on't want to stay in the factory any longer than I am
obliged to; but that may be forever," replied Fred, with a clouded brow,
as his mind reverted to the cause that brought him down to such work.

"I don't see why you need to stay in here. You have been clerk in a
store, and have a good education, I suppose. If I only had an
education----"

"Haven't you ever been to school?"

"I went to school a little in the old country, and three terms in Rhode
Island; then I went into the factory. My father was sick, and couldn't
work. After I had been in there about a year, my coat caught one day in
the shafting and wound me round it so they had to shut down the water
wheel to get me off. Everybody thought I was dead. That's what hurt my
back and made it grow the way it is now."

"How long ago was that?" inquired Fred sympathetically.

"It was six years ago that I got hurt, but I did not get out of bed for
almost two years afterward."

"Does your back trouble you now?"

"Yes, it aches all the time; but I've got rather used to it. Only when I
do a lot of lifting here, it bothers me so I can't sleep."

"That's too bad. I'm sorry for you, and, as I said, will do all the
heavy work. Then you didn't go to school any after you got out again?"

"No; I went back into the mill and stayed until my mother died; then I
came here."

"Did you say your father was dead?"

"Yes; he died while I was sick."

"Have you any brothers or sisters?"

"No; I have no one but my uncle."

"I suppose he is kind to you?"

"Yes, he is; but Aunt Gretchen don't seem to like me very well, she has
so many children of her own."

"I should think you would board somewhere else, then."

"My uncle wants me to stay with him. If I boarded at the factory
boarding house my wages wouldn't more than pay my board, and I shouldn't
have anything left to buy my clothes with. If I should leave him and
then get sick he wouldn't take care of me, and I should have to go to
the poorhouse. I have always dreaded that since the city helped us when
we were all sick."

"Well, you will soon be strong enough, I hope, to get another job, where
there is more pay."

This conversation was now interrupted by the appearance of Hanks, who
said to Fred:

"Come along up stairs with me, Worthington; I want yer ter help me lug
some cloth down. I'll show yer where ter find it; then yer kin git it
yerself erlone. Yer look stout 'nuff ter handle it 's well as me."

Each shouldere