Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-08-30
Adopting Grandpa.

An old man-not ragged, but clad in old
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 bit Three or four child
ren were playing in the yard at his back,
and directly mite of a girl looked through
the fence and asked:
Would you hurt little girl?''
Bless me, no" he replied. Why, I'd
even step aside to pass bug or q worm !!
No. child wouldn't hurt hair of your
head for all the money in the world"
"Are you anvbody's grandpa 2" she in
quired as the other children crowded up
"No-not now, cl.ilG. There was time
dear me! but it hurts my old heart to re-
member it-when children called NE grand
pa. 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 re-
call the past, but I'm not crying There are
days when l can't keep 'em back-nights
when | 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 fused 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 a stick and a string the
child observed:
you must be quite old, grandpa you are
all skin and bone"
odd? Bless you, yes 1 was 81 only a
week or two ago. Yes, Pm poor in flesh as
well as in purse"
$50 your grandchildren had dolls, eh p
eyes, dear-dOlls and toys and fine clothes
and books and everything they wanted. |
was rich then"
"And did they comb your hair?o
"Oh, yes"
"And sing to you?"
Eyes"
"Well, guess I'll sing you song, for I'm
going to ask ma if / can't adopt you as my
grandpa. You must excuse my voice, for
swallowed pin the other day and ma ex-
poets it to work out of my shoulder this
fall. guess I'll sing about the three little
graves. Don't look at me or I shall forget"
And in a voice full of childish guavers,
and frequently stopping as if to swallow
some of the words, she sung:
Under an elm tree three little graves
Under the sod my children three;
The years may pass, but my heart Will gr1eve
And sorrow will ever rest with me.
Under the elm walked to-day,
l looked -
why, grandpa the tears are just ming
down your cheeks"
"Y-yes, child, can't help it! My poor old
life is full Of graves and griefsw
Us your wife dead?"
Long ago, child"
And all the children"
Dead or scattered. | am all alone"
We'll, that's funny. You can wipe your
eyes on my apron, if you want to-"
Here's your doll-good as new"
That's nice If | should adopt you I'd
keep you mending dolls all the time. Have
you got over crying?'
eyes, child"
"Well, then, you must be hungry. Pm al
ways hungry after a good cry. Wait min
ute
She ran into the house to return with
generous slice Of bread and butter and
piece of meat, and as she handed the food to
the old man she said:
"Ive got to go in now, but we'll remember
that I've adopted you as my grandpa. Dor =
cry any more, and come back tomorrow.
Goodbye, grandpa"
"Good-byew
And men who passed by saw an old man
with his face i'm 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 him."