Year: 1859

You talk strangely Samuel; explain your
self more fully and will understand your
meaning much better


~ mean, said Samuel, that the hum, which
breaks so mournfully upon our ears this
morning proceeds from the machinery Of the
paper mills, not far distant, in which g. large
number of delicate females and children are
employed. There they are merged in badly
ventilated rooms, among dirt and grease to
toll twelve hours every day, and for this large
amount of toll they receive scarcely enough
to supply the wants of nature"


"Horrible," said Ida, "what kind OF a
man can the proprietor be. who will thus I'M
pose upon the poor and unprovided for"


=" Be not too hasty Ida; he is as much of a
gentleman as we have in Delaware; one whose
heart throbs warmly for the poor who labor
for him; but the condition of labor IL such
that he cannot do otherwise than he does at
present" replied Samuel.


elbow is 1t that labor is so debasingW One
OF the principal reasons in my opinion, is the
effort OF monopolists to keep within their own
hands as much OF the business they.folow as
they possibly can.to the exclusion OF small
capitalists. These monopolists build large
manufacturing establishments, where they
congregate immense numbers of poor beings
together who have never had an opportunity
Of fenlightening their minds with usful knowi-
edge and the proper cultivation OF the al
fections is the last thing to be considered.


Densely crowded communities generally
furnish the best schools for vice. consequently
the mind IL 80 ignorant from the want of an
opportunity to furnish itself with useful in
formation, and with all passions Of human
nature congregated together among dirt and
slth--with no restraining inhuence-it is no
wonder that the human being becomes de-
based. -..-.l.


But the gentleman who owns your large es-
tablishment has done every thing he possibly
can toamelora.e the condition of those whose
lot II is to toll. He has built beautiful little
cottages for his labours to dwell in. II would
delight you to see them; they are situated
along the side of hill that overlooks the
mills and the Brandywine and the fancifully
decorated doors are enclosed with elegant lit
tie arbours around which hang different
kinds of vines They arc really beautiful
and besides, they ara actually comfortable.
But this care for his labours, though done
with the very best intention, only adds con-
trast with the degradation of their toll, instead
of relieving it. So long as others can get
persons to labor twelve hours per day this be-
neyolent man must do so too, or they can af-
ford to sell their paper cheaper than he can,
consequently he must get his labor as cheap
as posiible in order to compete with his less
benevolent competitors"


While Samuel was relating what he be-
lieved to be the cause of SO much degradation
in manufactures, the beautiful girl listened
with marked attention. A tear for the cause
of suffering humanity stole down her cheeks.
She said


"Samucl, your details sbout the degrade
tion of the poor, who are compelled to toll for
their bread, in these large manufactures
strip nature of one half OF Its beauty and
spoil, in my mind, the delightful scenery
with which we are surrounded. At another
time, when am of less happy mood we will
revert to these unfortunate beings, and you
can give me more information concerning
this good man, who has done so much to en-
noble labor and ameliorate the condition OF
those whose lot has been cast among the toll
ing millions. At present 1t makes me sad
when would be gay. Samuel let us converse
upon other subjects, OF lighter character;
they will be more congenial with my feelings
at present"


The request of Ida was made with such
winning sweetness that Samuel felt not the
least unpleasant sensation at the new turn
that she had given the discourse. He would
have introduced subject, which at the pres
ent time would be tedious and uninteresting
to the reader, but Ida read in his dark eye the
unuttercd intention; ere he had time to give
utterance to his ideas o robin flew across the
path and perched upon tree, where II com
menced singing.


Beautiful songsteri' exclaimed Ida, 81
wonder if spirits, after they have left this
worlds tenement do not take refuge in some
of these beautiful birds that make the wood
lands ring with their melody. Would il not
be delightful, after one has passed through
the troubles of this life--after all that is NOR
tai has been consigned to the silent tomb-for
the spirit to take up its abode in the downy
bosom of one of these gay warblers %


Exceedingly delightful; but would 1t not
be quite as well, and quite as pleasant for
that spirit which has expanded and grown
too large for its earthly form, TO take the in
visibility of the divinity and dwell in the
winds blast-the tempest's shock-the zeph-
yrs breath, or to float unpreceived calmly in
the beautiful blue above, where we could
scan the actions of the worldf'' Enquired
Samuel. Ida, happy at the time the conver-
sation had taken, gently tapped her compan-
ion on the shoulder, and ssid:


"Let us not splritualize too much Samuel,
I have only thus turned the conversation to
draw your mind from the miseries of mankind
over which we letopians, are too apt to brood.
Let us speak of the beauties OF nature, with
which we are surrounded. In my opinion,
every hill, tree, rock and shrub has It's inter-
esting legend every dancing cascade has
voice, if we but understood the language Of
nature, that would amuse and instruct US
more than all the homilies written upon man-
kind.


0nsuch q morning as thisI delight in stray
ing fourth among the fowery aelds whore the