Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-11

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a hearing.
Mr.. Editor, were you ever at the poor
house? | mean did you ever visit there
If you did, why don't you tell us some
thing more about it in your paper? If Vol
have never been, it may not be amiss 70
me to tell you of visit l had there 10
long ago. You see, when 1 moved to tn,
city, was told by the knowing ones tina
l must not be so old-fashioned, and do a.
the town folks did, or they would know
was fresh from the country. And in Jan
uary it did really seem to me that ever,
body IN town was going or talking about
going to the poorhouse, prompted, pre-
sumo, by various motives. l dare say,
was not the only one whose sole cause was
the near relation bear to Mother Eve.
When the excitement was very high, one
beautiful Spring-like day, all things favor
ing, had horse hooked up which oft and
many time hath made his mile in less
than three minutes, and with an eye sin
gular to precious old time, | intended to
make flying trip TO this place, which
has created no little sensation of
late. But la! would you believe; with
my great hurry and fleet horse, | was
two long hours going about five miles q
| think It's called.) We did pretty well un-
til We reached creek, nearly two miles
from the place, after whichwe were Obliged
to ride and walk alternately. thought of
my schOoldays when L read of LeOnidas
and the Narrow PISS as We chung to the rails
around the fence corners, in order to avoid
sticking fast in the mud, and then that old,
rough rocky hill-road made me wonder If
the author Of Jordan am hard road, had
ever been to the pOorhouse. Yet the
promise is to them that hold out faithful,
so after walking and riding, tOiling and
resting, L came in sight of the promised
land and not little to my qualification
either.
Everything looked lonely to me Of course,
but IN much better condition than | had
any reason to expect. However, l did not
look for land that flowed with milk and
honey, for l see many miserable little huts
with destitute inmates, who are bearing
the burden and the heat Of the day with
out any complaint, and thought those who
were here had not even such aud hence a
home was prepared for them by the county.
saw that orchard or brier-patch which
looked quite barren at this particular sea
son, but my little four year old boy insisted
that l should let him run and see if there
were any more pumpkins up there; he said
Mr.. IL. and Bob got some pretty, long
green pumpkins (watermelOns) up there
last summer, and he ate most as much as he
could. So you see it did produce if it does
not now, and l thought perhaps each
field might produce its portion
in due season, but then remembered this
was the place where the labOrer cease from
tOiling and the weary are at ease, ard like
the misletoe which so beautifully adorns
many trees on the wayside, its inmates
might at least live, if not flourish, from the
bounty of these who have been more fortu-
nate than themselves.
went in first to see those old grand
mothers whose snow-white locks and wasted
forms told but too plainly their sun of life
had dipped exceedingly low in the horizon
OF time talked with all in that room
freely, and when | expressed my surprise
at the good condition of that room, with
one accord l was told they were as well
provided for as reasonable people could ex-
pect, and all the complaint had its founda- |
ton from one wOman's testimony. praised |
their room, and begged them, for the COM |
tort OF those old ladies, let it never be 9TH |
erwlse. They said other rooms might be |
as neat as theirs but for the want of energy
and inclination. l thought it not a thing |
incredible the self-safe reason brought some /
there. saw idiots, the aged and infirm,
who were truly worthy objects of charity. |
Gladly would | see them as comfortable as
possible. l also saw women, white and |
black, whose strength if L only posses sed l |
would feel the wealth Of a millionaire; vet
| am proud to have the will, knowing the
way is a natural consequence.
did not visit the colOred department
for the want Of time, but | saw as passed
along an old man bowed down from toll
and age. How sad | felt as | thought of
his deplOrable condition, for well know it
was not his fault that he was not still.in
his clay-daubed cabin, with master to pro-
vide for and take care of, as in days of yore.
Poor old man, thought freedom came
but too late for your good, and
was glad to learn the white
had not forgot to prepare place for the
poor old WORKOUT servant from whom his
master had been freed. l did not fail to
give the time-hOnored cook a hearty call
which brought wildly to mind my child
hood days. Even away back when time to
me was young when after her cooking |
ate many hearty meal, asked why all
his complaint. She said we have ungrat-
Iul beings here who will not be satisfied
with anything.
For instance, she said there was a man
here who, like the prodigal son, had vast
ed his means i'll riOtOus living, who was
DasSionately fond of coffee, on being told of
he rise in this commodity, replied with an
bath: lie wished to see the day when it
would be three dollars per pound so every
)ne alike would have to do without. We
cad of the hog that ate the aeorns
without looking up to give thanks to the
hand which thrust them down but we have
10 reason to believe it complained thereof.
l did NOT take any old clothes for the best
If reasons, had none. / know you will
)egin to say or at least TO think, it is more
blessed to give than to receive. This | re-
IliZed in giving away the last garment l
,ould well spare, without putting my own
lear little ones to bed on washing DAYS, and
o those too, who had neither men nor
money to help them along inthis cold world.
know Of widows who are toiling day
Ifter day, who are glad enough to get cof-
ee without sugar as just recompense for
hese honest toll, and they pass along I'M
observed. l know distance lends enchant-
nent, but if We wOnld discharge our duty
It home there would be no need OF going
broad.
And why the human heart will overlook
lome affairs and seek to relieve foreign
rouble l can't tell. Nevertheless. it is
rem so. Being reminded by the last rays
# the setting sun, it is now high time | |
vas at home, | bid adue TO the poorhouse
md its inmates, feeling ASSUMED they We're /;