The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-06-29
ON THE WAY TO THE POOR HOUSE.

ON THE WAY TO THE POOR HOUSE.
She Did not See God in the Sunshine. But
He Was There and Took Her.
The poorhouse wagon drew nm at the
farmhouse door in the early morning
light and the poor overseer got out and
knocked at the door with the butt end
of his whip.
Hey" quivered a thin voice within.
who's there?'
We've come for ye, mo her" said the
overseer.
"Who calls me mother?'' asked the
tremulous voice, and then the door
was opened by a shaky hand and an old
woman, dressed in shalw and hood stood
in the door way.
MEMBER" she said SLOWLY. nodd-
ing toward the wagon; its the select
men, and spose they know best, but If
jim knew-if jim knew-that his poor
mother was going to the poor house it
'ud break his heart"
Gar ye ready, mother?" asked the
man gently.
Eyes, I be. 1 amt slept since I heard
ye were comm for me, It's all right.
an l don't blame We, but it's hard to
hev worked all yer life an raised fami-
ly, an die in the poorhouse, It'll almost
kill Jim when he.knows."
The man on the doorstep coughed and
turned away, and pretended to examine
the wisteria vine that blossomed over
the door. Not for worlds would he have
told her that he was only carrying out
Jim's orders against the time he should
bring his wife to the old farmhouse.
She came out slowly, looking with vague,
wondering eyes at what she was leav-
ing, the trees that she and Harvev-tbat
was her husband-had planted when
they were young, at the bed of cinnamon
pinks and the lilac bushes at the gate
She stopped and gathered some of the
fragrant southern wood-old man-thev
called it-and then she looked up at the
window of one room -brdehood. wife
hood, motherhood, angelhood. that
meant to her Little Carrie had died
there, Harvey had looked his lastIn the
heaven of her eyes there. That was niob
onto forty years ago. Why, where was
God this fair summer morning that he
had forgotten her and let he 90 to the
poorhouse?
Hurry up, mother" said the man
gently; "we've to call for another paup
passenger bit further down the road.
/ Taln't much you're leaving''-with a
short laugh. He was trying to make
the best of it for her.
He helped her into the wagon. and in
the golden light of another new day thew
moved Oh, jogging along the country
road, sweet with the scented life of ma
ture, until they reached the stile that
led into the graveyard, where the senti-
mel stones shone among the trees in
their strange, dumb whiteness.
ooh, eff you didn't mind, if I just
could say word to Harvey, it would
help me so much, an wouldn't be lone,
l wouldn't keep you waitin'."
''All right mother" The overseer
/ Jumped ont and helped her to the ground.
Don't be long, there's a good soul, :"
and he lit his pipe and talked to the
driver, apoogizing for his weakness.
! "1Tain't like as if she were common
pauper," be said ''there are
/ TO ks here that remember when she was
] the belle of the county, and they do say
it is this son Jim that has run through
with her property an is getting her out
of the way so he won't have to pay for
her keeping. / wouldn't tell her so,
for house and lot"
''She wouldn't believe yer if yer did,
said the driver sententiously, "but she's
takin' her time in yonder."
No. 1t was not time she was taking,
but eternity When the ,oyerseer went
to look for her she lay with her wither-
ed cheek pressed to the moss grown
stone that bore the name of her hus-
band, and smile that seemed to be a
reflected glory from paradise lit up her