Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-10-19

visitors. and consequently no danger of
. witness to Bills brutality.
Supper was announced Mt last. BY tho
ringing of an old cow-bell. and little
Amos saw the wretched creatures,
whom he had held in such fear, rum
ming out of the house into long, low
shed where there was long table. The
table was made Of rough oak lizards OK
which were rude dishes, bowls and
plates of wood. pewter. tin. and earth
enware. all of the cheapest and coars-
est kind. Around this rude table,
which was greasy and devoid of cover
ing of any kind, were hard. backless
benches for the paupers to sit upon.
"Ain't you goin to support" said a
woman, with an idiotic giggle. a. she
peered in at the door, putting her dis
tortcd face almost against tho terrified
child. One side of her face was drawn.
and one eye almost closed from the
effect Of cpileptic fits. which produced
partial paralysis and idiocy.
where is support" asked Amos.
"Over there; an if you don't 60 soon
they'll not be any left. They eat a
race" said the simple woman, gig
Cling.
"Who are you?" Amos asked.
They calls me foolish Nancy; l
amt SO foolish as they think. It's
because larf but I larf when l can't
help it. There's nothin' here to make
any ono larf, an guess Is got to do
larfin' for all the Others"
She paused. because she was giggling
in a most hysterical manner. After
few moments, she said:
'Ye'd better come now an get
suthin' to cat. cos they don't wait here
on any body" and again she fell to
giggling, until her distorted face was
almost dark.
Amos looked at that low, open shed.
which answered for dining-room, and
saw those wretchcd creatures there
struggling. fighting and snatching at
the food. more like hungry dogs than
human beings. and felt that he did not
care to be- among tilrr, But 1T this
moment Bill Jones, passing the door,
said:
"Why don't you go to support"
Feeling sure nc would displcase the
cruel man to refuse, the child said:
"I'll go. sir, III 60"
He began to climb down from tho
hard chair. and with much difficulty
found his crutchcs.
"Ye'n not git nothin' to eat, CT ye're
goin' to be that slow" ohucklsd Bill.
whose grammar was rs bad as his
morals.
The woman who had called herself
simple Nancy was waiting for him, her
face distorted with a gigglc.
Come" she said, ''come with me.
Ye shall be my boy. l he'd little boy
like you once"
Disgusting as this poor creature was.
sunshine in that place of horror. His
infantile mind could distinguish in her
less selfishncss than was in many
others. Her mind, dwarfed and clouded
as it was. had yet some faint CLEANS Of
humanity. and he accepted her proffered
friendship. As he hobblcd along on
his crutches, at her side, he asked:
us sister heree'
Eyes, yes; I'm your sister," the
woman answered. with giggle. I'm
your sister and mother both"
"But my sister Helen. is she here?"
The woman seemed puzzled. She
reflected in her Supplied way, and then,
with giggle which seemed to decide
the matter, said:
"Oh. yes--yes, yes. am your sister
Helen"
When the table was reached there
was nothing ON it he could eat. He
had watched his fathers pigs eat swill
far more wholesome and palatable than
the mess before him. There were
few broken loaves Of dark corn. brcao.
cooked hard, some boiled pork and
leaves Of weeds which they called
greens"
The helpless creatures grabbed with
their hands, ignoring tho few rusty
knives. forks and spoons they had. A
piece Of corn-brcad which had fallen to
the ground was picked up and given to
the child. but he was really i'll. and
could not eat. His face was flushed
with fever and the pain in his side and
back continued to increase.
my child is sick. my child is sick"
said simple Nancy. taking the boy in
her skinny arms. 'I'll take him to
bed" GigglinS. she bore the little suf-
ferer to her miserable, dirty cot and
Laid him upon it.
''Now you will be well soon."
"Where is sister Helen? Oh. sister.
why don't you conner" cried the sick
boy.
II am Hclen-I am here" said the
idiotic woman. striving to console the
little sufferer.
He fell into n feverish sleep and
awoke at midnight to find all darkness
and silence, save the snoring of the
idiot ON the floor. having given up her
bed to him. rs fever was raging
high, and he bur'...d with thirst.
"Helen, wan. :. drink! Oh, sister,
sister. why don't you Gomez"