THE LITTLE GRAVE
OLD Solomon was digging a grave one day in a very quiet corner of the
cemetery. Dot was with him, as usual, prattling away in her pretty
childish way.
"It's a tidy grave, is this," remarked the old man, as he smoothed the
sides with his spade; "nice and dry too; it'll do me credit."
"It's a very little one," said Dot.
"Yes, it's like to be little when it's for a little girl; you wouldn't
want a very big grave, Dot."
"No," said Dot; "but you would want a good big one, wouldn't you, Mr.
Solemn?"
The mention of his own grave always made Solomon go into one of his
"reverdies." But he was recalled by Dot's asking quickly—
"Mr. Solemn, is she a very little girl?"
"Yes," said the old man; "maybe about your size, Dot. Her pa came about
the grave. I was in the office when he called, 'and,' said he, 'I want
a nice quiet little corner, for it is for my little girl.'"
"Did he look sorry?" said Dot.
"Yes," he said; "folks mostly do look sorry when they come about
graves."
Dot had never watched the digging of a grave with so much interest as
she did that of this little girl. She never left Solomon's side, not
even to play with her doll. She was very quiet, too, as she stood with
her large eyes wide open, watching all his movements. He wondered what
had come over her, and he looked up several times rather anxiously as
he threw up the spadefuls of earth.
"Mr. Solemn," she said, when he had finished, "when will they put the
little girl in?"
"To-morrow morning," said the old man, "somewhere about eleven."
Dot nodded her head, and made up her mind she would be in this corner
of the cemetery at eleven o'clock.
When Solomon came back from his dinner, and went to take a last look at
the little grave, he found the bottom of it covered with white daisies
which Dot had thrown in.
"She has made it pretty, bless her!" he murmured.
Dot crept behind the bushes near the chapel the next day, to watch the
little girl's funeral arrive. She saw the small coffin taken from the
hearse, and carried on in front. Then she watched the people get out
of the carriages, and a lady and gentleman, whom she felt sure were
the little girl's father and mother, walked on first. The lady had her
handkerchief to her eyes, and Dot could see that she was crying. After
her walked two little girls, and they were crying also.
There were a few other people at the funeral, but Dot did not care
to look at them; she wanted to see what became of the little girl's
coffin, which had just been carried into the chapel. She waited
patiently till they brought it out, and then she followed the mournful
procession at a little distance, till they reached the corner of the
cemetery where Solomon had dug the grave.
Solomon was there, standing by the grave, when the bearers came up
with the coffin. Dot could see him quite well, and she could see the
minister standing at the end of the grave, and all the people in a
circle round it. She did not like to go very near, but she could hear
the minister reading something in a very solemn voice, and then the
coffin was let down into the grave. The little girl's mamma cried very
much, and Dot cried too, she felt so sorry for her.
When the service was over, they all looked into the grave, and then
they walked away. Dot ran up as soon as they were gone, and, taking
hold of Solomon's hand, she peeped into the grave. The little coffin
was at the bottom, and some of Dot's daisies were lying round it.
"Is the little girl inside there?" said Dot in an awestruck voice.
"Yes," said Solomon, "she's in there, poor thing. I'll have to fill it
up now."
"Isn't it very dark?" said Dot.
"Isn't what dark?"
"In there," said Dot. "Isn't it very dark and cold for the poor little
girl?"
"Oh, I don't know that," said Solomon. "I don't suppose folks feels
cold when they are dead; anyhow, we must cover her up warm."
But poor Dot's heart was very full; and, sitting on the grass beside
the little girl's grave, she began to cry and sob as if her heart would
break.
"Don't cry, Dot," said the old man; "maybe the little girl knows
nothing about it—maybe she's asleep like."
But Dot's tears only flowed the faster. For she felt sure if the little
girl were asleep, and knew nothing about it, as old Solomon said, she
would be waking up some day, and then how dreadful it would be for her.
"Come, Dot," said Solomon at last, "I must fill it up."
Then Dot jumped up hastily. "Please, Mr. Solemn, wait one minute," she
cried, as she disappeared amongst the bushes.
"Whatever is she up to now?" said the old grave-digger.
She soon came back with her pinafore full of daisies. She had been
gathering them all the morning, and had hid them in a shady place under
the trees. Then, with a little sob, she threw them into the deep grave,
and watched them fall on the little coffin. After this she watched
Solomon finish his work, and did not go home till the little girl's
grave was made, as old Solomon said, "all right and comfortable."