The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-03-21


only meant to give me a call. He was always
little shy ofus because his people were poor
and don't know as I tried 10 overcome 1t 6.
much as ought. There were few finer young
men than William Grove. He hal his own way
to fight in the world, with neither friends mol
money, but he'd have got on-depeud upon il
I-ifhe had been spared.'
"And you liked his wife?"
"Yes. Lefty was poor but I've seldom seen
a more tidy, right-headed little body than she
guess William knew what he was doing when
he picked out his wife,
did she leave any chldren?"
"Yes babe, only day or two DID,"
"What become Of it?"
II reckon it went to the poor house." said
Joseph, the younger, who had been listening to
this conversation.
NO. it was given away" said his mother.
"Wei l think it went to the poor house."
"No, it was given away. heard the name
of the family, but have forgotten"
"Well mother all | know is that when was
riding over here with a man from S., five or six
years ago, he told me that William Groves child
was in the poor house."
Nothing more was said at the time, but some
weeks after, when Grandma Grove found that
Joseph junior, was going over to s., she told
him that il there was room in the buggy, she
would go with him. The family wondered
what should take her to s., but she was wo-
man who was in the habit of deciding matters
for herself, and no one questioned
"Where do you wish to go, Grandma?"-
said Joseph, when they reached the town.
"You may drive me to the poor house" said
the old lady; and to the poor house they went.
William Groves child was not there-no, but
the books were, and they would tell. Yes,
there was the record; Lefty Grove, bound out,
at certain date, to Mrs. Green, ola certain
number of certain street.
"You may go on and do up your errands,
Joseph" said the old lady, when she had pick
ed her way carefully out of the foul poor house
yard; for the people of S. had no reason to be
proud of their charities. II will walk-I know
the way, and it isn't far. Then will come to
you at the Kasier House. You'll not get
through so as to 60 home to night if hinder
you"
"But I'll carry you there, Grandma"
"No, no. It's right out of your way, and I
want to look at the old place." For the town
OF S. had been familiar to Grandma Grove in
her young days. So she went on slowly, over
the icy ways, buried in dreams of the past, and
hardly noticing where she went, until distur
bance in the street attracted her attention.
"Letty Groves hunchback! Lefty Groves
hunchback!' was called out by host ofrag-
ged boys who were peltng the unfortunate OBJ
ject Of their jeer with snowbals. There was
street pump just beside the sidewalk where
she was passing, with the zee frozen into dan
gerous mound all about it. A crooked, pinch
ed half frozen little girl had climbed up pain
fully among the ice, and filled her heavy pail
with water, but just as she was turning to pick
her way down, one OF the boys had run purpos-
ely against her, and thrown her down, drench
ing her with the contents Of the pail-And
when she attempted to rise, the shower Of froz-
en- showIalls had come upon her, accompanied
by jeering cry that had attracted the attention
OF Grandma Grove The child managed to get
upon her feet, and then poured out such tide
of anger and hatred as chilled the blood Of the
old lady who had been on the point of inter-
! faripp in bor bnbnlr- nd, ,,o Gro,a ctooj
looking upon her for few moments, and Won
dering if that ptiable object could be the child
she sought.
"Dreadful!"--she shuddered, as she listened
to the child's speech. "They have tramped
upon the poor little thing, body and soul,
till she is warped out of all shape. William
Groves child never would have grown into
that, without terrible management"
Then laying her hand upon the shoulder o.
the child, she said: "Do you think it right to
use such words, little girl?"
"Taint right for them to throw me down and
SNOWFALL me-" sobbed Lefty. "1'om Greer
knocks me down and spills the water every
time he catches me here, and then his mother
beats me because am slow and get wets'
ado you think your mother would like tt
hear you use such words, even if you were i'll
treated"
II amt got no mother"
"But you had once. IF she is in Heayer
now she doubtless sees and hears all you do"
~ hope she DON'T said Lefty, with her Ion,
lashes swapping themselves dry of tears in ar
instant, and her face growing pale at the thought
"It she cares hope she don't know anything
about me-"
"You must come in now" said Grandm,
Grove, taking her by The hand. 81 am going tt
see Mrs Green" for the old lady had noteG
the numbers on the street, and knew that th,
house was hard by.
"She wont let me go in that way" said Let
ty, drawing back as she attempted to lead hei
in at the main front door.
~ will let you," said her conductor, knock
ing at the door. "This child is very wet" she
said, stepping into the house, "the boys hav,
thrown her down with her water, and she mus
have dry clothes"
"She did it herself" said Mrs Green angriIy
"She does it every day. She's the very plagu.
Of my life. There never was such careless
ugly child before"
"She was not to blame this time. l saw i
oil myself Will you bring her some dr.,
clothes?' and drawing the child to the fire sh,
began to undo the frozen garments.
"She can't stay here" said Mrs. Green look