The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-04-06
the thought her heart bcsts quicker, and shs
forgets her heavy, aching head, and wearied

the thought her heart beats quicker, and shs
forgets her heavy, aching head, and wearied
frame. r
Az she approaches her homo, shs soes Q
little faco pressed close to window.pape,
and bright blue eyes watching for her return.
A Joyous shout gTeets her a abe enters, and
small white arms sre folded around her neck.
"Sister's como !" rings through tho room,
as the little ono dances about In unoontroll-
cd delight.
Mother, dear mothcr!" The factory
girl presses her lips 10 the pale face OF her
invalid mother, and smooths back tho soft
hair, with carcasing tenderness, from her
hot forehead.
care you better tonight, mothcrf"
"Quite we'll, now that you arc at homo"
Is the cheerful reply, ns fondly the patient
sick mother returns her daughters kis.
Homo again, homo again!" sings tho
errands Of iindnos. She brings her mother
the cooling water, and bashes her throbbing
head; she takes her little brother on her lap
him some little song. Thus passes the even
ing with tho faithful factory girl, the loving
daughter, the thoughtful sister, tho gentle
disciple Of Christ. .,
Slowly, that night, orphan Mary, Sues
little workmate, wcnded her way 10 her
boarding,housc. No one there cared for her;
no one would run to welcome her, % she
need not hasten. She would not be missed
among the many boardcrs, II she CHANGED to
lnger on her way. Heavily bcatsher heart;
painfully throbs her head; wearily she drags
her steps along.
81 wish wcrc going homo" sighs or
phan Mary. 81 wish mother wero there TO
meet mel" But the. comes the cheering
thought" am ut home always, wherever
lam for the wide, wide world Is my Faith
er's house, and I, q child of His, am ever
with Him." And smiling, Gods child grows
strong in faith, and walks along with gayer
step.
The gloomy brick building looms up bc-
fore her. She enters, and spends her even
ing in her little room In pcnning o letter 70
her distant sister, her only relative. "Woll
meet ut home, /" says Mary, In tho postscript
of her letter. "We'll meet ut home, sister,
when our long days work on Garth Is done,
never again to part" 9.
It is morning. She folds back the curtain
from her windows, and peeps forth into tho
waking day. Starlight without-how bcau'
tiful! She gazcs upward. To her tho stars
are senphs' eyes, looking lovingly upon tho
good, pityingly upon tho suffering, stcrnly
on the vicious. Gods angels arc they, re-
cording the deeds the midnight knoweth.
Sue drops tho curtain, and bends in pray.
er. She seeks blessing on tho work she 10
about to resume. She asks for strength sub
lime, q heart submissive to Gods will and,
MS she prays, she adds this petition: Help
me to spend this day, my Father, as though
II were my last on earth" Happy Sue
prepared Tor all Gods decrces! Faith divine
is herr.
Half.past six. Tho factory bell rings clear
and loud In the frosty morning air. Tho
stars still twinkle overhead. Tho east 10 just
beginning to look golden, In tho dawning Of
the day. Tho hard snow crackles beneath
the rapid tread Of the early laborcr.
Sue and orphan Mary meet on their way
to their daily tasks.
How beautiful this morning, Sue how
calm and clear thea how bright tho moon
still shines! God seems to breath around us
His holy influence" And Mary ceased to
speak, for words woro lost IN thought.
Sue catches the melody Of Mary's heart,
and murmurs thus: The heavens delarc tho
glory of God the armament showeth His
6andiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech"
Then her voice Is hushcd, and thoughts too
holy for human Interpretation Gil their
hearts, as silently they walk along. They
enter the factory. Death, invisible to them,
hoyers over them-follows them mp tho stccp
stairs, throws its shadow over their looms.
The rumbling, deafening sounds proclaim
tho hour oflabor. Each hastens to his place.
Every hand Is busy; every facc wears its
work-day expression Of sober carnestness.-
Behind those serious brows thought Is busy
weaving its webs of luturo veal or Woo
Mind, heart and hand arc busy at their
looms. 40
Sue, with orphan Mary, and Others Of
their age, work in the same room. They
cheer each other with thcir smiles and glanoes
of sympathy. They know each Others
hearts. Ono faith hathl bound them To-
gether closely.
The morning houn roll on. Noen comes.
There is little space for rest. They cluster
around each other, and open their little tin
pals, in which they have % often brought
their noon rcpast. As they now partako Of
Il, deep silence lls the little circle, I'LL Or
phan Mary, In her sweet voice, speaks thus:
81 had dream last night, girls. ! thot
I lcit the factory one night before bell.timc,
and instead Of my going to my dreary, lone
ly room, wandered home, and found my
mother. feel her kiss on my cheek now,
Sue, and hear her whispering to mo, Rest
now at homo, my child; rest, for you are
weary'-and, Sue, did spend tho evening
with her."
Little Lucy. who had come from her coun.
try homo to work in tho city, and who was
sadly homesick, wept bitterly, o. Mary 10
vealed her dream.
81 wish I werc at home, !" shcsobbcd. "I
wish Icould spend this evening thcrc."
One o'clock. The heavy wheels arc again
In motion. The girls separate, and hasten
to their posts Of duty.
Then afternoon wears awny. Deaths
shadow on tho wall grows larger, blackcr.
Hc passes slowly from laborcr TO laborcr,
and chooses his victims from tho young, tho
strong, tho noble, and the dearly loved. He
sets bis seai upon them. Heaven claims her
absent children. God strengthen tho hearts
shon Of all that gave them Joy and happi.
ncss below! God gil the human temples
robbed OF their idols!
Five o'clock. Silence In tho upper world.
Tho arch Of heaven sccns 70 bend lower over
sccne % pitiablc, a. tho icet of countless
angels crowd the floor above, pressing round
Nhou - nc H. A.. ->l< h. vxsnNA \