The Shasta courier., 1868-11-28
SHASTA COURIER.
HELPFUL NELLIE.

twas early morning-a cold. wet, winters
morning. The rain did not descend in tor
rents, but it drizzled through thick fog.
making those who were compelled to leave
their beds very uncomfortable. 1t was still
dark and the gas lamps shone upon the wet,
spashy streets, when the. loud clang. clang
Of the mill bells sounded, which summoned
| hundreds of busy workers from their slum-
bers. to face the biting northeast wind
is it a fine .morning, Nellie ?" asked a
woman, in querulous voice, as her little
daughter slipped out of bed and pulled aside
the thin old curtain that fapped with the
draught that entered the rickety easement.
II can't see, mother, but think can hear
the rain splashing on the stones in the court.
and-yes, that's the mill-bell / must make
haste" and the little girl slipped on her
clothes as quickly as she could. we
| brought in the wood and Goals, and filled the
kettle, mother. so you will not have to step
out in the cold before | come home at dinner
time
'' | don't know what should do without
my helpful Nellie" said the mother fondIy.
as the little girl knet down by the bedside
for few minutes. Then she took up the
little can containing her breakfast, and hur
ried out.
She was little girl very small for her age
and very delicate looking. as in trath she
was She drew the thin cotton shawl closer
around her shoulders, as the wind came
whistling up the narrow entry. and the next
minute started and shiversd. for in the dark
narrow court she could not see where she
was going. and stepped into puddle of wa
ter, which struck cold and chill through her
whole frame.
EMILY is not up yet" she said, as she
emerged into the narrow street, and gazed at
the house opposite and then she ran across
and knocked loudly at the door. " Make
haste, or you will be late" she called. as
there came an answering tap at the window,
and then she ran down the street as fast as
she conld.
She soon caught up with the crowd Of work
people who were pressing in at the mitigate,
and was welcomed with smile by many as
she came up, breathless with her run.
Nellie, we shall get holiday next We'd
nesday, father SAYS" whispered one of her
companions, a girl about her own age but
head and houlders taller than herself 81
mean to have new bonnet, with pink roses
in it and 20 out for the day somewhere
viii you come with us?'
g / don't think | can" said Nellie ''I'm
sure can't" she added quickly. +" | coul1n't
afford it and, besides, mother is very sick
now ard she would be very glad to have me
at home
g low tiresome to be sure! and | wanted
you t. help me make my new bonnet. | sup
pose YOU won't be able, as you are teaching
that little plague, Billy, to read, in the even
ings."
''Oh. yes, I'll contrive to help you with
vour bonnet Annie although | cannot 90
out with you," said Nellie, cheerfuly.
BY this time the girls had reached their
own department in the MILL and separated
Annie to stand in the loom, and Nellie to
take her seat on the low stool underneath.
for Nellie was Annie's piecener A monet.
onous task for little girl. to sit all day and
watch for the threads of cotton that passed,
and piece or tie them if they broke; and yet
Nellie was glad to do this. for her mother was
i'll, and unable to work now, and her father
was dead, so that the earnings of her brother
and herself was all that the family had to de-
pend upon.
At s oclock the bell rang again, and then
the whrr, whirr, of the machinery suddenly
stopped, and the multitudnous wheels are
STILL and the little weary workers left their
places, and, with their breakfast cans beside
them, sat down in groups, to talk and laugh
as they ate their morning meal. Hungry
they all were undoubtedly, and many of them
had brought plentiful supply of food but
one or two-Nelle among the number-seem-
ed to have nothing but soaked bread in their
cans. Itwas evident that Nellie did not want
her companions to notice her now, for she
sat little apart from the rest. and presently,
half her scanty breakfast was transferred to
an empty can, and thrust into tie hands of its
half g nod Ii -lo e..
lies kindness. would frequently have gone
without breakfast entirely. The act of eat
ing where there was so little to eat. did not
occupy many minutes, and then Nellie pro-
duced from her pocket, and her Companions
gathered around. while she read '' The Story
of Joseph and His Brethren" until the bell
summoned them to work again.
AT dinner time they all went home some
with the anticipation of enjoying warm din
ner, and some, like poor little Kitty, uncer-
tain whether they could gain entrance to their
miserable homes. Nellie neither expected
one or feared the other Her mother was too
Ill to do anything now, and so all the house
hold duties of sweeping and cleaning fell to
Nellie to perform, as she ate her dinner of
bread and potatoes. But she had neither
| time or inclination to complain it was as
much as she could do to get all made comfort
| able for her mother before the bell rang for
her return to her work. On her way back,
she called upon poor old woman, and after
fetching her pail Of water. left her book,
The Story of Joseph" promising to call for
it in the evening, This hndered her for
few minutes. and she was only just in time
| to ges in before the mitigate closed
" | wish you hadn't been late, wanted to
show yod something" whispered Annie, as
she went to her place.
About an hour afterward some visitors
called at the mill. and, in consequences of their
wishing to look over it, some part of the ma
chinery had to be stopped. The loom at
which Nellie worked was one so stopped, and
she, glad of the respite tostretch'her eramped
limbs, left her seat, Annie left her place like
wise. N
Now, Nellie, / want you to touch up
these flowers for me-" she said. opening a
small box and producing two or three half