The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-08-23
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 q tree ON John r.
street the other day to rest bit Three
or four children were playing in the
yard at his back. and directly mite of
girl looked through the fence and
asked:
''Would you hurt little girl?''
"Bless me, mol" he replied. ''Why,
I'd even step aside to pass q bug or q
wormi No, child, l wouldn't hurt
hair of your head for all the money in
the world
care you anybody's grandpsa' she
inquired as the other children crowded
up.
"No-not now child. There was q
time-dear me! but it hurts my old
heart to remember it-when children
called me grandpa. Itwas years ago
years and years, but 7 can almost hear
their voices yet"
''Be you crying?"
"N-no. The tears will spring up as
recall the past, but I'm not crying.
There are days when can't keep 'em
back-nights when am child, but L 10
81 guess I'll come out and see you.
My dolls broke its 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
'.most deadn doll by means of stick
and a string the child Observed:
"You must be quite old, grandpa; you
are all skin and bone"
"Old? Bless you, yes! was 81 only
week ago. Yes, I'm poor in flesh as
well as in purse"
so your grandchildren had dolls,
ehp"
Eyes, dear-dolls and toys and fine
clothes and books and everything they
wanted. was rich then"
"And did they comb your hairs"
''Oh, yes"
"And sing to YOU"
"Yes."
swell, guess I'll sing you song.
for I'm going to ask ma il can't adopt
you as my grandpa. You must excuse
my voice, for l swallowed q pin the other
day and ma expects 1t to work out of
my shoulder this fall. 1 guess I'll sing
about the three little graves. Don't look
at me, or shall forget"
And in a voice full of childish quavers
and frequently stopping rs if to swal-
low some Of the words she sung:
Under an elm tree little graves
Under the sod my children three;
The years may pass, but my heart will grieve
And sorrow will ever rest with me.
,,pnder the elm walked to-day.
"Why, grandpa, the tears are just
running down your cheeks!'
'Y-yes, child can't help it! My
poor old life is full of graves and griefs. !"
''Is your wife deads"
"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 yon wa mt to. 7"
Here's your doll-good as new"
''That's nice. If should adopt you
I'd keep you mendiRg dolls all the time.
Have you got over crying?"
"Yes. child"
"Well, then you must be hungry. I'm
always hungry after good cry. Wait
a minute.
oHo Idu lALO Luo Housc Io TcLuEu Will
generous slice of bread and butter and
piece of meat, and rs she handed the
food to the old man she said:
'1've got to go in now. but We'll re-
member that I've adopted you as my
grandpa. Don't cry any more, and come
back tomorrow. Goodbye, grandpa ~
"Good-byer'
And men who passed by saw an old
man with his face In his hands to hide
his tears, and when they asked the mat
ter, child who stood by explained:
''Why, sir, he's crying because he is
all alone in the world, and little girl
has adopted him!''-Detroit Free Press.