He went up, quickly, to where his mother was sitting by a table at work, and dropping down in a chair, hid his face in her lap, without speaking, but bursting into tears as he did so.
"Oh George! what is the matter ?" exclaimed the mother in great alarm.
"What ails your hand ?" "It got mashed in the wheel," replied the boy, sobbing.
"Badly ?" asked the mother, turning pale, and feeling sick and faint.
"It's hurt a good deal; but the doctor tied it up, and says it will get well again; but I won't be able to go to work again in a good while." And the lad, from sobbing, wept bitterly.

The mother leaned her head down upon her boy, and wept with him.
"I don't mind the hurt so much," said George, after he had recovered himself; "but I won't be able to do any thing at the mill until it gets well." "Can't I go to work in his place, mamma ?" spoke up, quickly, little Emma, just in her tenth year.

Mrs.Foster kissed the earnest face of her child and said-- "No, dear; you are not old enough." "I'm nine, and most as big as George.

Yes, mamma, I'm big enough.

Won't you go and ask them to let me come and work in brother's place till he gets well ?" The mother, her heart almost bursting with many conflicting emotions, drew the child's head down upon her bosom, and held it tightly against her heart.
The time of severer trial was evidently drawing near.