MRSBO

One rather boring day, while rummaging through the attic Vincent and some other boys found a box with the letters P.D engraved into it. Inside was a picture of a young boy, laying peacefully on pillows asleep.
On the back of the picture was the inscription:

"Pieter, he fell off his pony and left me to mourn, Now his likeness I carry so I shant be forlorne."

Now, while little Pieter has been gone for a long long time, his image was once a comfort to Pieters mama or papa. Now dusty and faded, he belongs with the rest of the forgotten children here at Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage...

A little background: During the nineteenth century, post-mortem portraits were used to acknowledge and mourn the death of a loved one. The subjects of the photos were generally arranged to appear as if peacefully asleep, all their earthly suffering ended. The appearance of the face at the time of death was particularly significant, as a beautiful expression could be interpreted as a sign of salvation.