The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1898-02-10
COUNTY CHARITY.
Over the Hills to the Poor
House.
some VERY OLD PEOPLE THERE.
What it. Costs to Care for Them. A
1 Well Managed Farm and
Poor House.

We have been afraid that we would have
to 60 to the poor house" if some Of our
delinquent subscribers didn't pay up
promptly. The time came sooner than
we expected. The first OF the week, Judge
]. M. Stone, our clever Ordinary, called
for rs and carried US out to that county
charity.
There is general aversion on the cart
Of people to going to the poor house. "
They look upon it as getting down to bed
rock" in adversely. "Over the hills to the
poorhoose" has been put in rhyme by Will
Carleton, and that pathetic poem always
stirs the emotions Of the sympathetic
heart. In this instance, we didn't find il
an uninviting place at all, although the
Judge cut our stay short and brought us
back with him to the city, with the under>
standing that We must root hog or die" a
while longer.
The aims house is situated about four
and half miles southeast Of Marietta,
The farm consists Of $50 acres, partly
cleared, balance well tim5ered, on which
there is good orchard, a well-tenced
garden, half dozen two and three room
houses Tor pauper inmates, two room
brick house for hired helper and new
five room dwelling for the superintendent,
Mr., G. o. Sewell ard family.
This dwelling is plastered and we'll fn-
ished inside and out and would cost
probably 5000 by contract, but Judge
Stone built it for 5000, doing the hauling
of the material with the farm team Of two
splendid mules, while the superintendent,
did most of the work on the house. It i;
q camfggsasla .ari1 Ct edls = s,,''sa'--.s.
r. The houses for paupers are ceiIed, with
open FIRE places, plenty OF fire wood, and
ample bedding There are at present
thirteen inmates, six white women, three
white men and four colored men, all very
aged, infirm and almost helpless They
are given good and substantial food and
looked after by the superintendent and
his wife
There is one white woman there, we'll
known in Marietta, Peggy Harper She
has been there about twelve years o. longer
and is aow about IS or 80 years old. She
is good old soul, well disposed and in>
dustrious.
There is an old colorei man there nam.
ed Joe Brown, blind and almost mummi.
fed as far as appearances 60. He looks
like he is bordering on to one hundred
years old. There is another colored man
there who claims to be 81 years old
These are representatives OF the class of
people the county in its noble charity is
providing for, in giving them shelter, food
raiment, and attention, and giving them
decent burial when dead. AS many as
two and three die every year. and others
come IN and take their places.
To look upon these old people in their
helplessness, with the sands OF time Oh.
spectacle. They seem to be just on the
border land patiently waiting for. the
angel of death TO come and bid them come
up higher to their Fathers house. They
have been left almost alone. All their
relatives have doubtless crossed over and
when their hearts cease to heat, only the
kindly hands OF the superintendent or
bis wife will be there to smooth back the
white locks from their wrinkled toreheads
rand fold their tired and wasted hands
across their breasts. And then in the
pauper's graveyard near By, the superin.
terdent will place their mortal remains
beneath the sod Truly Christ said the
poor you will have with you always" and
''in as much as ye do it unto the least OF
these ye do it unto me-"
These poor, aged people were once the
prattllng. bright. eyed, rosy checked child>
rem of fond and doting parents. They had
their joyous romps and pleasures. and had
seeh better days It is but a short time
ago that Rev. w. w. Carroll, BAPTIST
preacher and his wife, the husband at one
time being the Inferior Cour: Judge Of Cobb
county, the same Office as that of Ordinary
now, during the adversely of war, had at
last in their old age found home at the
poor house. We saw the room where they
died and they now lie side by side in the
graveyard under the pines, which shows
what the reverses of time will bring forth.
Therefore, 0 vain man, boast not myself
of &c. morrow"
Who is it then. that isn't glad to pay the
small pittance OF taxes that 90 to make the
last days of these unfortunate penniless
people comfortable?
Under the judicious management Of
Judge Stone aad Superintendent Sewel,
with the income from the farm, it only cost
l24 cents per capita each per day to feed
and care for these inmates. The actual
amount taken out of the county treasury
is about 5000 per annum The property
there is worth at least $1,000. The land
is being terraced and brought up to high
state OF productseness. Some fifty bush,
els OF corn can be sold and then have
enough LETT to make crop, while bale
o! cotton is retained to purchase the guano
for tho naxf ornn