Willie and the mortage, showing how much may be accomplished b y a boy . lived, these poor men would beforced to move into some wretch-ed shanty or hovel in the outskirtsof the town, and live there in ut-ter destitution. They would be-come, too, so disheartened anddiscouraged at their misfortunes,and so degraded by the influenceof drink, that they would ceaseto make any further effort, andgive themselves up a prey tohopeless despondency. It was amelancholy sight to see the chil-dren of such a family as this gath- 32 BESSIE. Poor children trying to warm themselves. Beginning of Mr. Joyns troubl
Willie and the mortage, showing how much may be accomplished b y a boy . lived, these poor men would beforced to move into some wretch-ed shanty or hovel in the outskirtsof the town, and live there in ut-ter destitution. They would be-come, too, so disheartened anddiscouraged at their misfortunes,and so degraded by the influenceof drink, that they would ceaseto make any further effort, andgive themselves up a prey tohopeless despondency. It was amelancholy sight to see the chil-dren of such a family as this gath- 32 BESSIE. Poor children trying to warm themselves. Beginning of Mr. Joyns ering round a little fire made of sticks which they had picked up out of doors, while theirmother would wring herhands in her distress, andthe wretched father sit byin silent despair. Unfortunately, Mr. Joynfell into old Tomms hands,and it was not long beforea great change began tocome over all his pros-pects and plans. He grad-i>ally formed the habit ofspending his evenings in Mr. Tomms store, with other idle anddissipated men. He was then unfit for w^ork the next day ; andso, instead of employing himself industriously and happily in pros-ecuting his business, he would pass a great deal of the time inlounging about his shop, in a very gloomy and miserable state ofmind. His buildings were neglected, and began to get out of re-pair. He made bad bargains, buying at very high prices newthings that he did not want, and selling his tools and other neces-sary things at much below their real value. Once he bought ahorse of old Tomms for ninety-five dollars, and then, after keep-ing him a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookidwilliemortag, bookyear1854
