Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-10-02
"TOWN POOR

| They were D0th Town poor. oHe
had been left in basket at the gate of
the institution. He had only come to it
a year before our story opens, elinging
to his dying mothers hand. She re-
membered nothing but the bare walls
and desolate grounds of the poor-house
the snubbings and snappings of matron
and assistants; the spare, comfortless
meals, and the unhome-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 her
Bible. No one ever knew or cared wheth-
er the promise was kept, but it sounded
well, and pleased certain people to ex-
act it,. The chief thing was to be rid of
the expense of these pauper children as
soon as possible.
She was happier than he, for she was
more ignorant; besides, she had 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 Il yellow
silk pocket-handkerchief, with a hole in
the middle, to make dress for it. She
put the head through the hole, tied a
bit of red and white cord she had found
and it was dressed. All day long she
carried il about with her, and at night
! il 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 well.
OF course, she never called it Doll it
was always her "Child." sT
! There was knot-hole in the wooden
fence between the male and female sides
of the poor-house grounds. He peeped
through one morning. and saw a strange
child sitting with her doll on large
stone.
81 say" said he, "come here"
She went to the fence at once.
"What's your name?"
"Jane. What's yours?"
"To,n. Do you live here?"
eyes. Do you" -
eyes"
"What's that you've got?"
"My child. She isn't well to-day"
"Botberi"
"No, she isn't"
care there any more little girls in
there?"
"Three; but one has a 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 EN-, too," said she.
He came closer to the fence.
"Are you hungry all the timer" he
asked. ar
mo. Every day before dinner she
gives me a piece." t...aa.
"She" was the matron, and "a piece"
was Il slice of bread and butter.
"Ah!" said he, enviously. "Pd like
to see any of us ask for a piece. Im
most starved. ,"
en- tell you what I'll do. Next time
l get my piece III give you half. You
come here. tomorrow to this hole and
I'll fetch it,"
"Ain't you good!" said the boy, adj
miringly.
So the friendship began. Every day
tlIe 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-hole that she learned how un-
! happy it was 10 be a poOr-house child ;
! learnt that other little people hae a
pleasant freedom unknown 70 her. He
had lived in the outer world, had Tom.
When? He only knew that it was be-
fore his father went to the war and was
shot, and before his mother died. Long,
seditious talks did those two have con-
cerning the authorities Of the poor
house. Once Tom came to the knot-hole
with great red bruise across his face,
where lie had been struck with rattan.
'Lots more on my shoulders" said
he. "Jane, when I'm big I'll beat that
man-beat him till the blood runs.
hate him!"
! That day Jane wept compassionate