Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-01-19


three weeks ia Boston made fearful inroads in.
to bis slender purse. and at The suggestion Of
some new acquaintanees he determined to 70 to
New York
Here he passed some two weeks with yari-
Gus adventures. but without finding an hour Of
paying occupation. lie wandered everywhere
observing and searching out places, inquiring
freely Of all, until at the close Of the third
week, be had bot single dollar leii in his
pocket, aud felt for the first time nearly dis
hearened. 10 this mood he siroled through
one Of the up town cross streets above Union
Park and found his attention attracted BY the
operation Of steam saw MILL which be enter
ed and quietly watched the business Of He
saw a small, but efficient engine diving four
saws fed by four men, while there stood at
desk hard by, one evidently the manager Of the
establishment.
Hiram felt a strong interest in what be saw;
;here weie large piles Of excellent lumber in
the building, an article he was familiar with
from childhood, and he watched the process Of
saving it Up, carefully observing to what pur-
pose ihe wood was put and saw a couple Of
hands in a further pari Of the shop engaged in
dove-iailing the pieces together, and forming
the lumber into boxes of various sizes. lie
consumed so much time, and was so minute in
his obseralon that at last the proprietor came
up 10 him and addressed him pleasantly
You seem to be quite interested e. be re-
marked, 10 Hiram.
Yes. J have seen good deal Of lumber
in my day, and was calculating how much
you probably used up in this way"
week"
$50 should think, and best number ones
ioo."
Yes, we require the very best stock, and
lumber is up now
How much do you pay :"
twenty -four dollars thousand, all clear
and assorted"
What do you do with all these boxes -
continued Hiram.
20, we can sell them faster than we can
make them, for packing soap, chemicals, &c"
Rather heavy for that purpose, should
say, added Hiram.
well, they are rather heavy, bu, we can't
get boards sawed any different, they are down
10 the loves, guage Of the numbering mills"
Hiram looked thoughtful, handled the boxes.
examined the saws, talked good common sense
IN business sfyieio the man, and At last he said,
half seriously, half in Jest:
you don't want partner, do you ~
"Why, no, not exactly though if had
one who would put 10 couple Of thousand
dollars, and would take hold heartily himself,
| would n, mind sharing The thing with him
and throwing IN the machinery"
and VIII isRe hoia and give my time, in way
that think it will be worth as much as The
sum you name, in short time, provided you
will give me half The business"
81 like the way you ialk," said the man,
honestly; ''bu, this an odd Proposiiionl''
"You say you pay ,~eniy-four dollars
thousand for the boards ~
"Yes."
"supposing bring them down to twelve at
once, and make neater and better boxes for
your purpose %
III you can do that win share with you
at once, for my fortune would be made
"Will you give me chance to Try The thing
aher my own fancy, for one day, say, comnenc-
ing Tomorrow mornngin
Yes" said the man. after moments hes
iiaiion. Lean see no harm, though ain to
be away tomorrow forenoon"
After little longer talk, and careful un-
dersianding that there should be no experiment
tried that should risk the machinery, Mr. IIurd.
the box maker, gave orders to his people that
Mr. Neazie was to be obeyed on the following
forenoon, the same as though he were himself
to give the orders, and that he should return al
noon.
Hiram a, once took of his coat. measured
one Of the saws and asked il il was the largest,
He was told that il was this he was at first
sorry for, but still carefully taking his meas
ures upon piece Of paper, he soon disappear
cd. lie remembered hardware store, not far
distant, which he had passed that very after
noon; 10 this he repaired, and selected eifcu-
lar saw, twice US large as any Mr. Hurd had in
his shop, and Of different make in the teeth !;
he also got some braces and bolts Of size ard
style which lie appeared to understand, and
telling the siore-keeper that he wanted them
for Mr. Hurd in the next street, he found no
difficulty in getting them on credit. With
matters thus arranged, he returned To his board
ing place and studied in his own mind as to
how he would carry out the plan he had CON
ceiyed
II was about twelve o'clock at noon on the
following day, when Mr. Hnrd returned to his
shop where he found Hiram Veazie in his shirt
sleeves and with pair Of "overallsn on, at
work before large splitting saw which he had
erected upon one Of the benches, and to which
he had applied the steam-power. lie was
splitting the boards, which were fully thick
enough to admit Of il, and thus was making
the boards produce just twice as many boxes as
heretofore, with an equal amount Of labor ;
since those Who finished them up into boxes az
Ter they we've sawed could work enough faster
with the thinner lumber to make up for the oc-
cupaiion Of one hand to tend the splitting saw
Mr. Hurd looked on with asionshment; al
ready were a score of boxes and more manufac-
iured Of The new thickness, and they were ac-
tualIy more valuable, as the thickness was am-
pie for all purposes of strength, and the weight
was reduced one-haf He was also delighted