West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-05-01
"ToM PooRAOUSE."
FSrmcr Johns aud tho Paupcr hoy Rkht-
eouS Rctributiou.

warmer Johns aud tho faupcr Boy Wkht-
eouS Rctributlou.
The old clock down stairs began to
strike midnight rs he started up The
wind was making the old farmhouse
rock and tremblc, and the powdcr-liko
snow was driving in through every croy-
ice The wife slept mdiSturbcd, but
the old farmer was nervous aud wake.
ul
Warmer Johns. are you awaken
At was voice which ne had never
heard before II sounded close AZ his
bedside, and yet ms he looked about
the room, fairly lighted 10y the cold win
ter moon shining i'm through the VIM
dow, he saw rothing but familiar OBJ
iccts
II am your accu>cr," continued the
voice Il am witness against your
What have donc? gaspcd Farmer
Johns.
Last fall YOU took lad from tho
poorhoUsc had one bound to YOU 40
cording To law"
"Satin Satin, and il was poor
speculation fur me. The boy lain't
Armed his salt
You hrokc him down i'm tho harvc,t-
l'eld, aud when you knew that hn was
ill YOU refused him mcdicinc,l Tie boy
hasn't seen n well day for three
months.
"lcs, but boys arr great shirk,.
HOW'D know whether he was sick or
playing on ON me2'
You are living to your conscience.
Farmer Johns How has that boy Jared
for provis' s'ons and ,lothcs"'
"llain' the got some of my { ld clothes
on this very minit' protested tie farm
cr They is full O holes, I'm course
but am ! going to take boy outer the
poor-houSc and dress him IL broad
cloth, Sposcn he does shivcr "A little
shivcrin' don't hurt anybody lie gifts
nun to eat | reckon lcastwi-, ali he
Arms ain't goin to feed nobDiy ON
swcct.cakcw
Think Of his sleeping in tiat cold
and dismal garrct such anght as this,"
whispered the accuser
"All his own fault" replied the
farmer II gin him chamber by him
self but he kept coughing and groaun
till ] couldn't sleep. Put il all on to Git
sympathy. but he made mistake
Men the old woman worked for what
we've got, and others must DO the
same. y
"A straw bed ragged quilt, and
the night cold enough to chill an oN''
accused the voice.
"Oh! pshaw! You can make me
believe the boys of to-day are so much
more trnder'n the boys OF my time. II
hahn { healthy fur boys TO sleep too
warm. He'll warm up al the wood pile
as soon rs daylight comes.
Farmer Johns, no true Christian can
talk n you do. You have neither
mercy nor charityr
Pooh! Got lots of it! And if /
wasn't Christian man how Il git TO
bc n deacon in the church? That boy
is II heap better on n most of EN-.
Ellis body is black and blue from the
poundipgs YOU have inflicted.
We'll, he shouldn' oycrslccp. then.
"You have heart OF stone. Farmer
Johns II that boy dies you will be
accused at the judgment-seat Of his
murdcr!''
"Nonscnsc Nobody feels any more
pity for poor folks than ! do, and if
Tom Poorhou,c' dies IL will be of eat
ing too much
This is the oldest patient we have in
the asylum said the guide, rs we
halted at the lower end Of the ward.
IL was n grated door. ! looked
through and saw an old man covering
in corner. After moment he
rose up and and approached the door
and whispered:
"And at daylight called and called
him, but he didn't git up. ! went up
with the hOrse-whip to teach him bet
tern TO oyer-lecp on me that way, but
Tom Poorhousc was dead on his straw
bed, and the snow had blowcd IN ill il
almost kyercd him up. '-DetroH Free
Press.