The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-05-09


MIN ker County poor
WSSS$yVSS.sssSM farm. 1t sloped to
%$ANNANNsN% the north, to be
NNH> sure, and that did
not add to the comfort of such paup-
ers rs were able to work in winter, but
in compensation it had splendid woods
and fine lake front. The lake was
deep and clear and dotted with small
islands On the opposite slope, and
half hidden by noble trees, were the
outlines of country mansion; and in
the distance were blue hills which
might almost be mistaken for mount.
aims.
But it was not on account of natural
beauty that the Tinker County poor
farm had been selected. The town of
ficers were hard, practical men and did
not care for such things. When it was
decided that it would be for the towns
advantage to farm its paupers instead
of selling them at auction, the select
men looked around for suitable
place.
The Bowen farm had the reputation
of being the poorest in the town. 1t
was rocky and unproductive, and had
already ruined several small farmers
who had been imprudent enough to
trust their little to its keeping. OF
late both purchasers and renters had
given it wide berth.
But it was just the place the select
men were looking for. 1t was off the
highway and was cheap. They ap-
preached the owner cautiously and
found that he was anxious to sell l--so
much so that he accepted their first
offer. The next thing was 10 rent the
farm and the paupers to the lowest
bidder. This happened to be Sim
Pratt, man who had always been an
unsuccessful farmer, because he was
too stingy to become prosperous one.
He was not bad man; but he was
poor and covetous and narrow-minded,
and all these pointed to questionable
future for the paupers. And as the
years went by all the indications were
fulfilled.
Pratt had been keeper of the farm
for ten years now, and in all this time
there had been found no one to under
bid him. The pay was small, the farm
poor and the paupers not very desir-
able, even to men of dull senibilities.
\ one tried to succeed him.
But Pratt liked to rule, Before his
advent to power he had never been
able to hire help. Now he was autocrat
of a small colony. In few months
he had fixed upon the maximum work
which could be had from each of the
paupers. Some were able-bodied,
some could only work part of the time,
some could not work at all. But, as a
rule, it was the able-bodied who were
the hardest to manage; it was their
laziness which had brought them to
the town farm.
Tinker County had little money to
spare its paupers for clothing, and
Pratt and the farm needed all the
work they could give. Consequently
there was much suffering during the
winter. When it was too cold to mend
stone walls and fences, the strongest
were sent to the beach after seaweed.
All the rest who were able to work
were put into the barn and sheds to
stamp out beans and shell corn. 1t
was nothing unusual for a pauper to
die, and the town physician sometimes
expressed his views very decidedly.
But a physicians views had little
weight with the practical guardian oi
the county's finances.
One afternoon several of the old
men were at work in the lower field
The wind was sharp and cut through
their clothing until their teeth chat
tered with the bitter cold. All OF
them were thiR1y clad; and at last q
little, rouQ4 4ouldered man began to
finger nerv Sdsly at his coat which was
already bu toned.
81 don't call this much charity" he
grumbled, discontentedly. ''Seem'
like the town might let us have over
coats sech pesky cold weather. What
say, Squirrel"
The man addressed did not answer,
Lifting a heavy forkful of seaweek he
spread it thinly over the ground. Al
he returned for another load the little
man went on, peevishly;
Seems like folks might be sOsner
bic in place like this 'rain't mucl
we've got ter live fer, anyway. Jes
packed away like DAD furnitoor in {
garret, an good riddanee when th'
undertaken brings bis box. Seeml
like we might pick what crumbs WI
could outen the cobwebs. "
The other man did not seem to hear
Again his forkful of seaweed wa
spread, and he was reaching for more
when the little man stepped in from
of him.
Cant ye answer mans question: 2
he asked, irritably. "You amt nC
more deef n be, an I'm gittin' siel
an tired of it. Here I've been room
in with you more'n two year, mn yoI
amt scasely ever spoke ter me 'cep