The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-11-25

My grandfather could not bear to
get out Of sight of the church steeple
A few weeks after the death of my
grandmother my father woke uu
carly one morning and lifting up the
hap OF the tent saw, two or three
miles away, the church steeple. He
woke his little sister and said to her.
"I1iiie, let's go see mothers grave
oefore father wales up" Those lit.
tie things, hand in hand, started
across the field. and when they
reached house. just near the ceme-
terry, they knocked at the door, and
my father said, "Please, could YOU
tell us which is mothers grave 7~
They didn't think it necessary to say
who their mother was. They thought
everyone knew their mother. The
woman remembered the Gypsy fur
eral and took the children in and
gave them something to eat and then
directed them to the grave. They play
I'd around it all day>with no thought
II food, and plucked wild flowers and
planted them in the earth, and then at
the close Of the day, with darkness
coming on, and knowing that their
taher would be worried, not knowing
where they had gone, they started for
home. When they got tc the gate of
the cemetery my father turned to his
sister and said, "Tillie, isn't there
something more that we can do for
mother?" And then like a flash he
turned round and started back for the
grave. When he found it he knelt
down on the cold earth, and, taking
on his little cap. he took out of the
lapel Of his cout, a little stickpin
that some maid had given him when
ne had called to sell his wares, not
worth much, but certainly the only
thing Of value that he ever possessed
rs boy, and sticking the pin into the
Earth, he looked up to the sky and
'aid, There, mother, I have given you
all 1 have in tn. world, I have given
you my stickpin."
My father wore in those days 9
shocked cloak. It was loose slir
that fell over the shoulders, will
sleeves and large pockets, and it wa.
shocked across the front and acros,
the back. 1t WAS kind of overall
and It was an under-all, too, becaus,
when It was off he was ready for bed
The boys used tc like these things
because of their big pockets. On,
morning, some months after m,
;, grandmother's death, they wer
camping on a very large farm. Thi
farmer was noted for his large plum
orchard, and my grandfather, earl,
that morning SAID to his children, {"
don't want you to leave the WACO,
today" They knew what that meant
it meant this: This farmer and
are orr good terms. He let's me CAM
on his ground, trade together, and
live in his good graces, so do no
want you children to 60 around tn,
;. farm seeing what you can find.
Gypsy children, usually know bette
!, than to disobey their parents. 4
|. Gypsy father is very fatherly whe,
his boy disobeys, he has way of tax
ing him over his knee with his fac
: downward, and when he makes al
! engagement with his son that way h
never breaks it. My father mad
Up his mind that he would take
chance because he wanted some O
those plums. When his fathers bacl
was turned, he started for the or
chard, found the best tree, and the,
climbed to the top of it, because h
knew that the best fruit was on tn
top Of the tree. He filled his pocket
with plums and had one in his moutl
enjoying it, when he saw the farme
at the foot Of the tree waiting 70
him. He swallowed the one in hi
mouth for he didn't want the farme
to think he was after his plums, an
the farmer gave him very pressin
invitation to come down. My fathe
said, II am not Il good climber" T
which the farmer replied, II will wa
, for you" My father thought he woul
try to soften the farmers heart, an
he said: "You know, sir, I have n
; mother" He thought that had touch
ed the farmers heart, SO he said
again. The farmer said, eyes, 1 kno,
, you, and know your father, an
1 know hes would not have you stea
ing my plums, so am going to wa
for you to come down." My fathe
, knew it was no use staying Up ther
all day, 80 he-came down, but he didn
come down like Eaccheus came dow
the sycamore tree. He didn't max
, haste; and there was not any joy to i
When he reached the bottom tn
farmer got hold of him by the ca
When anybody gets hold you like tha
you know they are mighty glad to sc
yOu and Won alyvaxa uapt to oo 81