River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-08-29

But it was not so easy to control the
boys. When they saw the lank, ungain
ly lad, with ragged woman's shaw
about his shivering body, they dubteo
him .'Sukeyn on the spot, and thereafter
they never lost chance to torture him
They dropped their voices to whisper
now, lest Helen, their sister, should heal
them.
Hes MORALLY afraid of fire." sale
Harry, rising softly. Nov hear hin
YELL"
He crept into the kitchen. thrust stick
into the fire, and when it was lighted
held it close to the lads nose. The pool
creature gave wild shrek, sprang to hi:
feet, and danced wildly about the room
as Henry pursued him with the rec
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 skunk back to his lessons, went up
TO the boy.
"Joseph Josephr' she said, soothingly,
s'it's 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'm burn em!" he chuckled. "Ill
burn EN- y
One evening not long after this, the
| farmer and his wife sat on the porch,
watching Josephs queer antics in the
poultry yard. He was dancing ard talk
| lag to the chickens as If they were h-
man beings.
you did not tell me that boy was an
| IDIOT said Mrs Cochran to her husband,
"or | never should have consented to
have him in the house. There Is some
thing malignant in his eye"
Nonsensel' replied the farmer Hes
perfectly harmless. II you had seen The
beastly den out of which l took him,
you never would have the heart to drive
| him back to it. l am afraid our boys
| torment the poor creature
"Will and Harry are as good-hearted
boys as liver' 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 water2"
made no reply, though he determined
that he would keep close watch on his
boys; for he was really man of tender
feelings.
They don't know how their teasing
hurts that poor wretch, he said to him
self He's only a grown-up baby"
But the boys kept their pranks care
fully hidden. Before their parents, they
were kind enough to Sukey, but out OF
their sight, they beset him with terrors
bv day and by night Lions roared at
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 ami his
| tormsnturs; but she did not guess at the
extent of their mischief. One uay she
met Sukey coming from the barn, carry
ing dark lantern and buffalo-hide.
with which VIII had masqueraded tie
night before. The boy was pale, wet
with perspiration and trembling violent
ly.
what is the matter, Joc9" she asked.
Its that Harry and Bllm he mutrer-
ed I've found m out! I'll pay EN- ] IL
fix the whole lot of 'em"
Helen quoted him as usual, and lee
ured the boys apart. Will was disposed
to be ashamed, until Harry reminded
him that "she was only girl" and that
''all girls were chieken-hearted."
so he threatened to fix us, eh?" con
tinued Harry. Come here, you Suke
See that horse-pond2 Into it you go to-
night Can you swim2
sNo. sir.
"All the worse for you, for in you go
Joe looked after his tormentors in a b
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 balf-witted 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 tae
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.
whats Sukey doing herel" cried Will
|
time measuring the pond vonder.n
"What do you mean, William2" said
his father.
Its only joke, sir. Joe under
stands
Let the poor boy alone. He is doing
no harm. Some coffee, my dear"
Joseph stood by the window, watching
Mrs. Cochran pour out the coffee He
tilted his body from heel to toe, and his
jaws moved as if he were talking. Blu
he made no sound until viii and Harry
were helped to coffee, when he cracked
his thumbs and chuckled.
/ Mother said Will, @this coffee has +,
queer taste. There's something gritty ii
/ it,
Nonsense! Jane always makes j
alike. You're as captious about your eat
ing as dyspeptic woman"
Will raised the cup again to to his lips
but set it down with grimace.
At that moment Mrs. Cochran passed
cup 70 Helen. isn't il as good as usual
Nelif' she asked.
"a little bitter, mamma Helen re
piled, and was lifting her cup mp agail
to drink j., when Joe spraDg forward ant
struck If down.
"You shan't drink it, don't mean t,
|, fix you he shrieked
Mr. Cochran caught him by the shoul
, der. "What have ysu joneln he asked
sternly.
The boy struggled madly to free him
/ self, laughing and sobbing both at once
Poison poison They'll die like tn
rats last week Hi-yiw
Mr.. Cochran flung him off as thougl
! he had been a venomous serpent.
Murderer He shall hang for this = h
t cried.
} Joe stood still moment. Then tn
meaning of the words reached his dul
| brain, and he turned and fed from th
| house without word.
. Some time elapsed before the Cochran,
in their terror and confusion, remember
: ed that none of them had yet dram
, enough of the coffee to harm them /
! was found, however, that it had enoug
: arsenic in it--that had been used in th
, barn to poison rats-to kill twenty mel