Betsy Gaskins (Dimicrat), Wife of Jobe Gaskins (Republican): Or, Uncle Tom's Cabin Up to DateHood, W. I. (William I.)
General
Betsy Gaskins (Dimicrat), Wife of Jobe Gaskins (Republican): Or, Uncle Tom's Cabin Up to Date
Hood, W. I. (William I.)
Gold; Interest; Money; Paper money -- United States; Populism
He diden’t seem to know much about her. He said that some people found
her sick and delirious in a small house in the west end and notified the
township trustees; that the trustees went to the prosecuting attorney
and wanted to know what was best to be done with her and if the law
would permit them to hire somebody to go to her house and take care of
her. The prosecuting attorney asked if she had any money or property.
The trustees told him that she had not; that she was very poor—had
nothing.
“Send her to the poor-house,” says the prosecutor, “send her to the
poor-house. The best thing to do with such people is to get rid of
them.”
So, the expressman said, they came and got him, and they drove out and
loaded her into his express wagon, and he brought her out here.
“Her name is Betsy Gaskins,” says he.
It was cold and stormy, and the poor old soul was in great pain all
night.
A few minutes ago I went in, and she was breathing so weak that I put my
hand in her bosom to see if her heart was beating, and I found this
letter from “Jobe Gaskins.” It seems she is a married woman, and he has
been away from home and is coming back. I send it to you, and, if you
see him, tell him where he can find his wife.
Now, Mr. Editor, you had better send this old man’s letter back, so that
if the old lady gets better she will have it. But I don’t know as she
will ever be much better; she seems to be sinking.
Send the old man out as soon as he gets there.
From a friend to Betsy Gaskins,
HATTIE MOORE.
JOBE’S FOURTH LETTER.
AKRON, O., March 12, 1896.
_To Betsy Gaskins._
DEAR WIFE:—They let me out last Monday. I felt very strange when they
opened them big doors and told me to go. When I got out onto the street
I felt jist like a feller does when he is lost in a big woods. I dident
know which way to start. But I wanted to git back to you. I saw a depot
marked “Woodland Station,” and I went over there—went in and sot down.
Pretty soon a passenger train come in headed south. Everybody got up to
take it, and, I dont know why, but I went with the crowd and into the
car. When the train got started, I thought of havin no ticket or money.
The conductor dident get around to me until we had passed Newburg.
I was lookin out at the big buildin where they keep crazy people, when
he teched me on the shoulder and says, “Ticket.”
I told him I had no ticket nor money; that I was a old man; had been out
tryin to find work and couldent; that my wife was sick and I was wantin
to git back.
He said: “You cant ride on this train. Youle have to git off.”
I asked him if he couldent let me ride; that I would pay him some time
if I ever got the money.
“No,” says he, “my instructions are to carry no one without a ticket or
the money.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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