That the Holy Spirit may make use of it to inculcate in young hearts a sense of honorable independence, a conviction of the dignity of faithfully performed work, and, above all, an earnest and irrevocable choice of God's blessed service and an entire committal of their ways to him, is the sincere prayer of
THE AUTHOR.
SAUGERTIES, July 1, 1885.
————————————————————————————————————
KATIE ROBERTSON.
CHAPTER I.
A NEW DEPARTURE.
"But, mother, it isn't as if I were going away from home, like the Lloyd girls; you might have a right to cry if that were the case."
"I know, dear; it's all right, and I ought to be very thankful; but I'm a foolish woman. I can't bear to think of my little girl, whom I have guarded so tenderly, going among all those girls and men, and fighting her way in life."
"I don't think I shall be much of a fighter," laughed Katie, looking at her diminutive hands; "and why is it any worse to go among the boys and girls in the factory than among the boys and girls in school? You never minded that."