Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-08-05

find in the Church Journal:
A little further to the right, on
high ground, stands in a pretty
garden, a long red brick building,
two stories high; this is Hillchurch
Work-house; facing it is a large
field where (this being Saturday
afternoon and the work done,
Hillchurch pauper boys are having
a glorious game of cricket, few
old men are digging potatoes,
others gathering beans, ETC., for
Sundays dinner. The flower bor-
derS, and smooth, weedleSs, gravel
paths are the glory Of those pau
pers, whose duty and privilege it is
to work in the garden. All inmates
who are not invalids are required to
do something, either in the house
or grounds. In the parlor we we're
kindly welcomed by Mrs. S., the
matron, 40 strengthening woman
with a bright face, a kind heart,
and rather commanding voice;
she takes us first to see the old
mems day room, spotlesSly clean,
almost oppressively SO; its monot-
ony is relieved by several scarlet
geraniums growing in bright green
painted flower-pots, ranged along
each window-sill. A dozen old
men are chatting in a circle; among
them is blind Richard, who does all
the pumping for the house, which
occupies hlm four hours day.
| Richard is the traveller of the house
hold, having been as far as Boston
America, making rope, till rheu
matism in the head deprived him
of sight. Wonderful tales he cal
tell about the other side Of the
water, and "them there Yankee,
with the great big country where
one chap is just as good as t'other
and where every fellow must look
right sharp after himself" After
cordial invitation from Richard
to come again, we passed or
to the dining-room, or rather
hall, which is used on Sunday as 9
chapel, One of the curates, who il
also chaplain to the work-house
holds divine service there at 4 pm.
for the benefit of those who are toe
infrm to walk to church. TheI
comes the school-room, where fifty
pauper children are taught, by
resident mistress, till they are four
teen years old, when the Board o
Guardians find them places IN th'
town, and start them out in life
! This room leads into tho nursery
where babies are tumbling abou
playing with toys and being watched
over by a few young mothers
Then comes o long row Of bath
houses, out of which issues severa
healthy-looking girls, whose face
shine with the plentiful use Of soaI
and water; we cross over with ther
to the day-room, where they men
their clothes and play; they ShoV
us dolls and skipping ropes, sen
them by the "lady at the Hall
/, last Christmas. This leads int
t the wing of the house appropriate
to the old women; flowers agair
and amuch more used aNl home-lik
Hook about this than there was i
the mems day-room; these oil
ladies are occupied in knitting an
sewing. Two or three small brow
teapofs simmer on the hob guarde
by a small witch-like old lady wit
dangerous looking black eye
These p ople being more or LEI
rheumatic are allowed the priyileQ
q Of making and drinking their t(
here. instead of walking to an
: from the dining-hall. They al
wonderfully proud of their plant
: from which they give us cutting
+! We promised to return soon an
read them some stories We we
now taken up stairs to see the do
mitories, all spotlesSly clean al
quite comfortable. Each inma
has a separate bed. Some gir
y were scru6bing the floors. 1t SCENE
II to us utterly impossible to nal