Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-01-29
Jerry Miller Silent 80 Years.

a hermit In a lone farmhouse IN the
wild regions of Ohio. not far from
Chillicothe. He is now past 40 years
old. and no one can remember having
heard heard him say dozen connect
ed words. The silence which he has
preserved for 30years came upon him
when he was a boy of II at work on
his fathers farm close to the place he
now inhabits in solitude, shrinking
away from the public gaze and refus-
ing always to accept even the kindly
means of aid offered.
His father, who is still living Is
said to have been a stern taskmaster
and firm believer in the old ideas OF
punishment. Jerry was accused by
his father of some offense which the
boy stoutly denied. His father, think
ing the boy guilty of the oHense' said
he would whip both for the original
offense and then for not telling the
truth about it. The boy protested and
pleaded with his father, but without
avail. The whipping administered
was not a gentle one, but the boy took
it stolidly and did not even cry.
The boy went about his appointed
work in silence and seemed to be
greatly depressed over the humiliation
that had been put upon him. The
family thought at first he was only
sulking, and the father openly said
so. A sister, the boy was particular
ly fond of, tried to comfort him, but
with little success.
The days grew into weeks and still
the boy maintained the same gloomy
silence. The father then began to
grow alarmed and tried to get the
boy to tell what was on his mind. 1t
was of no avail. The boy would not
talk under any inducement that was
devised by the father. He went about
his appointed work on the farm in an
intelligent manner and never COM
planned. From time to time he was
heard to swear at the oxen be was
driving or at the plow he was handling.
Years passed in the same silence.
The father was hsart-broken at the
boys determination and tried every
means in his power to show the son
that he was eager to make amends for
the wrong he had done. The boy,
grown to a man, worked on in silence.
Doctors were called in to see if there
was any mental defect in him, but
they could make no progress, as that
battling silence stood always bar to
all inquiries.
Ten years ago he left the parental
home and took up his abode in the
house he now occupies. He lives there
alone, caring for a small patch ofland,
which provides him with all he needs
in the way of food, with a bit to spare
for an occasional purchase amongthose
he has come to know. The house is as
gloomy as its occupant, and is bare of
all the comforts noticeable IN the
houses in the vicinity.
The man has no associates and his
only diversion seems to consist in SIT
ting for hours on the front step of his
old house looking far away and ap-
parently thinking. He is always on
the alert against intrusion when in
these moods and takes to flight on the
approach OF a stranger. His brothers
and sisters keep an eye out for him
and see that be does not lack for the
necessaries of life and clothes enough
to shelter him. His father and moth
er try often to induce him to break his
long silence, but all they ever get is
shake of the head and sorrowful
look from their now gray-haired and
worn-looking son.
1t is the impression among those
who have known Jerry Miller since
the day bis father gave him the
thrashing that be could not now speak
if he would, as the long years Of si'
lence have probably rendered his
tongue helpless from disuse.
The negroes ABOUT the nelgnDor-
hood look upon him as sort of
strange being who can, if he will. cast
spells over those he does not like, and
they show great respect for him and
all that belongs to his simple, poverty
stricken home.
It is generally accepted as fact
that Jerry Miller will never break
his self-imposed silence. and will go
down to his grave as warning to all
the rugged fathers of the valley, and
in that way he will have .erved a
mission on earth at heavy cost to him
self. In the meantime he lives a
thing apart from his fellOwmen and
broods upon his sorrow.
|