use of my easy job, and hinted that I was not getting
this snap for nothing. All of this I did not in the least understand,
for I was not much more than twelve years old.

"One morning I was surprised and delighted to see Mr. Hardwin come in
and ask me how my hands were, and if I still suffered much pain. I was
so grateful that tears came to my eyes as I answered. That night I told
my mother what an extremely kind and good man Mr. Hardwin was. He
repeated these visits several mornings in succession, always asking me
how I was getting along, and patting me on the head or shoulder as he
went away. I had been working perhaps two months at this job, when one
morning it happened that I was the first one of the employees to arrive
at the factory. While I was in the dressing-room removing my wraps, a
knock came on the door, and Mr. Hardwin entered. Quickly seizing me in
his arms, he covered my face with kisses, and did not quit until he
heard someone approaching. He left hastily, saying 'Don't tell!' the
only words he uttered during the scene. I was so amazed that I did not
even scream. Nor did I understand, but I did feel troubled and ashamed.
All that morning I was uneasy and nervous, and the following day I
waited outside until some of the girls came, so that I should not have
to go into the factory alone. The day following I received an envelope
with my pay, and was told that my services were no longer required.

"I got a beating at home as a result of my discharge, but as I soon
found another job, my parents became comparatively kind to me again.
This new work was in a candy factory, where I was both startled and
amazed at the way the beautiful, sweet candies were made. I remained
there about six months, when I was discharged because I had been late
several times in one week. The next job was in a brewery, where I
labelled beer bottles. This was the cleanest and most wholesome place I
ever worked in. We had a whole hour for dinner, and the boys and girls
were all so jolly. Nearly every day after lunch we played on mouth
organs and danced on the smooth floor until the whistle blew for work
again. Oh, there, it was good to work! Three times a day each employee
received a bottle of nice cold beer, which, after several hours of hard
work, tasted lovely. The people there seemed to think it was not evil to
be happy, and I naturally agreed with them against the good people
outside. But one ill-fated day my parents heard that a b