Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-01-23
CHAPTER XII.
LITTLE AMOS AT THE PooR-HoUsE.

Little Amos witnessed the departure
of his sister in silence. Mrs. Arnold,
with her face convulsed with strange
emotions, came into the kitchen, but
she dare not speak. The silent grief
dropping in great tears from those blue
eyes was enough to awe her. The child
began to sob timidly. He was afraid
to make any cutlery.
Mrs. Arnold and her daughter were
now busying themselves with preparing
dinner and grumHing that Maggie had
gone away. The child sat by the win
dow in his chair, unnoticed. His
face was flushed and pale by turns.
His breathing was short and quick, AID
it was evident that the soaking rain of
the day before had brought on q cold,
which might prove dangerous. But
no one noticed him. The dinner was
prepared almost in silence, with an
occasional spell of grumbling on the
part of Mrs. Arnold. When the meal
was ready the family gathered about
the table, giving no thought to little
Amos. Poor child-he had no appe-
tite for dinner, and could have eaten
but little had it been offered to him.
When dinner was over, the dogs had
been fed and few nice tid-bits given
to the cat, and crumbs gathered up for
the pig, Mrs. Arnold thought it would
be we'll to see if THAT child wanted
any thing. She found him gazing alb
stractedly from the window, and his
little face wonderfully white just now.
Don't you want nothin' to eat?"
asked Mrs. Arnold, standing by the
boy, her head high in the air.
IF you please. ma'arn," said the
child, in low frightened tone.
She then wheeled his chair about to
a kitchen table, and placed plate be-
fore him, on which were some potatoes,
bread, and cold boiled meat. The little
fellow took a potato and nibbled the
end of it, then took bite or two of
bread but his appetite was gone. He
seemed sinking, sinking down to
death.
II don't see why you don't get rid of
that brat" said Halle to her father,
whom she met in the sitting-room.
II will as soon as the hired man
comes back with the rockaway," was
the answer.
The hired man came back about the
middle of the afternoon, and Judge
Arnold went into the kitchen where
the boy was.
Come, Amos" he said, in tones
intended to be cheerful, 1--WE must 60"
where P" asked the boy, fixing his
large, wondering eyes upon the man.
ITO Bill Jones. our friend, my boy,
who keeps all such boys as YOU"
"All such boys asyou!' Need Judge
Arnold have inSultcd the poor afflicted
child? Were not his suffcrings great
enough without further wounding his
feelings? But the feelings of the boy
were deadencd by pain and suffering.
We can be tortured until the nerves
become destroyed and senseless to pain,
and the bewildrrcd child was in that
condition. The boy, complaining of
his LSck, which had been hurt by his
fall in the morning, got from the chair.
Placing his hands upon his knees, he
hobbled along to his crutches, which
stood against the wall. Taking them
under his arms, he found his little faded
cap and put it on his head.
There is shawl they brought, -"
said Mrs. Arnold.
PUT it around him." commanded
Judge Arnold.
The woman obcyed, trembling vio-
lently, she could not tell why.
"Now. father, the carpet bag, take
that along"
Arnold seized the plain old carpet
bag containing few clothes for the
child, as though it were q contemplate
thing, and then, followed by the little
cripple, left the house.
Come on, come on!' said the impa-
tient man at the gate, holding it open
for the child, who was slowly and pain
fully coming toward it; ''you can &c
faster than that, and know it."
The poor little fellow tried to increase
his speed, and stumbling, fell. He ut.
tered cry of pain, and Mr.. Arnold,
with an oath, commanded John to carry
him to the carriage.
The kind-heartcd John took up the
little beggar-for was he not begga1
nowP-and carrying him to the vehicle
placed him in as comfortably as he
could. The child bore his suffering
with scarcely murmur.
AS James Arnold sat in his easy car.
rage, which was whirling away toward
the poor-house, he had no thought for the
little occupant. He did not see the an.
gelic expression of that sweet little
face, or appreciate his great trust in al
Almighty Father. Amos Lakeman was
young, not to exceed six years of age
and no larger than many children al
four, yet he was educated in misery fal
beyond his years. He was always s
cripple, possessing that sweet, patient
disposition which God so frequently
gives the unfortunate. He had Away.
been loved by every one who knew him.
AZ. 4. T. AZ