The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-09
JOEL-A STORY OF DUTY.

he did not mind that; ana ne coulo
have gone to sleep at once but for the
fear that had come over him. When
he did sleep, his sleep was sound; so
that his mothers feeble voice calling
him seemed like call from miles away.
In a minute Joel was up and wide
awake.
"Light the candle" he could just hear
the voice say.
He lighted the candle, and his beat
ing heart seemed to stop when he saw
his mothers face. He seemed hardly
to know whether it was his mother or
not.
aShall call-w .,
HCall nobody, my dear. Come here"
He laid his cheek to hers.
"Mother, you are dying" he muir
INJURED.
Eyes, love, am dying. It is no use
calling any one. These little ones
JOEL" =,
II will take care of them, mother"
"You, my child! How should that
be%'
"Why notw said the boy, raising
himself, and standing at his best height;
"Look at me mother. can work, /
promise you
His mother could not lift her hand,
but she moved finger in way whlch
checked him.
"Promise nothing that may be too
hard afterward." she said.
81 promise to try then" he said, "that
little sister shall live at home, and never
90 to the Workhouse." He spoke cheer
fully, though the candle-light glittered
in the two streams of tears on his cheeks.
ave can 90 on living here; and Ee shall
be SOL
It would not do. The sense Of their
coming desolation rushed over him IN
way too terrible to be borne. he me ma
his face beside her murmurlng, ~,
mother! motherW
His mother found strength to move
her hand now. She stroked his head
with trembling touch, which he seemed
to feel as long as he lived. She could
not saw much more. She told him she
had no fear for any of them. They
would be taken care of. She advised
him not to waken the little ones, who
were sound asleep on the other side OF
her, and begged him to lie down himself
till daylight and try to sleep when she
should be gone.
This was the last thing she said. The
candle was very low; but before 1t went
out she was gone. joel had always
lone what his mother wished; but he
eould not obey her in the last thing she
said. He lighted another candle when the
/ first went out, and sat thinking, till tht
grey dawn began to show through th'
window.
When he called the neighbors, they
we're astonished at his quietness. III
had taken up the children and dressed
j them, and made the room tidy, anC
Iiohted the fire before he told anybod!
what had happened. And when h
onened the door his little sister was in hi
arms. She was wears old, and coul'
, walk of course; but she liked being II
/ JoeI's arms. Poor Willy was the mos
: confounded. He stood with his pinafor
j At his mouth staring at the bed, ant
vendering that his mother lay so still
| IF the neighbors we're astonished
!. Joel that morning, they might be NOR
. "a at some things they saw afterward
. but they were not. Everything SCENE,
: done so naturally; and the boy. evl
8 IDENTIFY considered what he had to do $
p much a matter of course that less ser
; sation was excited than about man
9 smaller things.
After the funeral was over, Joel tie
q up all his mothers clothes. He carrie
the bundle on one arm, and his siste
q on the other, He would not have IKE
1 TO take money for what he had seen n
3 mother wear; but he changed thel
away for new and strong clothes for II
e child. He did not seem to want an
$ helm. He went to the factory Il
e next morning, as usual after was
z inc and dressing the children, and &c
J. ting breakfast of bread and milk wlI
b them. There was no freand he put evel
\ Knife and other dangerous thing on hig
q shelf. and gave thin some trihes to pls
, with. and promise 20 come and play WI
I. them at dinner-time. And he did pla
d He played heartily with the little on
= and as If he enjoyed it, every day At T
y noon hour. Many merry laugh 3
/ neighbor's heard from that room VIII
]. the three children were together; al
Z the laugh was often Joeps.
u How he learned to manage, and esE
"a eiaIly to cook, nobody knew; and
p could himself have told little mo
y than that he wanted to see how pC
~ nle did II. and looked accordingly
everv opportunity. He certainly +
the children well; and himself, too.
knew that everything depended on
co strength being kept up. His sister
e on his knee to be fed till she could re
ID herself. He was sorry to give It up; ,
or Is said she must learn to behave.
aIl he snoothed her hair, and washed |
re face before dinner, and showed her b
ve II fold her hands while he said gra
til He took as much pains to train her
- rood manners at table, as ii he !
.re Reen governess, teaching little lal
- while she remained tsbabyD he 81
Ill L In fhe middle of the bed, between
,es two. that she might have room, and
he disturbed; and when she ceased 70
Int ! haby. lie silently made new arran
re ments. He denied himself Q hat, VII
Il. ri much wanted in order to buy G
a;derahle quantity of coarse, dark cali
n. which. with his own hands, he M
Ter ;nto 1 curtain, and ssupg up acrOs
81. mart Of the room; thus shuttlng
de- about 8 third of It. Here ne eontIll
are "a make up little. bed Tor his sls'
ter and he was not satisfied TIL she na
ars hss;ll and Jug, and piece of soap q
Ind Iown. Here nobody but himself VA
ray ;ntrnde upon her without leave; 9
co indeed be always made her underst
md shet 81 came only 20 take care of
Geo rs ~. ar,t only that Willie was mol
red - 49, sls,e7ress. A neighbOr or two ]
me nd fhen lifted The latch without kns
Icli- lsrrs 0ne of these one DAY heard 81