The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-02-18
Written for tie ApvooArE.
WORKING UP

WORKING UP.
Mother, am tired cf this everlastin.
work, work, from Monday till Saturday
just to get a little something to keep u:
from starviag and freezing | think thC
world has got turned upside down, for oul
minister was telling US last Sunday, thai
when God created the earth He said it was
good, and when He made man be said be
was very good, and then he said that God
was kind, loving, merciful father, and we
we're all lis children, all members Of one
great family. Mother, | don't see it, iOr
members Of the same family all share alike,
and l am sure men do not. Some have to
live in a one story cottage, and have just
enough money to buy bread and potatoes
to keep them alive, while others live in
marble fronts, and have roast turkey and
cranberry sauce, and mince pie for their
dinner, and plenty of money besides l
hear great preachers and lecturers talk
about freedom and equality, truth and just
ice, but il seems to me little mixed, and
The more I puzzle over it the less clear it
seems. Deacon Hopkins has a good deal
to say about right and justice, and he is the
hardest man to work for know He lives
well, dresses his wife and daughters up to
the highest notch, and sends his sons to
college, but | tell you, mother, be grinds
bis men down just as low as be can, |
don't think it is right, if be is deacon in
the church, and nobody can make me be-
lieve it is right"
'"You arc youag yet, ,Tohn." replied 5is
mother, and know but little of what rs
going on in the world There is, to be
sure, great deal Of sin and wickedness,
and there is also great deal that is good.
A great many men, instead Of acting from
act with 3 view Of making all the
money they can, and they do not care who
they get it from, nor how much suffering
they cause T they can lay up riches. But
this IS not the case with all men. There
are many good, honorable, upright men,
who love the good and true, and who are
4 blessing to the race like Mr.. Stan6eld,
who you remember was so kind to us last
winter when | was sick, paid our rent and
furnished us with provisions and you will
find, my son, that there are many more like
him. When you meet with an unfeeling,
man, you should not fall into
the error of Judging all men by that one. "
c. suppose | should not, for there is
Mr.. Strong, the lawyer, and Mr.. Connor,
the grocer, arc real good men. They have
plenty Of money, and they we're both poor
boys once and mother, il live to be a
man, | will have plenty Of money too, and
YOU won't have to work as you do now
"I hope, my son, you will live to grow
up and love the good and true, and prsc-
tce what is right"
AS John was going to school the next
day, the winter term having just com
menced, be overlook one Of his classmates
who was walking slowly along, althoug b it
was a bitter cold day. She was warmly
clad in one of her mothers large shaWls,
and her head was envelOpod in a warm
wooden hood. She looked very comfortable
as she wended her way along, and John
envied her because she had father who
could work and earn money to buy her
comfortable things and after school was
over she could play with the other children,
enjoy herself and have good time gener-
ally, while be had to work when he was not
in school, to help support himself and Wild
owed mother, and just then be felt the want
of an overcoat, and be thought bis lot was
rather hard one He was BY nature a
gentleman, ana as be came up with Mary
be offered to carry her books, and Mary
thankfully accepted the offer, saying, " !
can now fold my hands in ny shawl anC
keep them warm. ! wish We were rich
and then | could have gloves and mutt too
I Why is it, John, that some are rich an,
theirs poor? "
/ 81 do not know" replied JON, "-
lave been pulling over that question my
s.lf, and cannot make It out 1t is Wors
than a problem 10 mathematics. canno
solve it.
Let Us ak teacher" said Mary, per
haps he can tell US"
You ask him" said John.
Well,, said Mary, "when the elias
in philosophy is called | will, aud see if ou
teacher is philosopher enough to answer.
That day as the little would-he philost
piers we're repeating their lesson, and tn
teacher was expatiating on the wisdom, th
powl ano the goodness Of God, as seen
his works, Mary electrified the class BY il
During why God made some peOple ric
and others poor The teacher replied
+" God knows what is best for us, an
places US where it would be for our goo
and we should be content with the circuI
stances in which He has placed us, al
endeavor to do our duty in whatever stati
il life we may be called to fill"
In the evening, John said, " Moth
shall | always have to work hard for
ue? Shall never have plenty to eat a
= drink, and good clothes to wear, anC
good house to live in z"
81 hope, my dear boy" replied
mother, "when you are older you will
3 steady and industrious, aud earn money a
save it until you have enough to procure
n good home"
Q &C Shall be able tn have a nice hOU