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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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2798  

"I fear that the poor people are very shabbily treated," said Mrs. Avery gravely. "It makes me feel very badly, but what can I do? Squire Dixon sustains them, and he has everything to say. But you say you want some information. I shall be glad to tell you what I can."

2799  

"I want information touching a boy, now perhaps sixteen years of age, bearing the name of Jed Gilman."

2800  

Mr. and Mrs. Avery immediately showed signs of interest.

2801  

"He has left the poorhouse," said Mr. Avery. "So I am told."

2802  

"Do you inquire as a friend of the poor boy?" asked Mrs. Avery.

2803  

"Emphatically his friend. But first tell me, what kind of a boy is he?"

2804  

"A fine, manly, spirited lad, warm-hearted and attractive."

2805  

The detective looked pleased, but surprised.

2806  

"That doesn't correspond with what Mrs. Fogson told me," he said.

2807  

"I suppose not. She and her husband tried to bully Jed and overwork him, till he was compelled to run away. I don't know where he is now."

2808  

"But I do. He is at Bar Harbor, in the company of a rich gentleman from New York, and I believe employed on his yacht"

2809  

"I am thankful to hear it."

2810  

"But what I wish to learn are the circumstances attending his being placed at the poorhouse. I suppose you remember them?"

2811  

"Oh yes, as well as if it were yesterday, though it is fourteen years since."

2812  

"Go on, madam, I am all interest."

2813  

"It was a cold evening in November," began Mrs. Avery reflectively, "and I was about to lock up, though it was but nine o'clock, for we kept early hours at the poorhouse, when there was a knock at the door. I opened it and saw before me a young woman of dark hair and complexion, holding by the hand a pretty boy of about two years of age.

2814  

"'Can you give me and my boy a night's lodging?' she asked.

2815  

"We often had such applications, and never sent away a decent-looking person. I said yes readily enough and the two entered. They seemed hungry, and though it was late for us I gave them some bread and milk, of which the child in particular partook heartily. I asked the young woman some questions bat she was very close-mouthed.

2816  

"'Wait till morning,' she said. 'The boy and I are very tired.'

2817  

I asked no more but gave them a bed, and I suppose they both slept well. I was able to give them a small room to themselves.

2818  

"In the morning when I entered found only the boy. The young woman had gone, but pinned to the child's clothing was note:

2819  

"' I am obliged to leave the boy with you for the present I hope you will take care of him. His name is Jed Gilman. Some time he will probably be called for. Don't try to find me for it will be useless.'

2820  

"That was all. Mr. Avery and myself were dumfounded, but we had taken a fancy to the boy and resolved to keep him. There was some difficulty about it, for he was not legally entitled to be brought up at the town's cost. However, Mr. Avery and I agreed to pay part of the expense for the first year, and after that he was looked upon as one of the regular inmates and cared for as such."

2821  

"And the young woman never called again?"

2822  

"Never."

2823  

"Nor sent you any message, oral or written?"

2824  

"Never."

2825  

"Was there any article of dress, or any ornament, left with the child that might help to identify it?"

2826  

"Yes. Wait here a minute and I will show you something which I have carefully preserved from that day to this."

2827  

CHAPTER XXXVI.
"Who Was Jed?"

2828  

MRS. AVERY went up stairs to her own room, but reappeared in five minutes. She had in her hand an old-fashioned gold locket.

2829  

"This," she said, "was attached to the neck of the boy when he came into our hands."

2830  

"Have you opened it?" asked the detective eagerly. "Is there a picture inside?"

2831  

"There are two miniatures -- one on each side."

2832  

She opened the locket, and it proved to be as she said. One of these was a miniature of a young and handsome man, apparently thirty years of age, the other of a young lady with a very sweet and attractive face, probably five years younger.

2833  

"These must represent the parents of the boy Jed," said the detective.

2834  

"So we concluded -- Mr. Avery and myself."

2835  

"Does the lady bear any resemblance to the girl who brought the child to you?"

2836  

"Not the slightest. The girl was common in appearance. She probably filled the position of a servant or nursemaid."

2837  

"Did it occur to you that she might be in any way related to the child?"

2838  

"Not for a moment. He was evidently the child of parents wealthy or well to do."

2839  

"Did you form any conjectures relative to her or her object in bringing you the child?"

2840  

"No. There was nothing to serve as a clue. It was all guesswork on our part. Still the thought did occur to us that the child had been stolen or abducted from his people for some reason unknown to us."

2841  

The detective hesitated a moment, and then, having apparently made up his mind to confide in the worthy couple, said: "Your guess was very near the truth. The child, I have every reason to believe, was stolen from its mother -- the father was dead -- through the machinations of an uncle who wanted the boy's title and estate."

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