The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-06-07
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TIE FACTORY BOY.
BY HARRIET MARTINEAU.

boy of nine years old. heard his name
called by voice which, through his
sleep, seemed miles away. Joel had
been tired enough when he went to
: bod. and yet he had no. gone to seeI
for some time: his heart beat so at the
idea Of his mother being very ILL., He
well remembered his fathers death
and his mothers illness now revived
some feelings which he had almost
forgotten. His bed was merely some
clothes spread on the floor, and covered
with rag: but he did not mind that
and coull have gone to sleep al once
but for the fear that had come over
him. When he did sleep, his sleep
was sound; so that his mothers feeble
voice calling him seemed like a call
from miles away.
In minute Joel was up and wide
awake.
Light the candle" he could just
hear the voice say.
He lighted The cardle, and his heart
seemed TO stop beating when he looked
an his mothers, face. He seemed not
Ia know whether ii was his mntheE.or
not.
Shall CALI
Call nobudv. my dear. Come here"
He laid his cheek TO hers.
. Mother, yeo are dying" he mur-
INJURED.
Yes, love, am dying. Ii is no use
calling any one. Those little ones,
Juel.n
Il will take care of them. mother" !"
ssYou, my child! How could that
"Why net2n said the boy, raising
himself, and standing at his best height.
Look at me, mother. can work. |
promise you-'
His mother could not lift her hand,
bat she moved q linger in a way which
checked him.
4 Promise nothing that may be too
hard aftei ward,n said she.
Il promise TO try, then" he said,
that little sister shall live at home.
and never go to the workhouse.n He
spoke cheerfuIiy, though the candle
light glittered on the two streams OF
tears on his cheeks. We can go on
living here: and we shall be So"
II would not do. The sense OF their
coming desolation rushed over him IN
way too terrible TO be borne. He hid
his face beside her, ulurmuring, "Oh
mother! moiherE'
His mother found strength to move
her hand now. She strnked his hea..
with a trembling touch, which he felt,
OF thought he felt, ever afterwards
She could not say much more. She
told him she had no fear for any of
them. They would be taken care Of
She advised him not to waken the little
ones, who we're sound asleep OH the
other side of her, and begged him to
lie down himself till daylight, aud try
to sleep, when she should be gone.
This was the last thing she said
The caudle was very low; but l,efore
il went ont, she was gone. Joel had
always done what his mother wished,
but he could not obey her in the last
thing she had said. He lighted another
candle when the first went out; and sat
thinking till the grey dawn began to
show through the window.
When he called his neighbors, they
were astonished al his quletness. He
had taken up the children, and dressed
them, and made the room tidy, and
lighted the fire, before he told any body
what had happened. And when he
opened the door. his little sister was in
his arms. She was two years old, and
could walk of course; but she liked to
be in JoePs arms. Poor Willy was the
most confounded. He stood with his
pinafore in his mouth, staring al the
bed, and wondering that his mother lay
so still.
If the neighbors were astonished at
Joel that morning, they might be more
SO al some things they saw afterward.
Everything seemed done so naturally; ];
and the boy evidently considered what
he had 70 do so much a matter Of course,
that less sensation was excited than
ahout many smaller things.
Aktef The inneral was over, Joel lied
N his lns.ther's ciothes. He carried
flss hnnsiIe % one arm, and his sister
on the other. He wonld mol like to
saaEe noney for what he had seeil his
n0ihaE wear, bnl he changed them
away tos new and strong clothes for