did not like to have children playing about their feet; and as there was no
one to pay especial attention to the little ones, it sometimes happened
that a child was either crippled or killed by the hoofs or horns of the
powerful animals. On one occasion Edwin saw one of his playmates bruised
and trampled in this way.

These scenes, as well as the regular rounds of the chore-boy Jim with his
water-yoke upon his shoulders, carrying either water for the home or slop
for the pigs, were sights that were common and in many cases interesting to
Edwin. But from them he could learn practically nothing of the things that
he would need before he could become a useful man in the world. Aside from
a few instructions that were given them in hard labor, the poorhouse
children were allowed to grow up as a flock of poorly fed chickens or
animals. They were given their rations, a place to sleep, and that was
about all.

The daily routine of the almshouse from year to year was little changed.
Some passed on to their reward in the beyond, but the general order of
things remained the same. The steward and his wife were busy from early
dawn until late at night looking after everything and everybody, but many
of the things of vital importance had to be neglected for a lack of
sufficient time and strength.

"Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is
perverse in his ways, though he be rich" (Prov. 28:6).



CHAPTER III