Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-29
"roM PooRH0usE."
Tnca Free Pres.

The old clock down stairs began to strike
midnight as be started up The wind was
| uskipg the old farmhouse rock and trem
BILE, and the powder-ike snow was driving IN
through every creviee. The wife slept un
disturbed, but the old farmer. Was nervous
and wakeful
Farmer Johns, sre you awaken
TWAS a voice which he had never heard
before. 1t sounded close at bis bedside,
ard yet. as be looked about the room. fairly
lighted by the cold winter moon shining In
through The window, he saw nothing but ia
uilisr objects.
II am your accuserl'' continued the voice
Il sm q witness against your
What have l done?' gssped Farmer
Jcbps.
LIST fall you had lad from the poor
house-lad ole bound TO you according to
law ....
"Sartin-sar,ir. and it was a poor specu-
alton fur me. The boy hain't ARMED his
rslt."
"YCu broke him down in the harvest field,
ard when you knew that he was i'll you re-
used him mtdicinesl The boy hasn't seen
a we'll day for three months.
"Yes, but boys arc great shirks How d
know whether he was sick or playing of on
meY
"You are lying to your conscience, Far
mer Johns! How has that boy Jared for
provisions and clothesT
"Hain't he got some Of my old clothes on
this very minitY' protested the farmer.
They is full o holes and patches, in course
but am going to take boy outer the poor
house and dress him in brosd-cloth! Sposen
be does SILVER little hiverin' don't hurt
anybody! He gifts huff to eat, reckon
leastwise all he Arms amt goin' to feed
nobody on sweetcske!
Think Of his sleeping in that cold and
dismal garnet such night as this" wbis-
pered the accuser
"All bis own fault" replied the farmer.
Il gin him a chamber by himself, but he
kept coughing and groanin' till | couldn't
sleep. Put it all or TO git sympathy, but he
made a mistake. Men the old woman
worked for what we've got, and others must
do the same"
"a straw bed-a ragged quilt, and the
cold enough to chill an OK accused the
voice.
"Ub! pshaw! You can't make me be
litve the boys of to-day are so much more
tender'n the boys of my time, 1t hain't
healthy fur boys to sleep too warm. He'll
wa,m Up at the wood pile as soon as day
light comes"
Farmer Johns, no true Christian can
talk as you do. You have neither mercy
nor charity"
"Poohl Got lots of it! And if wasn't
a Christian man how'd git to be deacon
in the chur h? That boy is a heap better
of n most OF EN-
His body is black and blue from the
lounC ings you have inflicted"
well. he shouldn't oversleep then"
You have heart Of stone, Farmer Johns.
II that boy dies you will be accused at the
judgment seat of his murder"
Nonsense! Nobody feels any more pity
for poor folks than do and If Tom Poor.
house dies it will be of eating too much"
This is the Oldest patient we have in the
asylum" said the guide as we halted at the
lower end OF the ward.
1t was grated door. looked through
ard saw al old man covering in corner.
After moment he rose up and approached
tie door and whispered:
"And at daylight l called and called him,
bat he didu't git up. | went up with the
horse.whip to teach him better'n to over
sleep on me that way, but Tom Poorhouse
wss dead on his straw bed, and the snow
had blowed in till it almost kivered him up"