The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-04-22

and that, even over this, she was to
have general control as to whether it
were suitable the children should attend
when there might be a dispute about
their physical condition, or the need of
their assistance in household nattors I;
but Miss Ironton regarded no law save
her own will, and with exceeding VIC
lcnce executed this; and when dis
putes wcre referred to the manaecrs,
they sustained her, Mra. Wold thought,
from want OF courage to do otherwise.
Miss Ironton punished her children
cruelty, for physical weaknesses inei-
dent to childhood, and for many til
fling offsnsss, such as running on the
grass, at or near the front of the house,
for taking fruit or drinking more water
than she allowed them. For such Of
fenscs they we're beaten in their beds.
or whipped and shut up in the smoke
house or bath room for hours. The
smokehouse was very dark, and Was
used as prison for the older children.
One boy, the eldest, had become so
desperate that he had attempted suicide
by hanging, but was discovered and cut
down. He afterwards escaped from
the Home, and had MT since been
hearl from. This was the boy whom
the managers had refused to give to
Judge Kendon. One girl, about three
years old, Julia, had disappeared one
evening, after supper, while Mrs. Wold
was matron, aud she had spent a greater
part Of the night in searching the
house and neighboring woods, but did
not know Of any advertisement or 9TH
er effort by the managers to find Julia,
except an inquiry Of the woman who
had brought her to the Home, who d.
MED all knowledge Of her and she had
never been heard from, so far as Mrs.
Wold knew. The physician had stated
to her both verbally and In writing,
that want Of suitable and sufficient
food Was the principal cause of the
sickness at The Home. The doctor
whose certificate had been published in
tho Sentinel vas not the regular physi-
clan.
DR.. Dreaming lost his temper, and
spoke ironically In his cross questioning,
but she was only the frmer in her ans
wers, although evidently suffering from
a painful degree Of timidity. At the
close of her testimony, the Rev. Doctor
made some very bitter remarks about
the conspiracy thus developed against
an estimable lady, and the suborned
witnesses yet to be examined. When
DR.. Dresden, the husband Of one OF
the new Board Of Managers, who with
his wife we're both waiting to tes.
tify as to the condition in which this
Board had found the Home, sprang to
his feet in towering passion, and de-
manded that the Rev. gentleman shoul!
take back his assertion. There was a
scene, and after high words the Rev.
Dr.. assured the DR.. who was not Rev.
that in charging the witnesses with
having come to testify falsely, from cor
rupt motives, he had meant no offense.
DR.. Dresden and lady left the house,
and the feeling behind them that prob
ably this little passage-at~arms might
be followed by street cowhidipg
Aunt Becky was called and took the
seat in front of tn Ceommittee, leaning
forward, with her elbows on her knees,
aud peering calmly into their faces.
She was in full dress-a bright orange
muslin, red apron and turban, black
lace shawl and bonnet, with an unusual
supply of flowers and bright ribbons
surmounting the turban. Her old car
nest, care-worn, soot-b black face made a
strong contrast, but she had been a
field hand, and her tropical love of dress
had been so repre- ssed in youth that it
burst forth in her days of freedom with
ungovernable strength, and nothing
was so acceptable present as some bit
Of bright colored finery. Both sight
and hearing were impaired by age, and
Margaret drew a stool and sat down
cbsc beside her, so that she could look
into her face and reassure her if neces.
sary. Perhaps it Is rot too strong q
term to say she loved Aunt Becky, and
she laid her arm across her knees with
the feeling Of caress. She could sec
the approving angel hand on that fan
tastically dressed old head, and whcr
Mr.. Goodrich said, checrfully "W ell
Aunty, what do you know about the
Homer
She moved her feet and said {:
| "Oh', Massa, l knows good deal bout
itw
! "Tell the gentlemen about Peter,'
said Margaret.
"Miss Merlyu," said DR.. Dreaming
severely, leaning stiff y forward ant
speaking in his most impressive style
II desire to treat you with rcspect
throughout this Investigation, and sEal
endeavor to do So" He hesitate
Margaret who was feeling very goo'
F humored toward Aunt Becky, turne'
). and looked M into his serene face. Th