Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-09-17
" TOWN POOR"
How Jane and Tom Went to
/! Housekeeping and Farming.

How Jane and Tom Went tc
/. Houseke eping and Farming.
They were both clown poor" She
had been left in a basket at the gate o.
the institution. He had only come to
1t year before our story opens, cling.
ing TO his dying mothers hand. She
remembered nothing but the bare walls
and 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 glimpses of the
world outside, and was, besides, two
years older-that was not very old, for
he was only ten.
He was to be bound ont to a 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 kept, but if
sounded well, and pleased certain peo-
pie to exact it. The chief thing was
to be rid of the expense of these
Pauper children as soon as possible.
She was happier than he, for she
was more ignorant; besides, she had
a dell! Such doll! 1t was 4 thick
lump of wood. about two feet long,
with holes burnt into it for features,
and snnEnI hot J,,.l
idol. An old lame sailor in the house
mad made it for her. and had given the
child a yellow silk pocket-handker-
chlef, with hole in the middle, to
make dress for it. She put the head
Through the hole, tied bit of red and
white cord she had found in the doc
tors Office about its waist, and it was
dressed. All day long she carried it
ABOUT with her, and at night it slept,
as she fancied, on her bosom. There
were times when she declared herself
TO have had troublesome hours with
her doll, who had not Eeen well. OF
course, she never called it Doll; it was
always her Child"
There was knot hole in the wooden
fence between the male and female
sides of the poor house grounds He
peeped through one morning, and saw
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 name?"
"Janc. What's yours?"
"Tom. You live here?"
"Yes. Do'you?"
"Yes."
'Whats that you We got2''
'My child. She isn't well to day."
"Bother.
mo. she isn't"
"Are there any more little girls in
there?r
II hree; but one has broken back
and goes to bed all the time; and two
are bigger than me and work. Are
there any boys in there?'
''Lots. hate 'em all. They make
fun of me.
Then hate 'em, too" said she.
. He came closer to the fence.
Are you hungry all the time?" he
asked.
mo. Every day before dinner she
gives me piece.
She" was the matron and "a piece
was slice of bread and butter.
'.Ah"' said he. enviously "I'd like
to see any of us ask for piece. I'm
most starved
"rll 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 good"' said the boy, ad-
miringly.
So the friendship began. Every day
the thick slice OF bread and butter was
shared at the knot-hole. 1t was good
thing for Tom. AS for Jane. it was at
that knOt-hole that she learned how un-
happy it was to be poor house child;
learnt that other little people had a
pleasant freedom unknown to her. He
had lived in the outer world, had Tom.
When? He only knew that it was be-
fore his father went to the war and was
shot, and before his mother died. Long,
scdit Gus talks did those two have con-
corning the authorities of the poor
house. Once Tom came to the knot
hole with great red bruise across his
face. where he had been struck with
rattan.
..Lots more on my shoulders. said
he. Jane. when I'm big III beat
that man--beat him till the blood runs.
l hate him"
That day Jane wept compassionate
tears, and gave Tom all her piece" pre-
tending she had had double allowance.
Moreover, she stuck the ''Child's" head
through the hole and told Tom to kiss
it. But neither bread and butter nor
kindness could help Tom very much.
He grew more and more wretched. He
became young Ishmael in the poor
house. He was tormented by the
small and fiogged by the great At last
he came to the knot ho!e one day. fu-
rious. unutterably wretched. and tod
Jane that he was going away.
Going awayr' said Jane.
''Going to run away" said Tom. IF
they catch me and bring me back tn
hang myself to the hook over my bed,
but I'll try first I'll CO.
Jane burst into tears.
go away!" she sobbed. "And I'll
never, never see you any more. Tomr'
Il didn't think about thai" said
Tom. Don't cry. Jane"
But she sobbed faster.
DON'T" said he; "don't! / say,
Jane. you come. too! I'm going to be
With ma"