The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-03-13
FROM TIE SOUTH.
TAYLOR FARM, NORFOLK, VAy
Feb. 81. 1866.

or t0Tee udyS.
Last Thursday morning we woke up
to find chilly wind blowing. The week,
till then, had been warm aud Sprlng-hke,
but the indications now were OF cold
SNAP. [ remembered that there were yet
three blankets to be given out, and felt
that it would not answer to let them lie
any longer. So [ went down to consult
Mr. Bewis, aud we went out before break
fast 10 call Oh a woman who we knew was
suffering. and another who professed to
be. At the first house we had to wait
for tie man to get up. His wife was sick
10 bed, as We already knew We had
withheld a blanket before, hoping the
man would provide one for himself, bat
be had not, aud We decided to Le1d them
one Then we went to see the other,
who had been quite Indignant at not beng
supplied oD demand. Finding the bed
not very warmly dressed, aud she aud
her husband were elderly people, we con
cluded to send her one. Next to see
some old people who have lately been
brought to the Farm-au old man and
his wife, who had well furnished bed,
Uncle Isham, an old one.legged man,
occupied the same room. His bed con-
sisted of a shirt and pair of pants spread
or sat bedstead, and a blanket, which
we had already furnished him, to wrap
himself in Make mental memorandum
of hIs case, 20 home to breakfast, and
hurry off to school. We get home and
get our dinner about two o clock There
we're calls to attend to and writing to do,
to occupy the afternoon. Just before
dark lttle Sammy came in aud wanted
some alum for his mother His father is
iu the army, we know, his mother is des
perate'y poor, aud if she is sick, needs
looking alter. So | wrap up, for the
weather has grown cold all day, and fol
low the pathway through the cornfelds
to Caroliues house Find her, with
sore throat, sick in bed Her old mother
and two children are covering over the
low fire. All the wood they burn has
been carried on the shoulders of Caroline
and her children, and when she is sick
they cannot make a large fire. She must
have blanket, so when we 90 to night
school, Miss G. aud | 90 round by her
house and carry it to her
Meanwhile, at the supper table, Mr..
Dudley, the overseer, has said Haven't
you some Old clothes you eau give Lucinda
Wilkins Her baby is near dying with
cold "Yes," We SAID, "we could find
something" But it Is too late tonight.
Friday morning the thermometer is at
ten degrees, aud the Bay frozen over
We can do nothing before school When
school closed found the writing books
required copies, the girls besieg9d me to
write Valentines for them in the after
noon-they must send immediate answers
to those they have received-so with
bundle of copy books ou my arm and
promise of one Valentine, came home
l went to work after dinner with a will.
hoping to get through and get a breathing
spell before night. | had a scroll partly
drawn for Valentine, when there was a
knock at the door, and two women came
III to claim the fulbllment of promise
had made several days before to write
letter for one of them. So | pushed ms
work aside, read the letter she wanted
answered, and commenced the few lines
which she wanted TO send to her brother
III Texas. She takes care of his mother
less children while be is in the armv
His letter expressed the wish that they
might be kept at school aud made to learn
When that was written she wanted a few
lines to her cousin ia Connecticut As
she Is one of the pretty, pleasant spoken
women, lives at some distance, and is sick
much of the time with the ague, cannot
bid her come again,s so dispatched that,an
then went on with my Valentine. Before
they had gone, there was another knock.
and onc of nay scholars, YOUNG woman.
as large and strong as the largest, strongest
girl you may happen to know, came in
and crouched down by the fire. When
she thought her turn had come, she com
meDced begging, first for blanket, then
for dress, then for something else, none
of which we had, and which we would
not have given to her if We had had. till
some others bad been supplied When
she found that she would get nothing, she
began to complain, and talked so saucy
that she will have the privilege of con-
Tossing it in presence of Mr.. Bemis, before
coming to school again. Knock again,
and Mr.. Bemis wants me to hunt up some
shoes for a little girl whose mother is beg
ging for her down stairs. Tap, and little
Aleck, seven year old orphan, comes in
and wants some pants. He has come
good many times aud never been turned
away yet, SO [ put him in the corner to
wait till | am ready. The door opens
again and hear Miss G. who is tired out
and in bed, greeting some one very cor
daily, and presently "bright complex
ioned" woman comes forward to the fire.
1t is Lot Leyton's new wife-she has