Evening star., 1938-05-29
Il wants nah own babys grave" 81

wants man own DdDyS grave, Sne
moaned over and over again.
He placed her on the bench outside the
Rest House, out of sight of the white crosses.
When she huddled forward with her head on
her hands. rocking herself, he left her and ran
anxiously back to the other mothers.
Little Lawd Jesus" "Mandypayed tensely
"gib me sign - glib me a sign to tell me
wha' NAH own boy is buried :"
The two French peasants who came hurry
ing around corner of the Rest House were
looking for the American Superintendent of
the cemetery. They had not found him at the
Office. They paused beside Mandy. talking
excitedly. She lifted her head and stared up
at them, not understanding word of their
language.
The older man glanced down into her grief
stricken face. "Pa,ssve Mere, he said. laying
a scared hand upon her shoulder with infinite
gentleness.
Il wants to find John Henery's grave"
she told them helplessly. Il wants to find
nah boys grave"
Then the Superintendent approached far
down the path. The younger peasant took a
small object carefully from his blouse, looked
at it to be sure it was intact, and then rushed
off to meet the Superintendent.
But Mandy had seen the object in that in
slant. 1t caused the world to reel, but she con-
quered her weakness and struggled to her
feet. wait - please wait a minute!' she
quavered.
Not hearing, the three men had started
across the plowed fields. Mandy lurched after
them, calling. crying, until the effort of
running robbed her of breath and the sounds
came in great sobs. The big reticule banged
her side at every step as she staggered over
the uneven ground.
The peasants led the Superintendent down
to far corner of their field, which lay beyond
the cemetery. They had plowed the ground a
few inches closer to rocky ledge than they
had done before. They were accustomed to
coming instantly to the Superintendent to
report any find in the sector They had been
instructed not to dig further until the earth
could be sifted carefully in search of identif-
cations they were still finding after all the
years that had passed.
Mandy stumbled and fell into the last fur
row, then picked herself up dazedly and came
forward gasping: MY - boy"
The Superintendent, carefully stalking off
piece of the field, turned and saw the dust
covered, wrinkled black mother dragging
herself toward him. He still held the little
object Mandy clawed it from his hand and
stared at it with enormous eyes.
It was little luck charm, horse shoe of
coroded metal stamped deeply into the bit of
leather which had lasted.
"Dats-dat's NAH John Henery's cla'm!"
The words tore from her parched throat He
wore it - mex his hearth
But the Superintendent began, and
then stopped suddenly.
Praise de Lawd! Praise de little Lawd
Jesas!" cried Mandy, going down on her
knees in the soft earth He done glib me a
sign! Dis am NAH own baby's grave"
Great tears ran down her dusty cheeks and
glorious smile lit her weary face. She fell on
the plowed earth and patted it with pink
palmed black old hands, as she had patted a
babys coverlet years before.
The young officer in charge came up 81
lently. He looked, oomprehending. into the
puzzled eyes of the Superintendent and said
something in French. The peasants took off
their hats and stood with bowed heads.
Presently Mandy reused herself. She took
from her reticule little white cross made of
~ "a