West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-10-02
TOWN POOR"
How Jane and Tom Went to
Housekeeping and Farming.

How Jane and Tom Went to
Housekeeping and Farming.
They were both ''town poor" She
had been left in n basket at the gate OF
the institution. He had only come TO
1t a year before our story opens, cling
ing to his dying mothers hand. She.
remembered nothing but the bare walls
n desolate grounds of the poor
house; the snubbings and snappings of
matron and assistants; the spare, com
fortress meals, and the unhome-like
place that was the only home she
knew. He had had glimpscs of tho
world outside. and was, besides. two
years older-that was not very old, for
he was only ten.
He was TO be bound out to n farmer:
she to some good housekeeper, who
would promise to teach her to read
her Bible. No one ever knew or cared
whether the promise was keyt. but il
sounded well, and pleased certain poo
pie to it The chief thing was
10 DO rd OF the expense of these
pauper children as soon rs possible.
She wa happier than he, for she
was moro ignorant; besides, she had
n dell! Such a doll! 1t was a thick
lump of wood, about w feet lone,
with holes burnt into it for features.
u looked somewhat like an Indian
idol An old lame sailor in the house
had made il for her. and had given the
child a yellow silk pocket-handker-
chief, with "A hole in the middle, to
make a dress for it. She put the head
through the hole, tied a bit of red and
white cord she had found in the doc
tor Office about its waist, and il was
dressed. All day long she carried it
about with her. and ut night it slept,
rs she fancied. on her bosom. There
We're times when she declared herself
10 have had troublesome hours with
her doll, who had not been well. OF
course, b called it Doll; it was
always her Child"
There was n knot-hole in the wooden
renee between the male and female
sides of the poor-house grounds. He
peeped through one morning. and saw
q Strange child sitting with her doll on
a large stone.
IL say" said he, come here"
She went to the fence at once
whats your nameP"
"Jane. What's yours?"
TON. You live hereP"
Eyes. Do your"
Eyes"
whats that you've got?"
"My child. She isn't well to-day"
''Botherl'
"No, she isn't"
"Are there any more little girls in
thereP"
Three; but one has a broken back
and goes TO bed all the time; and two
are bigger than me and work. Are
there any boys I'm thereP"
lots. l hate EN- all They make
fun of me-"
Then / hate 'em, too" said she.
He came closer 10 the fence.
Are you hungry all the timer" he
asked.
mo. Every day before dinner she
gives me a piece"
She" was the matron. and "a piece,
was a slice OF bread and butter.
"AhT' said he. e%nviously. I'D like
10 sec any of us ask for a piece. I'm
most starved"
''Pn tell you what I'll do. Next
time ] get my piece III give you half
You come here tomorrow TO this hole
and I'll fetch it."
"Ain't you goodr" said the boy, adj
miringly.
SO the friendship began. Every day
the thick slice Of bread and butter was
shared at the knOt-hole. 1t was a good
thing for Tom As for Jane. IL was at
that knOt-hole that she learned how nm
happy It was TO be a p%oor-house child;
learnt that other little people had "a
pleasant freedom unknown TO her. Ho
had lived in the outer world. had Tom.
When? He only knew that if was be-
fore his father went to the war and was
shot, and before his mother died. LONG.
seditOus talks did those two have con
corning the authorities OF tho poor
house. Once Tom camc to the knot
hole with a great red bruise across his
face, where he had been struck with n
rattan.
Lots more on my shoulders. said
be. "Jane, whom I'm bic TN beat
that man--beat him til the blood runs
] hate himi'
That day Jane wcpt compassionate
tear, and gave Tom All her piece" pre-
tending she had had double allowance
Moreover. She stuck the "ChiId's" head
through Che hole and told Tom 20 kiss
D. But neither bread and butter nor
kindness could help Tom very much
lie grew o and moro wrctcbod BE
became o young Ishmael in the poor
house. He was tormented bV tho
small and logged by the great AtIa4t
De came 20 the knot hole one day. fu-
nons, unuttorably wrcfchcd. and tod
Janc that be- wee going away.
Going awayi' said Jane.
''oing 10 run away. said Tom. 'If
they catch me and bring mo back I'm
hang myself o. tho hook over my bed.
but I'D Try first TH 20"
Jane burst .Dt0 tears
go away, she sobbed 'And TN
never, mover sec you any more. Toni
81 didn't think ab0ut tbat ssaI
Tom. "Don'i cry. jane"
But she sObbpd faster
"Don'tf' .aid he don't, I sac
Jane, you come. too I'm going TO 6e
o farmers shall wsat = uaA Come
with me-"