The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-07-19
CRAZY STRANGE.
BY W. T.

The summer sun, blazing hotly ovel
The field of waving grass, Of stiff greer
corn, with the tassels of yellow sill
moving lazily in the breeze, over field
wood and stream, looked also into tn,
|in6rmary Of the almshouse at Benton
and through the uncurtained window
fell upon the pauper sufferers.
One by one it kissed with burning
touch the fevered faces upon the coarse
pillows, till it reached q cot in the fal
corner, where nurse was busted abou
one Of the paupers, by name, in that sac
place, Crazy Strange.
Where she got the name no one knew
what other one she bore no one guessed
where she came from no one had dis
covered.
Thirteen years before, when the frs
snow of the winter was whitening the
ground, farmer had driven to the aims
house with an unconscious woman
wearing wrapper over q nightdress
and dainty slippers upon unstockinget
feet.
The farmer had picked her up on th.
road, and left her with the matron. Oul
Of the deep, deep swoon she awakened
to dull insanity, never violent, bu
wandering always.
She could do little at first, but was
trained to mortal duty, and so for thir
teen weary years had lived treadmil
existence, working in the almshouse.
q The pretty wrapper, the dainty slip
|pers, were long before worn out. Th'
brown hair bad grown gray, the large
blue eyes dim, the fair brow was lined
with wrinkles.
accomplishing, gentle and docile, tn
fair, unconscious woman had aged rap
idly, living in appearance more thar
double the thirteen years spent in th,
Benton Almshouse.
As the sun crept slowly up her pillow
she opened her eyes. They had been
wildly delirious for many days, dull and
y;isstio'for many years, and the nurs,
was startled to see the steady light o.
reason IN ner gsxe
SHOW came heref :" the patient ask
ed
"You've heen sick!''
"Sick7 How long2'
"About two weeks! y
Sand where am II"
"In the Benton AImshouse!"
s'An almshouse 2" was the startled
cry, .sand / have been here two weeks ?
"Bless you, you've been In the aims
house thirteen years."
A wailing cry rang out on the sum.
mer air, but sounds of misery were only
too common in that abode of suffering
and no one needed but the nurse. Some
womanly compassion still left, she saii
to child who was playing near th'
window:
500 and ask Dr.. Ashurst to come
here directly"
"Doctor Budd is in the Office" said
the child
81 want DR.. Ashurst Find him =
For" she said, pulling her head in, she
was here when she came.
She talked soothingIy to her patient
who lay in mute misery, seeming stunned
by her wakening to consciousness.
Presently a tall, elderly gentleman
came in.
"You sent for me, Mrs. Jonesi' he
said.
"Yes, sir" was the whispered reply
81 think Crazy Strange must be dying.
She come to her senses"
In q moment the Doctors fingers
clasped the slender wrist Of the patient
and he looked kindly into her blue eye:
that met his own. calmly, bat with q
terrible depth of woe in thei. express
ion.
.The nurse tells me have been here
thirteen years." the faint voice said.-
"Can you tell me how came ?"
The doctor told her all be knew.
"How far are we from the river :"
Doctor Ashurst started
"Fifty miles at least in a. direct line,
he said.
"Do you remember the burning Of 9
ship called the Reindeer2 ?"
eyes"
IL must have been saved from that
I was on board with my husband. He
was very ill, threatened with cousump.
ton. I remember nv terror at the fire
the confusion, the hasty snatching ot
some clothing, for it was night.
thought it was all yesterday"
The doctor, Injured to dreadful reve
lations, was moved deeply by the patien
pathos of the woman's voice as she tolt
her story
"Do you remember a locket yor
wore7" be asked.
"Yes. 1t had my daughters picture
and hair. My little girl was FIVE years
old when we left her with my husband
mother"
II have the locket for you. We usu'
ally lock up such valuables till the owne
calls for them."
"Doctor, am l dving?"
~ think not. Your pulse is stronge,
than it was yesterday, and the fever has
left you, but without prostration."
Scan l ever be we'll enough to g
home p
II think you can. Shall I write fol
you'"
sNo; l will 60 back unannounced.-
Who can tell the changes there2 Their
may be another in my place, and ] hav
been pauper thirteen years! l vii
not shame them.s