Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-06-22
TOWN POOR.
ny JAMES N. lIrrcmrsos.

They were both ",own poor She
had been left in basket ., the gate OF
the institution. lie had only come TO
/, "a year before our story opens. eliagins
to bis dying mothers hand. She re-
membered nothing bu, the bare walls
.nd desOla,e grounds Of the poor-hon'e;
the .nubbing. aud snsppings OF mA,fon
and assistants; the spare. oomforiles'
meals. and the unhome.like place ,ha,
Was the only home she knew. lie had
bad slimp.es Of the world outside. aud
was. besides. two years older-,ha, was
no, very old. for he Was only 10.
lie Was 10 be bound on, to farmer;
she to some good hou'ekeePer. who
would promise to teach her 10 read the
Bible. No one ever knew OF eared whe,h.
or the promise Was kept. but iisounded
we'll and pleased certain people to exact IT,
The chief thing was TO be rid OF the es'
pen.e Of these pauper children . soon
as possible.
She was happier than he. for she va.
more ignorant, besides she had = doll.
And such doll! l, was Thick lump OF
wood. about two feet long. with holes
burn, into Il for features. aud looked
ike an Indian idol. An old lame sailor
in the house had made !, for her. and
had given the child yellow silk pocket
handkerchief. with hole in the middle
TO make = dress for IT, She pu, the
head through the hole, tied BIZ OF red
and white cord she had found In the
doctor. office about is waist. and u
va, dressed. AL day long she carried II
abou, with her. and a, night Il slept. a'
she faneied. on her bosom. There were
times when she declared herself to have
had troublesome hours With her doll,
Who had no, been well. or course she
never called IL Doll; IL ~n always he'
"child."
There wa. . kno,.hole 10 the wooden
fence between the male and female side.
Of the poor-hoase groundA lie peeped
through one morning. and saw q strange
child sitting with her doll on larges tone
"I.ay." said be, "come here
She went to the fence at once.
"whst is your name ,
"Jane. What's yours ,"
"Tom. You live here ,"
"Yes. DO you p
"Yes."
whats that you've 20. ?
"My child. She isn't we'll to-day.
"Bo,her :"
"No. she isn't.' :.
"Are there any more little girls II
there ;"
"Thre; but one has . broken bsel
and goes to bed al the time; and tw'
bigger than me and work. Are Their
any boys in there"
"I.ou. hate 'em all. They max
fun OF me-"
"Then I hate EN- too." said she.
He came closer to the fence.
"Are you hungry oil the time' d
asked.
mo. Every day before dinner sh'
gives me . piece"
"She" Was the matron. and "a piece
was . slice Of bread and butter.
"Ah!- said he. enviously. "Id like :
see any Of US ask for . piece. I'm al
most starved"
I'll tell you wha, I'll do. Next tim
| se, my piece I'll give you half 70
come here to this hole and I'll fetch 1t.
saint you soOd!" said the boy, I'D
miringly.
so the friendship began. Every da
the thick slice Of bread and butter va
shared at the knot.hole. II Was . goo
thing for Tom Az for Jane. II Was
that knot.hole that she learnt how ez
ceedingly unhappy Il was to bs I. poor
house child; learnt that other little pee
pie had . pleasant freedom unknown I
! her. He had lived In this outer world
had Tom. When, He only knew ths
Il Was before bis father went to war an
was shot, and before his mother dist
Long. seditious talks did those two hav