The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-10
+" TOM PO0RH0USE."
t76 BE- Contintled,l


The old clock downstairs began 10 strike
midnight as he started up. The wind was
making the old farmhouse rock and tremble,
and tho powder-like snow was driving In
through every crevice. The wife slept un-
disturbed, but the old farmer was nervous
and wakeful.
"Far ner Johns, are you awakef"
IL was voice which he had never heard
before. IL sounded close at his bedside, and
yet, as he looked about the room, fairly
lighted by the cold winter mocn shining In
through the window, he saw nothing but
familiar objects.
III am your accuserln continued the voice
~ am witness against you"
"What have l doneP gasped Farmer
Johns.
LAST fall you took a Lad from the poor
house-had one bound TO you according 10
law
"Sartln--sartin, and IL was poor specula'
ton fur me. The boy hain't ARMED his
salt"
"You broke him d own in the harvest field,
and when you knew that he was i'll you re-
fused him medicinel The boy hasn't seen q
veil day for three months"
Yes, but boys are great shirks How'd
know whether he was sick or playing of
on meP
"You are lying to your conscience,
Farmer johns! How has that boy Jared
for provisions and clothesP
Hln't he got some of my old clothes on
this very miniti" protested the farmer.
"They is full o. holes and patches, in course,
but am Igoin; to take boy outer the poor
house and dress him in broad cloth! S'posen
he does shiver little-shivern' don't hurt
anybody He gifts 'nuff to eat reckon
leastwise all he Arms. | amt goin To feed
nobody on sweet cake
Think of his sleeping in that cold and
dismal garrett such a night as thisp wins
pered the accuser.
"All his own fault" replied the ia 'mer.
81 gin him a chamber by himself, but he
kept coughing and groanin' till l couldn't
sleep Put it all on to git sympathy, but he
made a mistake. Men the old woman
worked for what we've got, and others must
do the same"
"A straw bed-a ragged quilt, and the
night cold enough to chill an oxl' accused
tue voice.
"Oal pshawr You can't make me believe
the boys of to-day are so much more ten.
der'n the boys of my time. 1t hain't healthy
fur boys to sleep too warm. He'll warm up
at the wood-pile as soon day light comes
Farmer Johns, no true Christian can talk
as you do. You have neither mercy nor
charityl"
"Poohl Got lots of it! And if | wasn't a
christian man how'd l git to be deacon in
the church, That boy is a heap better of
n most of EN-"
"His body is black and blue from the
poundings you have inflicted"
"Well, lie shouldn't oversleep, then"
you have a heart Of stone. Farmer
Johns. If that boys dies you will be ac
cused at the judgment seat of his murderF
"Nonsensel Nobody feels any more pity
for poor folks than do and If Tom Poor
house dies it will be Of eating too much"
"This is the oldest patient we have in the
asylum said the guide, as we halted at the
lower end of the ward.
1t was grated door. / looked through
and saw an old man covering in a corner
After a moment he rose up and approached
the door and whispered:
"And at daylight 1 called and called him,
but he didn't get up. l went up with the
horse whip to teach him better'n TO oversleer
on me that way, but Tom Poorhouse was
dead on his straw bed, and the snow had
blowed in till il almost kiyered him upn