West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-10-02

ana get you thlngS, N o must cook
and mend my clothes"
1.-Two n ball OF cotton and a big
needle" said Jane. 'tShe gave 'om to
me"
You'll come. thonp"
"1es. Pm afraid; but, IL ] could
never see you any more, | should cry
all the time"
Pm going TO. bc a farmer" said
ION. wen go to where there's
land, and I'll plant beans and corn.
Tvo got some put by in a paper bag. I
took 1t n day. When they grow III
pick them. I'll build a house big
enough for US out OF boards or some
thing, and wen never come back here
again-HeUCr."
"Never! O, dcarl' and Jane began
to cry. After awhile she said, softly:
course. | shall bring the ChildP'"
go, yes" said Tom. land all your
clothes"
Then they decided how they were TO
escape where they were to meet, how
Jane was to make bold TO ask for an
extra piece" that day, pretending the
dog had stolen hers, and how Tom was
to hide half his dinner i'm his car.
1hcn, as some sunmoning bell rang,
they partod-Tom, bright and brisk
with his new ambition; poor little Jane,
limp with fear and rcmorse, but de-
dermined to follow Tom, whatever his
fortunes might be.
AT ten that night Jane. with q tear
swollen face, n little bundle of calico
frock and red flannel petticoat under
her arm and 1.-The Child" clasped to
her heart, mel Tom ut the big tree out
side tho poor-housc fence. There was
nothing to steal in the establishment;
so, rs no one ever wanted to get in, it
was not very hard to get out.
Besides 1.-THE Child and the frock.
Jane had her bread in a bit of newspa-
per, and Tom had made quite a bundle
of possessions. He had his little bag of
corn and beans, "A tire-shovel. n shirt.
his old shoes and n long stick with n
hook at the end. once the handle of an
umbrella On this he slung all their
Joint property, except the doll, and adj
dressed Jane rs follows:
"Romcmbcr now, you are my wife,
and must do exactly rs / say-that's
the law; and | must be good to you and
do all the hardest work; but you must
cook and mend for me. and 1 think
you'd better begin TO call me Husband
right away"
Yes" sobbed Jane. go. isn't il
dark"
NO" said Tom; "bcsides, il it is.
all the better. We'd get into the woods
before they catch us. We shall be ont
OF Inc town by daylight"
Then they walked - Jane
stumbling often, but Tom held her hand
and did not let her fall. At length the
last little white house was passed; then
came the church with its tall spire. and
then long paling fences about bits of
meadow-land. They were in the coun-
try, but not yet in the woods, and both
children were growing very sleepy and
very tircd-so very tired that finally
there was nothing for it but to sit down
on the grass under u haystack, with
Toms head on James knee, and 90 fast
asleep.
Sunrise awakened them. They ate
their bread and butter, started on
again, and in Il few hours the woods
were all around them.
We're safe at last" cried Tom.
Nobody can ever find us here. I'll
build n house and plant my corn right
away. Do you know how longit takes
corn to growP Aud beans?"
No" ventured Jane, doubtingly-
mot long. guess"
al guess not" echoed Tom, obut i
wish we had some more bread and
butter"
BY and by the two explorers came
to a nice little spot in the woods close
to n pretty brook. 1t was very damn
but there was Il clearing which it was
easy to plant. Tom dug it over with
his fi%re-shovcl. and put in his beans and
corn in straight rows. Then. with an
old knife that was his greatest treasure.
he cut unierbrush and low branches
enough to make q queer kind of leafy
hut big enough for both to creep into.
1--WE n eat outdoors. We shall
only want n home at night and when il
rains, said Tom.
But Jane felt doubtful. Her little
flesh was black and blue already. and
yet the grass was long i'm the bayfield,:
here 1t was sparse and dry. Besides.
she wantedh her warm milk and water and
her slice Of bread and butter. Tom
found some hucklcbcrrios hard by. but
they did not help the empty stomachs
much. aud even at sunset the corn had
not begun to grow, neither did the
beans show their heads above the earthl
Suddenly an awful thought struck
Jane.
When it grows. Tom" she said.
we haven't any sauce pan to cook it
in"
More we haven't" said Tom. Then
nope dawned upon him. 1--WE could
roast the corn, said he, land / bet
there an apple-tree somewhere"
They wandered about looking for the
tree or more berries of some sort The
tree did not appear, but at last thev
found some berries-iust one or two AT
"A time and the poor children had
nothing else 20 eat. Hungry Tom could
have devOurcd his own shoes. Meek
Jane. before she lay down on the hard
yet damp ground. asked just one ques-
ton:
do you think the beans will grow
tonight Tom?"
81 told you to say Husband. " said
Tom; then adlol, griciorsly: Yes.
Ma, J suppose they will"
Then Jane put the Child" close N
her check, and slept the sleep Of the
weary.
Good Farmer Morton and his plump
wife. coming homcward from n visit to
their married daughter about dark next
day. Jet Che old mare walk as slowly as
sle pleased through the wood-patb.
They Dad bad tea aud were in no hurry.
Snddc"ly. amidst the sobbinp of the
little brook Che old lady heard p louder
sobbiug STILL
Peter she said, there's a child