The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-08-24
Adopting a GRANDPA.


John r. street, the other day, to rest a
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 bug or a
worm! No, child, wouldn't hurt
hair in your head for all the money in
the world
"Are you anybody's grandpa?' she
inquired, as the other children crowded
up.
"No, not now, child. There was a
time-dear mel but it hurts my old
heart to remember it--when children
called me grandpa. 1t was years ago
years and years, but 1 can almost
hear their voices yet"
"Be you crying?"
emo. The tears will spring up as
l recall the past, but I'm not crying.
There are days when l can't keep 'em
back-n ghts when l am child, but
I'm trying to be strong just now"
~ guess I'll come out and see you.
VI
dead"
"Come right along, child 1 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 the
means of a stick and a string, the
child Observed:
you must be quite old, grandpa;
you are all skin and bone"
"Old? Bless you, yes 1 was
eighty-one 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. l was rich then"
And did they comb your hair?'''
con, yes.
"And sing to your"
"Yes."
"Well, | guess I'll sing you song,
for I'm going to ask ma if L can't
adopt you as my grandpa. You must
excuse my vo ce, for swallowed a pin
the other day and ma expects it to
work out of my shoulder this fall. L
guess I'll sing about the three little
graves. Don't look at me or l shall
forget"
And in full voice of childish qua
vers, and frequently stopping, as if to
swallow some of the words she sung:
"Und ar an elm t 9 re little graves
Unde' the sd my III Id en- three:
The yeals may p IS. but my heart will grieve
And PROV will ever rel with me.
Unoer the elm " alKed to-day,
Ilookel-''
"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 p
els your wife dead?'
"Long ago, child"
and all the children?"
Dead or scattered. 1 am all alone.
"Well, 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 l should adopt
you I'd keep you mending dolls all the
time. Have you got over crying?"
"Yes, child"
"WelI, 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 a:
GIVE got to go in now, but We'll
remember that I've adopted you as my
grandpa. Don't cry any more, and
come back tomorrow. Goodbye grand
pa"
Goodbye"
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 eX-
planned
"Why, sir, he's crying because he's
all alone in the world, and little girl
has adopted him !'-Detron Free Press.