Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-09-23
miscellaneous.
THE FACTORY BOY.
By HARRIET MAnTiyEAu.

To the middle Of dark night, Joel, a 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 bed, and yet he had not gone to sleep
for some time; his heart beat so at the idea
Of bis mother being very ILL., He well re-
membered his fathers death, aud his moth
er's Illness now revived some feelings which
he had almost forgotten His bed was mere
ly some clothes spread on the floor. and COW
cred with rug but be did not mind that,
and he could have gone to at 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
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 candle; and his beating
heart seemed to stop when he saw his moth
er's face He seemed hardly to know wheth-
err it was his mother or no.
"Shall call y
"Call nobody. my dear, come here"
He laid his cheek on hers.
Mother you are dying" he mnrmurcd.
"Yes, love, | am dying. 1t is no use cal
ling any one These little ones Joel"
81 will take care of them, mother?'
You my child? How should that be "
"Why notl'' 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, but
she moved finger in way which checked
him
Promise nothing that may be too hard
aitcrward she said
81 promise to try then" he said; ''tbat
little sister shall live at home, and never go
to the work house" lie spoke cheerf,aly,
though the candle light glittered in the two
streams of tears on his checks 1--WE can 90
on living here; and we shall be So
1t would not do, the sense of their coming
desolation rushed over him in a way too ter
rible to be borne lie had his face tesidc
her, murmuring, 20 mother, mother"
Ills neither found strength to move her
hand now She stroked his head with a
trembling touch, which he seemed to feel ms
as long as he lived. 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
were sound asleep, on the other side of her,
and begging him to lie down himself till day
light, and try to sleep, when she should be
| gone
This was the last thing she said The
candle was very low; but before it went out
she was gone, Joel had always done what
bis mother wished, but be could not obey
her in the last thing she said He lighted
another candle when the first went out and
sat thinking till the gray dawn began to show
through the window
When he called the neighbors, they were
astonished at his quietness He had taken
up the children aud 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 lttle sister was
in his arms. She was two years old, and
could walk. of course, but she liked being in
Joel's arms. He stood with his pinafore at
bis mouth, staring at the bed, and wondering
that his mother lay so still.
If the neighbors were astonished at Joel
that morning they might be more so at some
things they saw afterward; but they were
not Every thing seemed done so naturally,
and the boy evidently considered what be had
to do so much matter Of course, that less
sensation was excited than about many small
Ter things
After the funeral was over, Joel tied up
all his mothers clothes He carried the
bundle on one arm and bis sister on the other
He would not have liked to take money for
what he lad seen his mother wear; but he