Grayson County TXGenWeb

Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, July 26, 1891
pg. 4

"Over the Hill to the Poorhouse"
Tuesday, one of the passengers on the train from the north was a young woman apparently about 19 years of age and very, very shabbily dressed. On her arms she carried a child not more than two months of age. A look of peculiar pity haunted her face, while her every appearance was that of misery and abject poverty. She stated that she was from the Choctaw nation. That she was not married but that the father of the child had left her and his whereabouts was not known. It was the verdict of everyone in and around the depot that she should be sent to the poor farm, and accordingly a small purse was made up and when the next train left for Sherman the lady, with her child, were passengers. The Sherman Register has the following in its issue of Wednesday:
"A young woman, apparently about 19 years of age, arrived here from Denison last night, bearing in her arms a child only a few months old. She seemed friendless and alone and bystanders inquired if they could do anything for her. She could hardly speak intelligibly, but it was finally ascertained that she wanted to find the county judge.
"Judge Gregg was sent for and into his sympathetic car the unfortunate creature poured the story of her sorrow and disgrace.
"She stated that she had lived in the Choctaw nation for several years, and that it was there that she met a young man who soon gained considerable influence over her. Matters went along smoothly for some time, but the old, old story of man's duplicity was enacted again.
"The girl soon found herself in a delicate condition and was deserted by her lover and her former friends. Having no relatives, she finally drifted with her child to Denison where sympathizing strangers paid her expenses to this city.
"The girl and almost lost her mine entirely and the details of her story could not be secured. She impressed the judge as being an object of pity and he sent her to the poor farm at once. The girl's clothing was something fearful to contemplate, it was so filthy and ragged. New clothing will be furnished her at the farm, and it is thought that with proper treatment she may recover her mental faculties in the course of time."