Joseph's fingers are stained with newsprint. At nine years old, he's been folding and hawking papers through Hartford's streets for eighteen months—his voice competing with trolley bells and factory whistles. The bundle under his arm is heavy, but the coins in his pocket are heavier still.
Young Joseph Harris sold newspapers on Hartford's streets to help support his family. At nine years old, he'd been working this job for eighteen months already. In the early 1900s, thousands of children like Joseph were part of America's daily news delivery system.
Reflect
Did you ever have a job or responsibility as a child? What did it mean to you and your family?