The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-07
CHAPTER II


After Joe had been an inmate of the
poor-h'ouss for two or three days, he
learned that there were thtrty--tvo peo-
pl there besides himself. There were
two boys under ten years old three
young girls, and the rest were old
people. Some were so old and feeble
that they were unable to work, and
Others could only do light work, as
sewing OF wedding in the garden.
HfNefJ one VINO was able was made
20 90 something and neither THE super
inteudeut nor his wife had a kind word
LoF any OF them. There were old men
and women there who had once been
very we'll off, and there were orphan
children who were there through mis-
fortune, the same as Joe.
The provisions furnished to the in-|
mates were Of the plainest. and they
did not have enough Of any one thing
TO eat. No tea or coffee was allowed,
and though plenty of vegetables We're
raised on the farm, II was only the
poorest Of them that the paupers got.
The main article of diet was por-
ridge and ii was cooked and served out
in most any sort Of way. If any one
refused to eat or complained he or she
was shut up for the day in dark
room. If 1t was one Of the children,
they were whipped by the superintend-
ent, or his wife.
The beds were OF straw. the rooms
almost without furniture, and the
ihng committee was expected.
Tor the first few days of his stay Joe
went about ready to cry and wondering
that unfortunate people could be treat
ed as lse saw them. One Of the in
mates was a man named Phillips. He
had lost both legs in an accident and
having neither money nor friends, the
county had sent him to the poOrhouse
He could not get out doors to work,
but they provided him with straw and
he made hats for the men and boys
who worked outside. He could also
knit and sew as well as a woman. He
had 10 be wheeled about from room
to room, and Joe got a bed in the room
with him. There was another boy but
he was g. half-idiot and paid no atten-
ton to what was going on
Joe felt sorry for the cripple though
he was a rough spoken man, and rem
dered him many little services. It was
two weeks before the man would talk
TO him with any freedom During
these two weeks Joe was assisting one
OF the hired men to plant corn and pos
tatoes. Some Of the other boys and
girls also aided in this work.
One would have thought the hired
man. who was married and had chill
dred OF bis own would have treated
these poor orphans in a kindly way and
not have OverWorked- them, but the
contrary was the case. He kept them
on the jump all the time. and whenever
any one Of them grew tired he called
out In his harsh voice.
"FIere, you little pauper, hurry up
or I'll report you to the superintend-
ent and have you nckedi'
Joe worked as hard as he could
from the start. He was naturally in
dustrious, and he wanted to gain the
good will of the man he was under. He
did more work than any two of the
others, but he received no praise. On
the contrary. the man found as much
fault with HIM as he did with any of
the others, and one day, though Joe
was working his hardest. he shouted at
him.
''Wny don't you get around faster.
you lazy. Notwithstanding pauper2 If
I had such boy as You + d thrash him
every day Of his hfel"
81 am hurrying as fast as can" re-
piled Joe as he wiped the sweat off his
Don't give me no impudence!''
reared the man.
mo. sirl"
II have had my eye on you since the
first day. You think you are too good
FOR this place. You want pie and
sweetca1Ce and honey, and you want to
swing under the trees in a hammock.
III report you to the superintendent
and we shall see what'l happen
tP1ease don'ti" begged Joe.
"shut up, you pauper."
This happened in the afternoon.
When they went UP to supper at S
O'Clock the hired man saw the superin-
tendent He reported that Joe was
lazy and saucy, and in so doing he told
deliberate lies. After the wretched
meal Joe was called into q room up
stairs. where he found the officer with
a whip in hand
"Please. sir. but I work as hard as
can" replied Joe.
''Don't tell me that for I know bet
ter. You are not only lazy, but impu-
dent as we'll, and I am going to freshen
you up. knew when I first saw you
that You were a boy to make trouble. :"