“Because children just finishing grammar school are more careful in forming letters and can write much better than adults. Besides, they have to pay children but a third that an adult would demand for his labor,” explained Mrs. Wells.
“Why, isn’t that just as bad as working children in a factory?” questioned Miss Selina.
“The rooms that I visited are just as bad. The girls are crowded close together in a wretchedly lighted room without ventilation, and they sit writing all day with their poor backs bent double and fingers grown crooked from habit,” said Mrs. Wells.
“Goodness! Can’t we do something to stop it?” cried Mrs. Starr.
“They have to have the money for home needs, and it isn’t quite as bad, you know, as working all day in cold water to your knees, opening oysters at a cent a hundred.”
“Oh, dear, dear! don’t tell me any more,” half wept Aunt Selina. “I feel like a criminal to think I lost all of these years with money piling up in the bank that could have helped hundreds of these little workers. Let’s get busy this minute!”
“It would be nice to take all these little workers to the country, wouldn’t it?” queried Mrs. Talmage.
“Yes, yes! But, Mary, don’t delay me longer in this work—I have so many years to make up, and so little time to do it in,” mourned Aunt Selina.
“All right! Now that is settled—we hire a firm to do the addressing, and Mrs. Wells will see to the envelopes. What next?” said Mrs. Talmage.
“Oh, Mother Wings, don’t forget about that book—you know?” reminded Ruth.