Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-01-31
JOE2S DEVOTION.

OOd " I'LL ~ lOIN.
1t WAS y favorite Jest upon old
Farmer Collingwood'S farm to cal
Joe Ellison SnSy'S Mlmirer. And
SuSy. when she heard tile half
tainted joke, only smiled softly
and at tllcirnex meetingonl gave
Joe Il kinder or swcctcr smile.
She WAS the orphaned daughter
of ii country Clergyman, whose sole
! lie gacy To her had been the best ed
ucailon his own profound learning
could enable him to give her,
1 When Sh, was but ;tlitlle girl hen
mother died. and she had been hel
fathers housekceper, scholar and
companion until her nineteenth
birthday, when the Rev. Stephen
Coylc was likewise taken from the
child to his hast long rest. The
good people of the parish, knowing
SuSy'S advantages Tor study, and
her old home being tile parsonage,
she had removed her personal pos
sessions and had taken up her
abode 1T Farmer Collin.roodl's, he
having for Years "boarded" the
school na'nm.
1t was a merry. happy farmers
household where SuSy lived. Julie
and Mollc Culingwnod were
strong armed, bunnirg damselS.
full of coquettiSh grace, and with
lond voices and active habits
Charles and James, the SonS, were
hne specimens OF young farmers.
and the old man aud his wife were
kind.hearted, lonely country folks.
She had been out but IL little
time in her POSITION as nslrllctreS>
IL the TOW headed Youngsters Of
Brent Hill, when cunning up the
road from school late onasnnner'S
afternoons, she heard Mailing and
groanS in one of the cottages. where
often before she hid heard the
Samle sounds.
Poor joel she whispered pitt
fully.
For she knew a dcformcd idiot
WAS being beaten by Il cruel mas
/ ter. But on that afternoon, as she
drew near the cottage, the door
suddenly flew open and the idiot
/ linpcd bowling and speeding It's
! fast rs his infirnitics allowed, out
at the opening, while followed him.
Il strong brutal man, half drunk,
] furnishing IN immense c0whide.
Tic man curslng and swearing,
held the whip over the covering,
shrinking lad, but when it fell 1t
struck hot Joe bat Susy, who bent
over him, one arm raised, to ward
oil the blow. Brute us he was the
all.drunkrn wretch stood ayh;tSl
when the heavy lash cut across
SuSy'S slender arms and shoulders.
II beg your pardon, ma'am," h.
said, Il dld not see You III The way"
..Iiow can yous" she cried, her
pale checks crin>on with womanly
lndlsnation-,"how can you, a
strong man, strike Il poor trembling
! boy like tilat-a boy whose inhrm.
titles should appeal for protection To
any man who walls not an arrant
cowal1I7'
'Wrll, come now, that's pretty
strong said the man. "Don't
feed and lodge him tor what he
does, and amt [ gotta right to beat
hun If he does everything wrong:
He lon's earn his salt, he ,lon't."
Don't keep him then"
II guess you're right. wont;
Joe you may go to the mischief,
but don't come here again."
Tie good people at the farm
looked ratheraStunished when SuSy
appeared, followed by the STOPPING,
limping figure of the village IDIOT
But The farmer broke into hearty
laughter when she told of her i'll
lerlerence and begged shelter for
the boy.
Stay herea OF course he can
stay here,' he said. "We'll find
something for the poor bcggar to
do. But to think of your spunkIn@
up to Bob Carteratter that lasllon.
I'll have given my best COW to see
lit. A little white bantom pecklIls
{, mad bull would be nothing 10 IT,
And he ran oil. Well, well. Here
Charley, show Joe the room ovcl
Tile barn. He eau sleep there, and
hell soon learn where 10 come u
meals
So The idiot found his hard bed
on tic lloorreplaced by IL cosy barn
chamber, his scantl food exchanged
for generous plenty and for blows
kicks and curses, and for hard w0lk
ov.rtasking his brain, lie had k'nc
words and light labor suited to his
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