The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-06-14
BY SCHOFF. VINEGAR g. co,
Have you been to bed, Martha P he
n,,;rod

=, DO you think he suspected anything ?
| oh, no, poor old dear
No, of course not, Martha John said.
| he would never dream that we could be
such monsters but did lie say anything 2
Yes, he said l.God bless you, Martha
and God bless John, for all your kindness.
John, whose heart was much too big for
his other faculties, withdrew his head from
the door, aud vented his smitten feelings in
howl. q q
John and Martha ciawled up to bed that
night with the sense of premeditated
crime weighing upon their souls. AS they
passed the room where the old man lay they
turned away their faces.
Next morning Martha dressed her old
baby i'll his best clothes, crying over him
all the WHILE and hiding her tears as best
she could. Daddy wanted to know if it
was Sunday, that they were putting on his
best things, and Martha could not answer.
Every innocent word he uttered was re-
proach to her. She could not look at him
at breakfast time, neither could John.
When breakfast was over, John said to
the old man, in as cheerful a tone as he
could command a aei 80
Grandfather, I'm going to take you for a
walk r.T.- ~ 60
That's kind of you John said the old
man-'very kind
We'll, come along, grandfather; here's
your hat and stick
I'm ready, John, quite ready. Eth!
bless me, what's the matter now, my dear /?
3 Martha had her arms around his neck,
kissing him.
Goodbye, father, she said through her
sobs, good bye
She had resolved not to say it, but she
couldn't help it. &
Tut, tut, my DEAR said the old man,
we are not going far. Are we John p
No, grandfather, not very far
And we'll come back soon, won't we
John {?
oh, yes gran dfather,' John said and
The words almost choked him. =
Martha whispered to the children to go
and shake hands with their grandfather :;
and wondering what this unusual ceremony
meant, they did as they were told quietly
and silently. M,
The old man was as much puzzled as the
children, and wanted to know if it was
birthday. John could not answer him
his heart was full and his utterance choked.
Without another word he took the old man
by the hand and led him from the house
and Martha stood in the doorway, surround
ed by the children, looking after them sadly
through her tears 1t was barely quarter
of a mile to the workhouse, but it was a
long journey for daddy, who was getting
very frail now, He dropped his stick very
often, aud John had to stoop and pick it up
for him, and there were dangerous crossings
to pass, which it was necessary for John to
signal the drivers Of vehicles to draw up
and slacken speed until he carried the old
man safely over to the other side of the
road: Poor old daddy going to the work
house was highly honored that day. The
stream Of traffic stayed its current and d.
verted its course to let him pass. 1t could
not have done more for the lord mayor. At
length John leading his unconscious char &c
by the hand, arrived in front of the work
house gates. At the sight of the gloomy
portal and the high black wall, which shuts
IN life and shuts out hope, his resolution be-
gan to fail him. He stopped and hesitated
Grandfather said he, it's about time for
your glass of ale amt it p
well, yes, John, | think it's getting on
hat way said the old man, in a CHEEKY
one a't 81 .t-#A5 ,.-la =
will you take it here p John asked.
is this the Mays Head 2 the old man in
luired.
The Nays Head was the house that he
had used for forty years.
No grandfather John said, this is not
,he Nag's Head ; but they keep good glass
If ale here
well, just as you like daddy assented.
So John took the old man into public
house opposite the work house gates, and !
gave him the usual three-halfpence for it
vas daddy's pride always to pay for his |
liquor with his own hand. While daddy
was slipping his ale, John tossed off cou-
pie OF glasses of spirits he was trying to
screw his failing courage to the point -
When the old man had finished his glass,
John took him once more by the hand, and
hurriedly leo him across the road He was
at the gate. hesitating, with full heart,
looking through mist of tears at the han
die of the workhouse bell, inviting only the
clutch of despair, when the old man looked
up in his face aud said
John!
Yes, grandfather
Amt this the workhouse p
Daddy's look, his intimation that he kne w
where he was, the thought that he suspect
ed his design, struck John to the heart,
and he hurried the old man away from the
gate. Sass
The workhouse, grandfather-no no y
John said, what made you think of that?
Come, come away, come away; we're going
home, grandfather, going home as fast as
we can.
John was so anxious to lead daddy away
from the spot. that he fairly lifted him off
his legs and carried him across the road.
In his excitement and haste he forgot his
daddy's weakness, and hurried him along
at such rate that the old man lost his
breath, and was nearly falling 1t was not
until street had been put between them
aud the workhouse, that John relaxed his
speed and allowed daddy to recover himself.
After that he led him gently back to the
emporium, took him in, and replaced him
in his old chair by the freside.
'Icouldn't do it, MARTHA he said; INV
hand was on the bell, when he looE ID up at
me and spoke to me; and his look, and
what he said, struck me to the heart. [
couldn't do it. l felt as if | was going to
murder the poor old man. It's worse than
murder. to put fellow In yonder; it's bury
ing him sliver
But, john 5-s
4 say it shall never be done by me, Mar
tina, John interposed, sternly sWe must
do the best we can for him, and strive to
the last to save him and ourselves from
that Disgrace
An interchange of looks sealed the com
pact between them--that daddy was to have
home with them while they had a
root to call their own, and a loaf of bread to
share with him.
Old daddy had not only been considera-
BILE expense to John and Martha, but dur
ing the winter months be had been much
in the way. He was always potterino
about in the shop. which, also being the sit,
ting room, did not afford much scope for
domesticity combined. But now the fine
days were coming, and daddy would be
able to spend good deal of his time out of