The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-07
TOWN POOR.

possible.
She was happier than he, for she was
more ignorant; beside, she had a doll
Such a doll. 1t was thick lump OF
wood, about two feet long, with holes
burnt into it for features, and looked
somewhat like an Indian idol. An old
lame sailor in the house had made it for
her, and had given the child yellow
silk ockethandkerchief with a 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 doctors 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 been we'll. 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 poorhouse grounds. He peeped
through one morning, and saw strange
child sitting with her doll on large
stone.
~ saw" said he, "come here"
She went to the fence ut once.
"What's your namcf'
"Jane. What's yoursl"
"Tom. You live here"
"Yes. Do you!'
eyes,"
"What's that you've got"
''My child. She isn't we'll to-day"
"Bother."
''No, she isn't"
care there any more little girls in
there?'
'sThrcc; 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 'cm, too," said she.
He came closer to the fence.
"Arc you hungry all the tilne2" he
asked.
"No. Every day before dinner she
gives me piece"
'Shc" was the matron, and "piecc"
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"
.I'll tell you what I'll do. Next time
get my piece I'll gi"e 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 a good
thing for Tom. AS for Jane, it was at
that knot-ho!c that she learned how I'M
happy it was to be a poor-house child; /;
learned that other little people had n
pleasant freedom unknown to her. He
had lived in this outer world, had Tom.
When2 He only knew that it was be-
fore his father went to the war and WAS
shot, and before his mother died. Long,
scditious talks did those two have con-
cerning the authorities of the poor house.
Once Tom came to the knot-ho!e with a
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 l II beat that man
beat him till the blood runs. hate
him.
That day Jane wept compassionate
tears and gave Tom all her "picce," pre-
tending she had had double allowance.
Moreover, she stuck the child's head
through the hole apl told Tom TO kiss
it. But neither bread and butter nor
kindness could help Tom very much. He
= grew more and more wretched. lie be.
came young Ishmael in the poor-house.
He was tormented by the small and
fogged by the great. At last he came
to the knot-hole one day, furious, unut-
terably wretched, and told Jane that he
was going away.
"Going away!' said Jane.
"Going TO run away" said Tom. eft
they catch me and bring me back, I'll
hang myself to the hook over my bed,
but III try first. I'll 60"
Jane burst into tears.
''Go away" she sobbed. "And I'll
never, never see you any more, Tom!'
II didn't think about that" said
Tom. Don't cry, Jane"
But Slc SODDeQ raster.
"Don't.w said he; "don't! I say,
Jane, you come too! I'm going to be 6
farmer; l shall want wife. Come with
me-"
whats wife,"
"You." answered Tom; "You shall
be my wife"
''What would l have to do"
"Why, you must call me Husband
>-|>~ed. of Tom, and must call you
i6stead of Jane" Imust work ano
get you things, and you must cook aud
mend my clothes"
'I'vc got ball of cotton and big
needle" said Jane. "She gave 'em te
me"
you'll come, then7"
eyes. I'm afraid; but, if I coulG
never sec you any more, should cry al
the time"
"Pm going to be farmer" said Tom
"We'll 60 to where there's land, anc III
plant beans and corn. I've got some
put by in paper bag. took it ont
day. When they grow Pll pick them
I'll build q house big enough TO
us out of boards or something, and vel
never come back here again-never
"Ncver! Oh, dear!" and Jane begal
to cry. After while she said softly
"Of course Ishall bring the Child'?"
"Oh, yes" said Tom, land all you
clothes"
Then they decided how they were tt
escape, where they were to meet. hov
Jane was to make bold to ask for al
extra 'piecc" that day, pretending tn
dog had stolen hers, and how Tom wa
to hide half his dinner in his cap.
Then, as some summoning bell rang
they parted-Tom, bright and brisk will
his new ambition; poor little Jane, linn
with fear and rcmorse, but determined
to follow Tom, whatever his fortune
might be.
At ten that night Jane, with tear
swollen face, little bundle of calic'
irock and red flannel petticoat under he
arm, and "the Child" claspcd to he
heart, met Tom at the big tree outsid
the poor. house fence. There was moth
ing to steal in the establishment; so, a
no one ever wanted to get in, 1t was no
very hard to get oat.
Beside "the child" and the frock
Jane had her bread in bit of news
paper, and Tom had made quite bun
die of possessions. Hchad his little bae
- of corn and beans, a fire-shovcl, shirt
- his old shoes, and long stick with {
hook at the end, once the handle of al
umbrella On this he slung all thei
joint property, except the doll, and ad
dressed Jane as follows: