The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-28
THE NORK-HOuSE BOY.

THE WORK-HOUSE BOY.
The Cochran boys had just given feed
to the stock, and were at work over
books and slate at the diningroom table.
The door in the kitchen was open. and at
times the dying fire would throw a sud-
den glow over the great bare room and
the shining tin on the wall. Every time
the light flashed out. a bic. 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.
"He don't mind .thumps. Got too
many at the workhouse," said Will.
"Better go on with your sums, Willie,"
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, fed the pigs, and help in the
stables, and gone to the county poor
house and taken therefrom on orphan lad
some sixteen years Of age.
''He,s no Solomon, as you may see,'
he said to his wife. "But he can do the
work well enough. It is charity to
bring him out Of that wreatched 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, ungaiin-
~ 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 a whisper
now, lest Helen, their sister, should hear
them. -
'.He's morssaily afraid Of fire." said
Harry, rising softly. "Now 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, low-voiced
girl, with quier, 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! Joseph!' she said, soothingly,
otis only fun. The stick can't hurt you.
See, here are some cookies" g..
Joseph took the cookies, and followed
Helen into the pantry, munching them
and casting vindictive chances in at the
boys:
burn 'em!"
One evening not ,ong after this. fha
farmer and his wife sat on the por h.
watching Joseph's queer antics in the
poultry yard. He was dancing and talk
ing to the chickens as II they were II -
man beings.
"You did not tell me that boy was an
idiot" said Mrs. Cochran to her husband,
cor I never should have consented to
have him in the house. There is some
thing malignant in his eye"
perfectly harmless. II you had seen the
beastly den out Of which I took him,
you never would have the heart to drive
him back to it. I am afraid our boys
\ torment the poor creature ~
\ "Will and Harry are as good-hearted
Yooys as live!" 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?' <s a@
Mr.. Cochran smoked his pipe and
made no reply, though he determined
that he would keep close watch on his
boys; far 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 grown-up baby.'
But the boys kept their FRANKS care
fully hidden. Before their parents, they
were kind enough to Sukey, but out of
their sight, they beset him with terrors
by day and by night. Lions roared at
him from dark corners; fiery devils
blazed on the wall over his bed; gibber-
ing ghostsin 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 Jay she
4 met Sukey coming from the barn, carry
ing dark Lantern and buffalo.hide
with which VAL rad masqueraded tie
night before. The boy was pale. we,
with perspiration ana trembling violent
".
what is the matter, aoc1n she asked
cts that Harry and BIZ p he mutter-
ed. I've found IN out! III pay EN-! I'll
Tx the whole lot Of 'em!"
Helen quoted him as usual, and lee
ii %s