Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-25
THE WORK-HOUSE BOY.

times the dying fire would throw sud
den glow over the great bare room and
the shining tin on the wall Every time
the light flashed out, big, uncouth body
which was curled upon the hearth moved
and grunted uneasily.
"Look at Sukey" cried Harry.
Cyl Suke' shouted Will, throwing a
book at the object on the hearth. But
whatever it was, it did not move.
Gle don't mind thumps Got too
many at the workhouse," said Will.
'Better go on with your sums, Willie y
said the gentle voice in the pantry, where
Helen was string up the bread.
The boys began to whisper, glancing
at the motionless figure on the hearth.
A month Or two before, Mr.. Cochran,
finding that he needed boy to carry
wood feed the pigs, and help in The
stables, and gone to the county poor
house and taken thercfrom on orphan lad
some sixteen years Of age.
Hes no Solomon, as you may see
he said to his wife 'sBut he can do the
work well enough. 1t is charity to
bring him out Of that wreatch4d den and
give him enough to eat. Don't let the
boys tease him"
But it was not SO easy to control the
boys. When they saw the lank, ungain-
ly lad, with a ragged woman's shawl
about his shivering body, they dubbed
him ''Sukey" on the spot and thereafter
they never lost a chance to torture him
They dropped their voices to whisper
now, lest Helen, their sister, should hear
them.
"He's mortally afraid of fire." said
Harry, rising softly. Nov hear him
yell
He crept into the Kitchen thrust stick
into the fire, and when it was lighted,
held it close to the lads nose The poor
'creature gave wild shrek, sprang to his
feet, and danced wildly about the room
as Henry pursued him with the red
brand
Helen came out, her hands all covered
with flour. She was little, voiced
girl, with quiet, but firm step. She
took the stick out Of Harry's hand, and
as he SUNK back to his lessons, went up
to the boy.
Joseph! Joseph" she said, soothingly,
Sits only fun. The stick can't hurt you.
See, here are some cookies"
Joseph took the cookies, and followed
Helen into the pantry, munching them
and casting vindictiVe glances in at the
boys.
"I'll burn em" he chuckled. en-
burn em."
One evening not long after this, the
farmer and his wife sat on the porch.
watching Joseph's queer antics in the
poultry yard. He was dancing and talk
To oh n =
man beings.
You did not tell me that boy was an
idiot" said Mrs Cochran to her husband,
COR | never should have consented to
have him in the house. There is some
thing malignant in his eye"
Nonsense' replied the farmor "He's
perfectly harmless. IT you had seen the
beastly den out Of which / took him,
you meyer would have the heart to drive
him back to it. | am afraid our boys
torment the poor creature"
Will and Harry are as good hearted
boys as liven' said their mother, ener-
geticly "Just look at Will-how ten
der he always is with the baby, And
didn't Hal risk his life when his friend
Joe fell into the water?"
Mr.. Cochran smoked his pipe and
made no reply though he determined
that he would keep close watch on his
boys; for he was really a man of tender
feelings.
They don't know how their teasing
hurts tnat poor wretch he said to him
self. He's only grown-up baby"
But the boys kept their pranl1s care
fully hidden. Before their parents, they
were kind enough to Sukey, but out of
their sight, they beset him with terrors
him from dark corners; fiery devils
blazed on the wall over his bed; gibber-
ing ghosts in white sheets moved about
his lonely garrett
Helen stood between the lad and his
tormentors; but she did not guess at the
extent OF their mischief One uav she
met Sukey coming from the barn, carry
ing g dark lantern and a buffalo hide,
with which VIII had masqueraded the
night before. The boy was pale. wet
with Precipitation and trembling violent
ly.
What is the matter, Joc!' she asked
''It's that Harry and Bill |" he mutter-
ed. I've found IN out! I'll pay EN- I'll
fix the whole lot of 'em! p
Helen quoted him as usual, and lee
tured the boys apart. Will was disposed
to be ashamed, until Harry reminded
him that "she was only a girl" and that
"all girls were chicken hearted
so he threatened to fix US, eh?n con-
tinued Harry. "Come here, you Suke
See that horse pond9 Into it you 90 to-
night Can you swim?
''No. sir.
Gall the worse for you, for in you go!"
Joe looked after his tormentors in alb
ject terror. Whenever the boys met him
him that day, they muttered "horse-
pond" under their breath.
If they had had an idea of the agony
which the poor halfwitted being under
went, they would have despiscd them
selves, being at heart manly boys.
In the afternoon Joseph disappeared,
bu returned, and was in the kitchen
before the bell rang, hanging over the
stove while old Jane, the cook, served the
meat. He watched her keenly as she
poured out the coffee, and when she
carried it in, followed her to the dining
room, where he crouched in one corner.