Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-02
School Composition - Child
Labor Prevented BY
Arthusa VeOnne
Williams

I thought l would send you colhpo
sition l wrote.
Once upon a time in Louisiana there
lived a hard working man by the death
of whose wife, scarcely six months be-
fore left him to care for their little girl,
twelve years Of age.
Minnie was a bright, kind hearted
girl and was willing to share the bur-
den of being housekeeper. But one
evening her father came home ana
with him was a tall. dark complexfoned
man with harsh. stern looking features.
Minnie who had come to the door paus.
ed Her heart stood still with fear ana
the color left her face. The man VINO ,o,
was manager and overseer of the mill
came up to her and said sternly To
morrow morning you must begin work
at the mill at o'clock. You will begin
in your mothers place at the looms.
Then he turned on his heel and walked
swiftly away. Minnie and her father
knew she must go. So it was with a
heavy heart Minnie put up her lunch
and trudged off to the mill, her hand In
her fathers, They parted at the door.
and the stern, rough manager led Min
ME to a large loom and said Now get
to work, and work-don't fool along"
The girl went to work, bravely hiding
the tears that came to her eyes. The
thread would knot. the loom would stop,
but finally near noon when the man
ager came. she was spinning for sue
cess. He gave no word of approval but
with a nod passed on.
Thus the days dragged slowly by
and Minnie would hope each morning
that it should be her last day.
1t was in October year fro m the
time she had begun, that her father
Mr.. Gordon came to his rud ehome to
find his daughter discharged for
time until she could be competent to
do certain spinning.
Minnie was so worn out that she
was pale and thin. And after few
days had passed found her seriously i'll
with typhoid fever. Mr.. Gordon did
what he could for her. Finding doc
tor was needed. he crept forth into the
night and went towards the town.
Place after place he went, begging help
discouraged and started on his home
ward way with the picture Of Minnie
tossing on her bed, when suddenly upon
him bore the bright lights Of motor
car He did not hear it and it quickly
brushed him by the side. When he came
to-, tall. slender, handsomely, dressed
young man was kneedling by his side.
How do you feel?" a kind. pleasant
unknown voice asked. Il gave you a
IdFu HlI anu L Ill ANY tHdl
can do for you. say the word and I'm
there
Mr.. Gordon moved his hand feebly.
gulping between breaths, "Minnie-sick
The youthful stranger who
was a doctor quickly comprehended.
You mean that some one Of your fam
lily is ill.," he asked. An affirmative
answer and he picked up the father.
placing him in his car, turned on the
speed and soon reached the cot of the
sick girl.
It wasn't long until she lay quiet and
fell into doze. The two men watched
until morning, and then the doctor rose
and extending his hand spoke I'm go
ing into town and will soon return So
rest yourself in comfort for Minnie
will recover. My name Is Joel Leighton
and I am at your service" The intro
auctions over DR.. Leighton drove to the
mill from which after some persuasion
he got the release of both Minnie and
her father, signing a contract that
neither should be under the cruel lash
and brutal words of the overseer again.
And later on. after Minnie had recov-
cred and was well and hearty, with his
own and the help Of his friends in.
fluence had bill passed prohibiting
child labor in the cotton mills
Arthusa Veronne Williams,
Douglas WyO. FairVieW Ranch