The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-09-18

DEe was nap lndu ne, lot Snc was
more Ignorant; beside, she had a doll !!
Such a doll 1t was a 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 a yellow
silk northumberland, with hole in
the middle, to make a dress for it. She
put the head through the hole, tied a 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 lancied, 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 pecped
through one morning, and saw a strange
child sitting with her doll on a large
stone
81 say" said he, "comc here"
She went to the fence at once.
whats your namc"
'Janc. What's yoursW
"Tom. You live here"
"Yes Do you"
eyes"
''What's that you've got?'
''My child. She isn't well to-day"
"Bother!"
''No, she isn't"
care there any more little girls in
there"
"Three; but one has broken back
and goes to bed all the time; and two
arc bigger than me and work, Arc
there any boys in there"
''Lots. | hate EN- all, They make
fun of me-"
"Then hate en- too, said She.
lie came closer to the fence.
care you hungry all the timc2" he
asked
"No. Every day before dinner she
gives me piece
"She" was the matron, and 'picce''
was slice of bread and butter.
"Ah' said he, obviously, I'd like to
see any of us ask for piece. I'm most
starved"
'1'n tell you what I'll do. Next time
get my piece I'll give you half You
come here to morrow to this hole and
I'll fetch it."
"Aint 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 1t was to be a poor house child
learned that other little people had a
pleasant freedom unknown to her. He
had lived in this outer world, had Tom.
Whenl He only knew that it was be
fore his father went to TIE war and was
shot, and before his mother died. Long,
seditious talks did those two have con
corning the authorities of the poor house.
Once Tom came to the knot hole with s
greaS red bruise across his face, where
he had been struck with a rattan.
"Lots more on my shoulders, " said he
'Jane, when I'm big I'll beat that maj
beat him till the blood runs. | hate
HIM"
That day Jane wept compassionate,
tears and gave Tom al her piece" pre-
tending she had had double allowance
Moreover she stuck the chid's heaC
through the hole ana told Tom TO ks!
it, But neither bread and butter no
kindness could help Tom very much II,
grew more and more wretched. He be
came young Ishnael in the poor-house
He was tormented by the small anC
foggcd by the great. At last he CAM
to the knot one day, furious, unut
telably wretched, and told Jane that h
was going away
'Going away said Jane.
"Going TO run away" said Tom. 81
they catch me and bring me back, II
hang myself to the hook over my bed
but I'll try first. I'll 60"
Jane burst into tears.
"Go away" she sobbed "And II
never, never see you any more, Tomm
81 didn't think about that" sal
Tom. Don't cry, Jane"
But she sobbed faster
"Don'tm said he; 'don't! | say
Jane, you come too! I'm going to be
farmer; shall want wife. Come wit
me-"
whats wife,"
"You," answered Tom; "'You sha
be my wife"
"What would have to do"
"Why, you must call me 'IIusban,
instead of Tom, and must call yo
Ma instead of Jane" | must work an
get you things, and you must cook an
mend my clothes"
'Ive got ball of cotton and a b
needle" said Jane. "She gave 'em
me-"
"Youll come, them" 8
eyes. Pm afraid; but, if coul
never see you any more, should cry q
the time"
'I'm going to be farmer" said Ton