The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-01-13

IeOAS
Willie and little Ed are to young to help
us. But Henry, my dear boy, you are
the Oldest: viii you not help your moth
er, by being very diligent every day in
doing whatever is required of you;
Encourage your brother and sisters, and
Horny ?
Here the mother paused, her lips quis-
cred as she said in a low. voice, evil you
be patient and kind 10 your father when
he E e
"Do you mean when he is drunk moth
er, and abuses you? | will try very hard
not. to strike hin, but will never buy
him any more brandy if he whips me to
DEATH"
"Ho! young man,. said the father in
a gruff voice, guess you will; and the
law will give me your wages too; SO you
nor your whining mother can't help your
selves" Those last cruel words raised at
once storm Of indignation in the bosom
of Henry, and words, bitter words were
about to be heaped upon the head of his
prosecuting parent, when q look of en-
treaty from his mother caused the words
to die away upon his lips, but in his heart
he wished law, and men who sold bis IA
ther rum, were in the bad place.
The anxious mother saw the flushed
troubled countenance Of her boy and said
the Lord reigns. Look to him who new
er forsake those that trust in him. ..
This was said with sweet confiding
smile, which was as balm to the'wounded
heart of Henry. At that hour there were
firm resolves made by those young chill
dren, which would have done honor to
the virtue Of naturer years, and which
would have cheered that mother on in
the toilsome way, if she could have known
what was passing down in the deepireces-.
ses of those hearts. @@
When the little. group saw the cloud
was lifted up from the face Of their. kind
parent, they knew it was q signal that
they could all toll on again in their daily
duties. Those that were going to work in
the mill were very busy in seeing that
everything was in readiness for an early
hour next morning, when the bell would
call them to harder tasks. than they had
as yet ever known.
The day passed away, the morning
came. The first bell found our little wor-
kers already up and dressed, waiting for
the second, the mother meanwhile CIV
ING eacl one kind look, and a kind
word of encouragement, a tender admo-
milton to work faithfully, and never for
once to do a mean action, if others did.
Thus armed with the panoply of kind
advice and many prayers, they went forth
to labor for their daily bread. How anx.
iously did that fond mother wait for the
dinner hour, when she should meet her
children, and hear the first account Of
new work and trials, a
''Mother," said Fred, as soon as he en-
tered the house, ''are we to blame for be-
ing poor, and fathers drinking?" "Who
says we are?" cried Henry, his old spirit
beginning to rise again.
"Why one of those big boysthat work
in our room said wicked words to me,
[ let that basket of bobbins fall, and said
he shonld tell the overseer. Then said
he 4 guess you'll get q flogging, | told
him the Bible said he must not swear;
then he said your father is a drunkard
and you viii be a town pauper pretty
soon.' Remember l don't want Tuna.iatgs
preaching to me..' z
"Never mind said Henry, "he shall
have his pay for that. He has no bust
ness to insult us for things we are not
to blame for; he will know before night
that I am as strong as he."
l cannot tell you how that mothers
heart ached as she silently listened to their
conversation; but these few words esca-
ped those compressed lips.
sMy children | am very sorry you
have been troubled so much. These
are hard to bear; but my greatest sorrow
is that you are so eager to retaliate this
offence. -
..Well, it is too bad to be the village
talk in two days; and | think we ought
to let them know we wont bear it.
..Rather let them know" said calm
decided voic," ''that a poor boy, with an
Incorporate father can be noble boy,
with true courage that will not stop to
notice, BY word or act such unmanly al
lusions to your situation however. Now
children 90 to your work; but Oh. dc
not add sdll other trials, toyour mother.
! cup q VOC.