
"Old? Bless you, yes! l was 81
only a week or two ago. Yes, Pm
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?"
"Oh, yes"
And sing to you?"
"Yes."
"Well, guess I'll sing you a song
for Pm going to ask ma if can't adop
you as my grandpa. You must excuse
my voice, for 1 swallowed a pin the
other day, and ma expects it to work
out of my shoulder this fall. 1 CUES:
I'll sing about the three little graves
Don't look at me or l shall forget"
And in voice full of childish quav
ers, and frequently stopping as if t.
swallow 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,
The sorrow will ever rest with me.
! Under the elm walked to-day,
| looked -"
"Why, grandpa, the tears are jus
9 running down your cheeksw
I 'Yes, my child can't helpit NJ
poor old life is full of graves an
griefsn "
n "Is your wife dead?"
q "I4ong ago, child"
q "And all the children?"
f "Dead or scattered. am all alone.
v "Well, that's funny. You can wip
i your eyes on my apron, if you war
g to-"
L Here's your doll-good as new"
v "That's nice. If l should adopt yO
IS I'd keep you mending dolls all til
5. time. Have you got over crying?"
; "Yes, child"
e "Well, then, you must be hungr.
d I'm always hungry after good or,
, Wait a minute"
7e She ran into the house to return wit
le a generous slice of bread and butt
Id and piece of meat, and as she handC
ne the food to the old man she said:
,e "I've got to go in row, but we'll r
of member that I've adopted you as N
of grandpa. Don't cry any more, al
i. come back tomorrow. Good-b
is grandpa!"
at "Good-byp
of And men who passed by saw an o
to man with his face in his hands to hi
es his tears, and when they asked t
Id matter child who stood by explaine
ch "Why, sir, he's crying because h'
all alone in the world, and little G
has adopted him. ."-DetrOit Free Pre-