Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-12-22
THE FACTORY BOY.
Sketches from Life.
r4HArr1rT MAnrlNrAr.


In the middle OF dark night, Joel, a
boy of nine years old, heard his name
called by voice, which through the
sleep seemed miles away, Joel had been
tired enough when he went to bed, and
yet he had not gone to sleep forsome time;
his heart beat SO at the idea of his mother
being very i'll. 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 CO.
yered with a rug; but he did not mind
that; and he could have g me to sleep 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 Ike 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 candle, and his beating
heart seemed to stop when he saw his mo-
theirs face. He seemed hardly to know
whether it was his mother or no.
Shall call--'
Call nobody, my dear Come here
He laid his check TO hers.
Mother, you are dying he murmured.
Yes, love am dying. It's no use to
call any one. These little ones, JOEL
Il will take care of them, mother
You, my child! How should that be?'
why, mott said the boy, raising him
self, and standing at his best height
Look at me, mother. l can work. L
promise YOU
His mother could not move her hand,
but she moved finger in way that
checked him.
Promise nothing that may be too hard
afterwards she said.
Il promise to try then,' he said; that
little sister shall live at home, and never
70 to the workhouse.' He spoke cheer
fully. though the candle glittered i'll the
two streams of tears on his cheeks. 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 Il
way too terrible to be borne. He hi his
face beside her, murmuring, % mO.her!
mothcrp
His mother found strength to move her
hand now. She stroked his head with
a trembling touch which he seemed to
feel as long as he lived. She could not
saw 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 beg
ced him to lie down himself till daylight,
and try to sleep when she should be
gone. -,
This was the last thing she said. The
candle was very low; but before 1t went
out, she was gone. Joel had always done
what his mother wished, but he could not
obey her in the last thing that she said
He lighted another candle, when the
first went out; and sat thinking until the
grey day began to show through the win
dow.
When he called the neighbors, they
were astonished at his quietness. He
had taken up the children and dressed
them, and made the room tidy, and ligh-
ted the fire, before he told anybody 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 being in JoePs
arms Poor Willy was the most contoun-
ded He stood with his pinafore at his
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 afterwards; but
they were not. Every thing seemed done
so naturally, and the boy evidently con-
sidered what he had to do so much mat
ter of course, that less sensation was ex-
cited than about many smaller things.
After the funeral was over, Joel tied
up all his mothers clothes. He carried
the bundle on one arm, and his sister on
the other. He would not have liked to
take money for what he had seen his mo-
ther wear; but he changed them away for
new and strong clothes for the child
He did not seem to want any help. lie
yent to the-factory next morning. as usu-
al, after washing and dressing the chill,
,dren, and getting breakfast of bread
and milk with them. There was no fire;
and he put every knife and other DANCE
rous thing on high shelf, and gave them
some tri1es to play with, and promised to
come and play with them at dinner time
And he did play. He played heartily
with the little ones, as if he enjoyed it.,
every day at the noon hour. Many a
merry laugh the neighhors heard from
the room, where the three children were
together-and the laugh was often Jo-
els. 2,
How he learned to manage, and especi-
ally to cook, nobody knew and he could