The Factory Boy Page 2

  "The Rector visited me; but I scarcely understood what he said. WhenDexter died, there were three hundred dollars laid by in the bank. Fiftyof it went for his funeral expenses and my mourning; and the rest wentlittle by little, till I had not a shilling left. Then Johnny was takensick. I hoped he would die; I hoped we all should die; but I began tothink that I was not prepared to follow my husband to heaven. He lovedhis Saviour, and I did not.

  "I tried to pray. The Rector's wife prayed with me, and led me to Jesus.I learned to trust in him; but I was wholly inexperienced, and knew nothow to earn a living for myself and my little ones. I thought if Icould only get home to my parents that I should be happy; but I hadnothing left to pay my expenses.

  "One by one my pieces of furniture were sold, and I was dependent oncharity for my daily food. At last they raised the money to pay my fare,and, with all I had in the world packed in Dexter's chest, I left theplace where I had experienced the greatest joy and the greatest sorrow Ihad ever known.

  "When I reached home I found my father helpless from a paralyticstroke, and mother worn out with care of him. One of my friends ownedthis old house, and offered me the use of it. He said, as it was nearthe factory, we could get work. I might have done something, but I tookcold and was unable to sit up. Afterward, when I inquired again andagain at the factory, I was told that they had already more applicantsthan they could supply.

  "At last Johnny got a place there; but his wages were small,and--and--unless you had found us, I think we should really havestarved."

  CHAPTER V.

  GOING TO SCHOOL.

  SPRING came at last; and then what delight Ella felt in being allowed torun out of doors, and play on the new, fresh grass with the pussy Mrs.Miles had given her!

  Johnny was still in the factory; and Mrs. Talbot worked away at thehose, making a very comfortable living. She could smile now at Ella'scunning ways, and laugh with Johnny at the news he brought from themill, after his day's work was done.

  He was in Mrs. Miles's class in Sabbath school,--her best scholar, shesaid. He had won a prize already for obtaining two new scholars; andwhat do you think it was? Why, a new Bible with clasps; and very proudhe was of it, too. Every Sabbath he learned his verses in it,--puttingin the red ribbon-mark with great care.

  In the evening, Johnny read to his mother while she sewed, and now hewas learning to write.

  Mrs. Talbot made a copy on the slate, and he wrote underneath, trying tomake every line better than the last.

  One day he came running home from his work, his face looking very brightand happy.

  "Mother! mother!" he called out; "I'm going to school! I'm not going towork any more,--I mean not all day. Mrs. Miles has settled it! And Omother! I'm to go there this evening for a big bundle of clothes. She'smade me a jacket out of a coat of her husband's, and that was what shewanted my other jacket for. Oh! oh! I'm so glad!"

  "That is news!" exclaimed Mrs. Talbot.

  "I'm to be advanced," he added; "she says so, and paid by the hour; andI shall earn just as much working between schools as I do now. Omother! isn't Mrs. Miles splendid?"

  In the evening, Johnny went for the bundle; and the lady accompanied himhome to see how the new clothes fitted.

  "It's my first trial," she said, laughing; "and I'm very proud to thinkthat I've succeeded so well."

  Johnny turned round and round, as directed, to show first the back, thenthe shoulders and front.

  "I find I have a natural gift at tailoring," cried Mrs. Miles. "I shallthrow up making hose, and devote myself to my new calling. Just see thatsleeve, now! It looks as well as if it were bought from a fashionablestore."

  "I don't know how to thank you," murmured the widow, laughing throughher tears. "I should have tried to cut them over, of course; but I'mafraid I should have made a bungling piece of work of it."

  "Well, then, if you confess so much, I will tell you that I have a rightto be proud; for the times that jacket has been ripped and sewed, andripped and basted and pressed, are beyond calculation. I made a study ofMr. Miles's wedding-coat, at last, particularly the sleeves, and then Ifound out what my trouble was. But the victory was worth all the pains;so I don't count the four days I spent on it lost time."

  "I mean to be very careful of my new clothes," said Johnny, who hadbeen listening in open-mouthed wonder.

  They both laughed at his grave tone; and then Mr. Miles came for hiswife; and they talked about the Sabbath school.

  "I want you, Mrs. Talbot, to do my wife a favor," said the gentleman,trying to look serious. "She is desirous of having an infant class inthe Sabbath school, and wants you for the teacher. Ella, she says, isold enough to go with you."

  "Me!" exclaimed the widow, in great astonishment. "Me! Why, I am notcompetent to teach any one."

  "Neither am I," urged Mrs. Miles; "but I do love my Saviour; and I wantthe boys and girls around me to love him; so I try to tell them what agood Being he is, and what he has done for us. Can't you do that?"

  With a deepened color the widow answered,--

  "At least, I will try."

  "I knew you would; and if you will only tell them the 'sweet story ofold,' as I heard you telling it to Johnny one of the first visits I madeyou, and while I was waiting in the entry for you to answer my knock, itis all I will ask. Ever since that time I have only been waiting forsummer so that the little ones, Ella among the rest, can go out."

  Johnny with a new Scholar for the Sabbath-school.

  Series II, vol. iii, p. 63.]

  "She tells me beautiful stories about Daniel in the lion's den,"exclaimed Johnny; "and about Joseph in prison. I can read them, too,in my new Bible."

  "There is a small vestry which seems made on purpose for your school,"suggested Mr. Miles.

  "Where we hope to see you next Sabbath," added the lady.

  "I will do the best I can," was the humble reply; "and I am sure I shalllove the work."

  CHAPTER VI.

  JOHNNY A FAVORITE.

  I WISH you could have seen Johnny the first morning he started forschool. His face was as clean as soap and water could make it; his hairwas nicely parted on his broad forehead; his eyes shone like stars; andhis mouth was wreathed with smiles. He wore the new suit Mrs. Miles hadgiven him, and a clean linen collar around his neck. In one hand hecarried a little pail full of dinner; and under his other arm, hisspelling-book, reader, and slate. He was to call at Mrs. Miles's for apencil; and so, after bidding his mother good-by and hearing her callafter him, "Be a good lad, Johnny, and don't let any idle boys turn youfrom your book," he hurried away to be in season to choose a seat.

  This was the first day of the term, and the earliest scholars had thebest chance.

  Mrs. Miles met him at the door with the long slate-pencil nicelysharpened in her hand; and, having looked at him from head to foot, shesaid, approvingly,--

  "You are just right, Johnny, and I'm proud of you." Then she kissed hisglowing cheek, and he ran down the steps.

  I suppose you would like to know where the silver dollar was all thistime. Why, round Johnny's neck, to be sure! You know he was to wear ittill he told a lie; and, as he had never departed from the truth, it wasstill there, fastened to a nice ribbon that his mother had bought forit.

  At school, Johnny liked his teacher and the boys; and they liked Johnny.In school he was as grave as a judge, studying his lessons with all hismight; but at recess there was not a merrier boy among the whole set.Playing ball or catcher were new games to him, who had always beenobliged to work so hard, and he enjoyed every moment of the time givento them.

  Then he was always fair at his plays, and ready to oblige hiscompanions. By-and-by it used to be said,--

  "Don't cheat, now! Be fair, like Johnny Talbot."

  This pleased Johnny's friends more than all the rest. To be sure theyliked to have him a good scholar,--to have him popular among hisschool-mates; but it was best of all to know that he tried to do whatGod would approve.

  At home he was just the
same boy that he was when I first began to tellyou about him, and was as ready to give up his pleasure to his motherand Ella as he had been to give up his scant breakfast of Indianporridge, when he knew there was not enough for all.

  As you may imagine, Johnny was a very busy child. He rose almost as soonas he could see, and reached the farm where his mother and Mrs. Milesbought their milk, before the farmer was ready for him. Then he was backwith his two pails, and off for the factory for a couple of hours.

  He was very happy here, for all the men and women smiled upon him, so hewhistled away at his work, though the noise of the machinery preventedany one but himself hearing his music.

  When the town-clock struck eight he was off for home, where he had onlyjust time to eat his breakfast, wash and dress for school, before itwas the hour to start.

  After school, he changed his clothes again, and had three more hours forwork before dark.

  So the summer passed happily away. Sometimes, indeed, when the boys werestarting off for nuts; or when he heard them on the common, flying theirkites, he used to wish, just for one moment, that he were rich, so thathe could have time to go with them; but he did not cherish suchthoughts. He knew that God had been very kind to him, and that hisheavenly Father had ordered all things for his best good. His mother hadexplained to him that it was for Joseph's future advancement that Godallowed him to be put into prison, and that this great and good Being isalways watchful over those who love and trust him.

  At home, though Johnny had little leisure, yet he contrived to pleaseElla so much that she longed for his presence, and would run forth tomeet him, her apron full of grass and flowers, which she had gatheredfor dear Johnny.

  CHAPTER VII.

  JOHNNY'S TRUST.

  BY the industry of Johnny, and the wages of his kind mother, the familyat the cottage had passed a very comfortable summer; but now work wasscarce, and the widow looked forward with some dread to the coldweather.

  She well knew that more than one third of the women who worked for thefactory had received no hose for several weeks; and that it was onlythrough her friend's exertions that Mr. Miles sent it regularly to her.

  Then, although her earnings had provided them with abundance of goodplain food, yet this sum, even if continued, would not supply fuel andwarm clothes. Nor was there anything to pay for mending the roof, wherethe rain dripped in during every shower.

  It was on a dreary November evening that Mrs. Talbot talked with her sonwhile Ella, untroubled by anxiety or care, lay soundly sleeping in thebed at the farther corner of the room.

  With a sigh, the widow told her boy she feared trouble was before them.

  "Everything seems dark," she went on; "I can't see where help to carryus through the winter is coming from. We can't live in this house muchlonger unless it has new shingles on the roof; and I know that is avery costly job. Then we all need warm clothes. I'm afraid, Johnny,you'll have to leave school and work harder than you have ever workedbefore;" and she sighed again.

  Johnny's chin trembled. "I can't work in the mill, mother," he began,trying to keep back a sob. "One of the men told me to-day there were noorders from the merchants, and they would have to stop."

  The widow covered her pale face with her hands. "We shall starve,then," she cried out, in a voice of agony. "Oh, if your father were onlyalive!"

  She leaned on the table and wept bitterly.

  "Mother," faltered Johnny, drawing his coat-sleeve across his eyes;"mother, you told me our heavenly Father loves us better than anyearthly father. Won't he help us if we pray to him? Don't cry so,mother; I think he knows about it, and perhaps he'll take care of us,as he did when we were starving before."

  "Johnny! Johnny! I've been wicked. I've been doubting him all day. Yes,my child, he is good, merciful, and true to his promises, even to poor,weak creatures like me. We will pray, and we will trust. I feel happieralready. I have been carrying my burden of care when he says we may castit on him. Come, Johnny, we will pray."

  They kneeled together by the firelight; and the woman, with a fullheart, thanked her heavenly Father for her precious boy,--that his faithhad not wavered when she so wickedly doubted his power or hiswillingness to help them. She thanked him again for his former care ofthem, and she urged his gracious promise, "I will be the widow's God,and a father to the fatherless."

  She arose and took her seat with almost a smile.

  "All my anxiety has gone," she said, in a cheerful tone; "I know myheavenly Father is able and willing to help us. Johnny, my precious boy,how could I murmur when you and Ella are spared?"

  "I prayed in my heart all the way home," faltered the boy; "I didn'tknow what we should do; but I kept saying to myself,--

  "'God knows all about it,--just as he did about Joseph in prison.'"

  His mother drew him to her side, and kissed his forehead.

  "Now you must go to bed," she said. "Though we trust God for thefuture, we must do all we can to help ourselves. I have work for anotherweek; and you must be off early to yours. When this fails, I feel surethat we shall be provided for somehow."

  Johnny lay quiet on his couch, and his mother thought him asleep. Sheread chapter after chapter of God's holy word, comforting herself in hisgracious promises, when she was startled by hearing her boy say,--

  "Mother, there's my silver dollar, you know. That will buy a good deal."

  "Yes, dear."

  Her voice trembled. She knew how much he prized that dollar, and howoften Mr. Miles had asked to see it, "to be sure," he said, "that it wasnot lost or forfeited." She resolved that not until everything else hadbeen sacrificed should that dollar be parted with.

  Two days later Johnny ran home with the joyful announcement,--

  "Mrs. Miles has come home! I've seen her. She beckoned me to go in, and,O mother! what do you think she showed me? The cunningest little baby Iever saw. She wants you to come right over, and she----"

  Mrs. Talbot interrupted him by saying,--

  "That is good news! I'll go at once, and take Ella, so that I can stayand help her. Rake up the fire as quickly as you can, and put on Ella'shood."

  "I felt a little troubled for you," exclaimed the lady, when, after acordial embrace, she had heard a confession of the widow's fears; "but Iam sure all will come out right and bright. That dear Johnny! I hope myboy will be just like him;" and here she gave the baby a good squeeze.

  "If the mill is shut, as I suppose it must be, we shall go to myfather's for the winter. It will be a trial to all of us; but we willtrust it is for the best. My husband told me that he should knowcertainly at the end of another week. If no orders come in before thattime, they can't keep on."

  Mrs. Talbot took the baby and began to caress it to hide her troubledface; but presently said, with a smile,--

  "How thankful we ought to be that there is One who orders all events inour lives, and that this Being is he who calls himself our Father."

  CHAPTER VIII.

  JOHNNY'S NEW FATHER.

  THE cold weather came on early this year. As he ran shivering home fromschool, Johnny saw, at almost every house, the preparations for winter.Here was a pile of wood, and there a large heap of coal, suggestive ofwarmth and comfort. Two days more and the important question about thefactory would be decided. If Mrs. Miles went away, it would be verydesolate. God only knew how they should be able to get along.

  He thought of all this one night as he was returning from the factory,and to comfort himself began humming his favorite tune,--

  "I have a Father in the promised land."

  As he came in sight of the cottage, he wondered at the bright lightwhich reflected from the windows; but he wondered still more at thescene presented within.

  Their one table was set in the middle of the floor, and spread with suchabundance as he had never seen there. His mother was hurrying to andfro, and intent on the cakes she was frying, while at the same time shetalked with a well-dressed man who sat near the fire holding Ella in hislap.

 
; "I haven't forgotten your favorite dish," she said, with an arch smile."You liked rye fritters best, while Dexter preferred buckwheats."

  "Ah, there is Johnny!" exclaimed the stranger, holding out his hand."Don't you remember me?"

  It was, indeed, an old friend,--the man who had been watched and nursedby Mrs. Talbot and her husband, and from whom she had never since heard.He had spent a week in searching for her, he said; and now he meant totake care of her and the children.

  After supper, he rocked Ella to sleep, and then begged to hold herawhile; for, he said, "I have something to tell you."

  "You know I had not fully recovered when I went away," he began. "Itried to thank you, but I couldn't; my heart was too full. I heard ofDexter's death, and felt that I had lost a brother. The next thing I didwas to make a resolution to be a brother to you and yours. I worked hardand saved every penny. Not that I thought money could pay you for yourcare of me; but I felt that you might need help.

  "There," he added, holding out a package, "is the first I earned. I laidit aside for you."

  The widow's face flushed as she saw written on a corner of the wrapper,"Two hundred dollars."

  "I found a good place and succeeded well. Every day I repeated theprayer Johnny taught me on my sick-bed, and God answered it. I saw myneed of a Saviour, and gladly accepted the one offered me in the Bible.I wrote again and again to you, sending my letters to our old place; butI had no reply. At last I grew too anxious to wait longer, and, settlingmy business, I set out to find you. I wish I had started a year ago."