Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-11-08
ouu DREN IN MILLS.
.. =, Young Innocents In in'a'
trial slavery.

-
trial slavery
,.,,;d little child tolls In the iao-
tory. his mates are as wan anu p''lo hs
ha When at evening from wore 10
n no, bomeward, tired and limp, nc
.aos the merry school-boys stroilins
hack from play, hearty ana pump iu
faced: laughing, leaping' careio'sy
swinging their bats, at random so,ss
hai, full of fun and sport, hungry
go the fresh air and healthy exer-
o;se He never meets them gong
sohoo,ward; when they begin 10 s'ore
''n ~ their brains more OF lifes won
aarfn, story than they knew yeSter-
dav. already, for two hours ITO n"'
been at work. Brief and rare arc 'iio
sn,,ches of the story that may reacn
his ears while yet they are open 10 re-
caive it. Ever the task uneno'hs' ,"o
same thing over hour after holr' u"s
after day. week after week. nion w.
after month, year after year. HOW ne
would like to laugh and leap ana play
Rut childhood's privilege Tor MN was
long ago abridged. Still now anu
then his thoughts make daring sPor.
while his hands keep on unceasihs Az
their task: What fun twoulu % W
snarl up all these threads ana 10. ''io
shuttles Jump about all heller skei.er'
lilo r,ts in the basement when the
river y SEES and browns them out!
But play for him exists in Thoughts
alone. and soon even thoughts OF play
v;ll cease. since the stream OF knowl-
edpe is turned away from him. and
dnIled by lack of use, like well made
tool crown rusty, he soon forgets to
think at all. -,
The gates of his mind swing heavily
to- and open only to the duties known
to the sentry by accustomed ehtrahct
10 serve coarse daily wants. lhen
! plodding. he goes through life VIII
body distorted and stunted, with sou
repressed and crushed-perhaps NJ
vaguely wonder, why; this unslghtlI
ruin of Gods most holy temple.
Yes. why is it thus in a Nation
ca led freep Why is it thus amid
people protesting love of Him whit
loved little children? What otfens
can be charged against these Nttl
ones. condemned tc early toll AM
, slowly darkening minds-while learn
ings lamp stands freely lit to guild
} their fortune-favored fellows? Pel
, chance for lack of meritP
: Great indeed is their offense: Thel
; parents are poor. and therefore hav
| need of the brats that they breed!
/ Yes. the children are slaves, and
| barbarous State mocks their bondag
with laws that their owner mu'
, break. For enactments declare tht
: the child shall be schooled. but t
/. easy to lie in matter OF age. and Il
: one especially cares.
} So the child slaves keep toiling Oh
: and strong armed men in vain see
, work, or work for scanty hire; for tt
lords of the mills have greed; chea
9 TO them is child labor, and gold
5 more precious than souls in their eye
t but dear comes that toll to the Stat
4 In ancient times twas thought no wa
}, could ever and unless with the bloc
3 of slaves the mortar was mixed.
q We now are wiser, we deem, sin
d superstition rules us no more. Stl
n upon our mill owners heads lies t
l. guilt for the blood of those held
1t bondage-blood that might swell t
Y veins of the children, were they n
z held captive within factory walls.
% Boston Pilot.