The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-10-24
ADOPTING GRANDPA.
A Little Girl Whose Heart Was
Touched by an Old Mans
Story.

An old man-nOt ragged. but clad
in old and faded time-worn garments
and moving with feeble steps and
weary air-sat down under tree in
John B. street the other day to rest a
bit. Three. or four children were
playing in the yard ut bis back, and
directl q mite of gill looked
throuah b the fence and said:
"W3uld you hurt 4 little girl?"
"Bl&ss me, MOI" he replied. "Why,
I'd even step aside to pass bug or a
wormt No, child, I wouldn't hurt
in thetworld."
"Ark you anybody's grandpa?" she
enqui]ed, as the other children
crowded up.
md mot now, child. There was
a tlmE dear me! but it hurts my
old heArt to remember-when chill
dren falled me grandpa. It was
years {go-years and years, but I can
almcsf hear theirsvoicts yet"
"Be6ou crying?'
'.N-&o. Tears will spring up as I
recall the past. bat I'm not crying.
Theres are days when I cannot keep
'em back-nights when l am child,
but Tim trying to he strong just
now.T
II gales< I'll come out and see you.
My ddll's broke ber neck and is a.
most oead."
"Cone right along, child! 1 used
to mend legs and arms and recks
when Ethe children br ught their
dolls To me."
Thelittle 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 with
sticks and strings, the little girl ob-
served:
You must be quite Old. grandpa;
YOU are all skin and bone"
''O,d? Bless you, yes! was 81 on
ly week or two ago. Yes, I'm poor
in flesh as we'll as in purse"
''Sj your grandchildren had dolls,
eh?"
Yes, dear; dolls and toys and fine
clothes and books and everything
they wanted. 1 was rich then"
"And did they comb your hair?'
''Oh, yes"
''And sing to you?"
eyes"
"WelI, 1 guess I'll sing you song,
for Pm going to ask ma if can't
adopt you as nv 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 it'll
graves. Don't look at me or l shall
forget it,"
And in voice full of childis que
vers, and frequently stopping as If
to swallow some OF the words, she
sang:
"Under an elm tree three little graves
Under the sod my children three;
The years may pass, but my heart will grieve,
Thes rrow will ever rest with me,
Under the elm tree walke1 to-day.
why grandpa. the tears are just
running down your cheeks"
"Yes, my child; can't help it. My
poor old life is full of graves and
griefs"
is your wife dead?"
"Long ago, child"
"And all the children ?"
"Dead or scattered. lam all alone
"Well, that's funny. You can
wipe your eyes Oh my apron If you
want to-"
"Here's your doll-g' cd as new.'
"That's nice. If l should adopt
you I'd keep you mending dolls al!
the time. Have you got over cry
ing?"
ayes, child"
"Weii, then you must he hungry;
I'm always hungry after good cry.
Wait d minute"
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:
II must go in now, out Well 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 sitting with his face III
his hands to hide his tears, and when
they asked the matter the Child who
stood by explained:
"Why, sir, he's crying because he's
all alone in the world, aud a little
girl has adopted him.-DetroH Free
Press.