Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-08-12
TO THE POOR HOUSE.

The county-house wagon drew up
at the old farmhouse door in the early
morning light and the Poor Overseer
got out and knocked on the door
with the butt end OF his whip.
Hey quavered thin voice with
in, who's there -
We've come for ye, mother" said
the overseer.
"Who calls ne mother = asked the
tremulous voice, and then the door
was opened by u shaky hand and an
old woman, dressed in shawland hood,
stood in the doorway.
Il member" she said slowly, nod
ding towards the wagon, Its the
selectmen, an | s'pose they know
best, but if jim knew-if-Jim knew
that his poor mother was goin to the
poorhouse it d break his heart.
AR We ready, mother?' asked the
man, gently.
Yes, be. | amt slept since |
heard We were comm for me. It's
all right, an | don't blame ye, but it's
hard to hev worked all yer life an
raised family, an then die in the
poorhouse. Itlla'most kill Jim when
he knows
The man on the doorstep coughed
and turned away, pretending to eX-
anime the wisteria vine that blossom
e.. over the door Not for worlds
would We have told her that he was
only carving out Jim's order against
the time he should bring his wife to
the old farmhouse.
She came out slowly, looking with
vague. wondering eyes at all she was
leaving, the trees she and Harvey
that was her husband TAINTED
when they were young, AT the bed OF
cinnamon pinks and the lilac bushes
at the gate. She stopped and gath
cred some of the fragrant southern
wood-"old man. they called it-and
then she looked up at the window OF
one room-bride-h wife-hood,
motherhood, angel-hood, that meant
to her. Little Carrie had died there,
Harvey had looked his last in the
heaven of her eyes there. That was
nigh on TO forty years ago. why,
where was God this fair summer
morning that he had forgotten her,
and let her 90 to the poor house?
Hurry up. mother" said the man
gently: we're to call for another
paup-passenger a bit further down
the road Taint much you're leav-
in'"--with a short laugh. He was try
ing to make the best Of it for her.
He helped her into the wagon, and
in the golden light OF another new
day they moved on, jogging along
the country road, sweet with the
scented life OF nature, until they och
ed tie stile that led into the old
graveyard where the sentinel stones
shone among the trees in their strange
dumb witness.
"Oh, eff you didn't mind-if ! just
could say word to Harvey-it would
help me much, an | wouldn't be long
i wouldn't keep you waitin'.
"All right, mother The overseer
jumped out and helped her 10 the
ground. Don't be- long; there's a
good soul, and he lit his pipe and
talked to the driver, apologizing for
his weakness.
"Tain't like as if she were com
mon pauper," he said; there are
folks here as remember when she was
the belle of the country, and they do
saw il is this son jim that has run
through with the property an is get
tin her out of the way so he won I
have to pay fer her keep.l wouldh
tell her for house and lot.
"She wouldn't believe yer il yer
did" said the driver. sententiousiy
but she's takiu' her time in yonder
No. 1t was not time she was taking
but eternity. When the overseer
went TO look for her she lay with her
withered cheek pressed TO the moss
grown stone that bore the name OF her
husband. and smile that seemed 10
he a reflected glory from Paradise lit
up her peaceful face. 1t lad come to
ber in one brief moment, the assur-
ance that she would not 20 to the
poorhouse, and then-she had gone