Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-15

His life had been peculiarly bitter one.
Born in very humble home at Sandgate,
on the English coast, cleaning with his
mother and sister after the reapers. that
they might have bread to eat, or cleaning
knives and shoes in the gentleman's house
where his father was servant, there was
little to make boys life bright When
he was IL, family offered to bring him
to America if his parents would pay $50
for his passage 1t was difficult to earn
this; but his mother thought, after the
manner OF mothers, Perhaps, IN the new
world, our John will be somebody" So,
with tears, she packed his scanty clothing.
putting in little Bible, and pinning these
lines on shirt:
Forge, me not when death shall close
These eyeiids in their last repose;
And when the murmu ing breezes wave
The grass upon your mothers give,
o then. whst'er thy age or lot
May be, my child, forget me NOT.
Then, again and again. she pressed her
only boy to her heart, and stole out behind
the garden wall, that, unobserved, she
might catch last look of the stage which
carried him to London.
The voyage was long one of nearly
two months. The little lad often cried in
his cabin, and he wrote back, II wish
mother could wash me tonight" showing
what a tender mothers boy he was.
When New York harbor was entered, and
he was eager to see his adopted country.
he was sent below to black boots and shoes
for the family.
His school days were now over. After
two years of hard work in the country. he
L g.. 60 ,,v rcfu M and
wrote his father, asking permission to go
to New York and learn trade. Consent
was given, and, in the middle of winter,
our English lad OF IA reached the great
city, with no home. no friends, and only
so cents in his pocket, Hundreds passed
by as he stood on the dock, holding his
little trunk in his hand. but nobody spoke
to him. But at last, by dint of earnest
ness, he found place to enter as Grand
boy and learn book binding. receiving
1925 a week, and paying 81 out of this
for his board. How his employers sup
posed he could live on 81 a month, tor
clothes and washing, has never appeared.
The first night he was placed by his
boarding mistress in an attic, with an Irish
man who was deathly ill. The second
night the man died, and the horror-stricken
young boy staid alone with the dead till
morning.
Now nearly two painful years more
went by. Finally, though he earned but
50 week, he sent to England for his
mother and sister. When they arrived,
two rooms were rented the girl found
work in the straw-bonnet factory, and,
poor though they were, they were very
happy. John was now 16, devoted to his
mother, and still a noble, unselfish, per-
ssvering boy.
AT the end of three months. through
duness of business, both children lost
their places and now began the struggles
which the poor know so well in our large
cities. In vain they looked for work. |
They then left their two decent rooms,
and moved into a garnet. Winter came |
on, and they had neither fuel or food.
John walked miles into the country, and
dragged home old sticks which lay by the
roadside. He pawned his coat that the
mother, who had now become ill. might |
have some mutton broth.
One day he left her in tears, and went
sobbing down the street.
What is the matterp" said stranger.
"rm hungry, and so is my mother.'
well. | can't do much, but I'll help
you little" and he gave John three
cent loaf of bread.
When the boy reached home, the wo-
man put the Bible on the rickety pine Ia
BILE, read from it, and then all knelt and
thanked God for the precious loaf.
In the spring he obtained employment
at $3.50 a week; but poverty and priva-
ton had fallen too heavily. rested too long
upon the mother. One day while prepar-
ing Johns simple supper of rice and milk
she fell dead. All night long the desc
late boy held her cold hand in his; then,
in that Christian city, she was put in a
pine box. and without shroud or prayer,
carried in a cart, the two children walking
behind it, and was buried in the Potter's
field.
For three days afterward, John and his
sister never tasted food. Probably the
world said Poor things!' but it is GER
tain that nobody offered to help them
Sarah r. Holfon in November Vide