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Jed, The Poorhouse Boy

Creator: Horatio Alger (author)
Date: 1899
Publisher: The John Winston Company. Philadelphia
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2

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2895  

"Certainly not, but he was my brother's child."

2896  

"And what was your object in bringing him here?"

2897  

"My brother was dead, and the child was thrown upon me for support," answered the woman after a little hesitation. "I could not support him, and so brought him where I thought he would have a home. But you are not the woman who was in charge of the poorhouse at that time."

2898  

"No; that was Mrs. Avery."

2899  

"And is Mrs. Avery still living?"

2900  

"Yes; she lives in a small house in the village."

2901  

"I will go and see her."

2902  

But this did not suit the views of Mrs. Fogson, who was curious to hear more about the antecedents of Jed.

2903  

"Won't you come in and take a cup of tea?" she asked with unusual hospitality.

2904  

"I don't care for tea -- it's slops," answered the visitor. "If you could give me a thimbleful of whiskey I wouldn't mind taking it. When I am tired and dragged out it goes to the right spot."

2905  

"Yes, I can give you a glass," answered Mrs. Fogson. "Me and Fogson generally keeps a little in case of sickness, though we wouldn't have it known, as this is a temperance town."

2906  

"You are safe with me, I won't mention it," said the caller.

2907  

She then learned that Jed was probably at Bar Harbor; but Mrs. Fogson found out very little from her in return. After a few minutes the strange woman set out on her walk to the Avery cottage.

2908  

CHAPTER XXXVII.
Jane Gilman.

2909  

THE visitor took a seat in the rocking-chair offered her by Mrs. Avery, "Do you remember me?" she asked, throwing back her veil so as to give an unobstructed view of her full, florid face.

2910  

"Are you the girl who brought the boy Jed to me fourteen years ago?"

2911  

"The same. I don't find you in your old place."

2912  

"No; we -- my husband and I -- left the poor farm about a year since. Have you been there?"

2913  

"Yes, I saw the new woman, and a spiteful piece she is, I'll be bound."

2914  

Mrs. Avery smiled.

2915  

"I don't admire Mrs. Fogson," she said, "but I suppose that is natural."

2916  

"She tells me the boy is no longer in the poorhouse."

2917  

"No."

2918  

"Can you tell me why he left?"

2919  

"He was ill-treated by Mr. and Mrs. Fogson."

2920  

"That woman tells me he was very troublesome."

2921  

"We never found him so, and up to a year ago he was under our charge."

2922  

"I surmised as much. Then he has grown up a good boy?"

2923  

"Excellent. I feel great affection for Jed."

2924  

"That is gratifying to my feelings, seeing I am his aunt."

2925  

Mrs. Avery regarded her visitor with surprise.

2926  

"Do you claim Jed as your nephew?" she asked.

2927  

"Certainly. He is the son of my only brother."

2928  

But for her interview with the detective Mrs. Avery would have believed this story. As it was, she did not choose to dispute it. She only sought to draw out her visitor so as to understand better her object in calling.

2929  

"Are you willing to explain why it was that you were led to place your nephew under my care?"

2930  

"Certainly. There is no secret about that now. My brother, who was a blacksmith, failed, and was unable to support the boy."

2931  

"What was your brother's name?"

2932  

"Jedediah Gilman. That is why I desired to have the boy called Jed Gilman, after his father. My name is Jane Gilman."

2933  

"Then you are not married?"

2934  

"No," said Miss Gilman. "Not but I might have been married half a dozen times if I had wanted to. But the men are a shiftless lot, in my opinion."

2935  

"Not all of them. I never charged my husband with being shiftless."

2936  

"Oh, well, there are exceptions. But I liked my freedom, so I am Jane Gilman still. I may change my mind yet, and get married. There's a many after me, and I am only thirty-two."

2937  

Mrs. Avery was too polite to question her statement, but privately decided that the other was ten years older. "Are you an American?" she asked.

2938  

"No, I'm English, and I'm proud to own it."

2939  

"Was Jed born in England?"

2940  

Jane Oilman hesitated, but finally answered in the affirmative.

2941  

"In what English town or village was he born?"

2942  

Oh, lor, you wouldn't know any better if I should tell you. My brother came over here with Jed when he was a baby, to better his fortunes. He went out to Iowa, leaving the baby with me. But I found I couldn't get a place with a baby on my hands, and so I took it to the Scranton poorhouse."

2943  

"And where have you been since?"

2944  

"I went to Philadelphia and got a position there. Since then I've been in a many places."

2945  

"I wonder you didn't write to me for some news of the baby,"

2946  

"I got news of him from time to time, though I don't mean to tell you how," answered Jane Gilman with a cunning smile. "But I've been away for the last three years, and so I didn't know that Jed had gone off."

2947  

"You must be disappointed not to find him."

2948  

"So I am. It seems so long since I've seen the dear child," and Jane drew out a handkerchief of ample size and pressed it to her tearless eyes.

2949  

"Is he a nice-looking boy?"

2950  

"He has a fine, frank, open face, but you'll excuse my saying that he doesn't resemble you in the least."

2951  

"No," answered Jane, not the least bit disconcerted. "He didn't look like the Gilmans, but like his ma's family."

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