Freda's Adopted Grave Page #2

"Freda's Adopted Grave" is a poignant short story by Lucy Maud Montgomery that explores themes of love, loss, and the enduring connection between people and places. The narrative follows the character of Freda, who forms a deep bond with a grave she adopts, creating a personal and emotional anchor in her life. Through lyrical prose and vivid imagery, Montgomery delves into the complexities of grief and the solace that can be found in memory and devotion. This poignant tale reflects the author’s signature style of blending the everyday with the profound, making it a touching read for fans of her work and newcomers alike.

• Short story

								

Jordan Slade's grave. At least, it seemed as if everybody had. But one
evening, when Freda slipped down to the graveyard with a little can
of water and rounded the corner of the poplars, she saw a lady
standing by the grave--a strange lady dressed in black, with the
loveliest face Freda had ever seen, and tears in her eyes.

The lady gave a little start when she saw Freda with her can of water.

"Can you tell me who has been looking after this grave?" she said.

"It--it was I," faltered Freda, wondering if the lady would be angry
with her. "Pleas'm, it was I, but I didn't mean any harm. All the
other little girls had a grave, and I hadn't any, so I just adopted
this one."

"Did you know whose it was?" asked the lady gently.

"Yes'm--Jordan Slade's. Mrs. Wilson told me."

"Jordan Slade was my brother," said the lady. "He went sadly astray,
but he was not all bad. He was weak and too easily influenced. But
whatever his faults, he was good and kind--oh! so good and kind--to me
when I was a child. I loved him with all my heart. It has always been
my wish to come back and visit his grave, but I have never been able
to come, my home has been so far away. I expected to find it
neglected. I cannot tell you how pleased and touched I am to find it
kept so beautifully. Thank you over and over again, my dear child!"

"Then you're not cross, ma'am?" said Freda eagerly. "And I may go on
looking after it, may I? Oh, it just seems as if I couldn't bear not
to!"

"You may look after it as long as you want to, my dear. I will help
you, too. I am to be at East Point all summer. This will be our
grave--yours and mine."

That summer was a wonderful one for Freda. She had found a firm friend
in Mrs. Halliday. The latter was a wealthy woman. Her husband had died
a short time previously and she had no children. When she went away in
the fall, Freda went with her "to be her own little girl for always."
Mrs. Wilson consented grudgingly to give Freda up, although she
grumbled a great deal about ingratitude.

Before they went they paid a farewell visit to their grave. Mrs.
Halliday had arranged with some of the North Point people to keep it
well attended to, but Freda cried at leaving it.

"Don't feel badly about it, dear," comforted Mrs. Halliday. "We are
coming back every summer to see it. It will always be our grave."

Freda slipped her hand into Mrs. Halliday's and smiled up at her.

"I'd never have found you, Aunty, if it hadn't been for this grave,"
she said happily. "I'm so glad I adopted it."
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