Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-12
TOWN POOR.

cllnging to his dying mothers hand.
She remembered nothing but the bare
walls and desolate grounds of the
poornouse; the snubblngs and snap~
pings of naatron and assistants; the
spare, cOmfortless meal, and the UNI
homely 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 out to farmer;
she to some good housekeeper, who
would promise to teach her to read
the bible.
She was happier than he, for she
was more ignorant, besides she had a
doll! Such a doll! 1t was a thick
lump of wood, about two feet long,
with holes burnt into it, feathers, and
looked somewhat ike an Indian idol.
OF course she never called it doll; it
was always her child
There was q knot hole in the wooden
fence between the male and female
sides of the poorhouse grounds. He
peeped through one morning and saw
a strange child sitting with her doll
on large stone.
1 say" said he, come here"
She went to the fence at once.
What's your name?"
Jane. What's yours2"
'"Tom. You live here2"
Eyes. Do y0u2"
yes"
whats that you've gotta"
MY child. She isn't we'll to-day"
''Bother?"
mo, she isn't"
Are there any more little girls
there?"
Three; but one has broken back
and goes tc bed all the time: and two
are bigger than me and work. Are
there any boys in there?"
''Lots. Ihate 'em. They make fun
of me-"
''Then I hate 'em too, !" said she,
lie 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 ne, enviously, "I'd like
to see any Of us ask for a piece. I'm
most starved. y
III tell you what I'll do. Next
time | get my piece I'll give you half.
You come here tomorrow to this hole
and III fetch it.
Amt you good!" said the boy,
admiringly.
80 the friendship began. Every
day the thick slice of bread and b11tter
was shared at the knot-hole. It
was good thing for Tom. AS for
Jane, it was at that knot-hole that she
learned how unhappy it was to be a
poorAouse child; learned that other
little people had q pleasant freedom
unknown to ner. He had lived in
this outer world, had Tom. When?
He only knew that it was before his
father went to the war and was shot
before his mother died. Long sedit>
lous talks did those two have concern
ing the authorities of the poorhouse.
Once Tom came to the knot.hole with
a great red bruise across his face,
where he had been struck with a
rattan,
Lots more on my shoulders, said
he, Jane, when | am big I'll beat
that man beat him till the blood
runs. hate him"
That day Jane wept compassionate
tears and gave Tom all her "piece, !"
pretending she had had double allow
ance. Moreover, she stuck the "Childs"
head through the hole and told him
TO kiss it. But neither bread and bat
ter nor kindness could help Tom
much. He grew more and more
Wretched. He became a you Ishmael
IN the poorhouse. He was tormented
by the small and logged by the great.
At last he came to the knot-hole one
day, furious, unutterably wretched,
and told Jane that he was about 10 go
away.
Going away I" said Jane.
Going 10 run away" said Tom.
eff they catch me and bring me back
I'll hang myself to the hook over the
bed; but I'll try first"
Jane burst into tears.
'Going awayi' she sobbed. "And
I'll never, never see you any more,
Toni"
II didn't think about that, ".said he.
Don't cry, Jane"
But she sohbed faster.
''Don'tl" said he; ''don't! I say,
Jane, you come too! I'm going to be
a farmer; I shall want wife. Come
with me-"
whats a wife?"
YOU" answered Tom; ''you shall
be my wife"
''What would I have to do2"
"Why, you must call me husband
instead of Tom, and must call you
Ma instead of Jane | must work
and you must cook and mend my
Clothes"
II have ball OF cotton and big
needless" said Jane. ''She gave 'em
to me-"
You'll come, then?"