Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-07-28
A YANKEE IN A COTTON MILL.

A YANKEE IN A COTTON MILL.
A raw, straw-hatted, sandy whiskered, six
footer-one of the purely uninitiated, came in
yesterday from Greene, with load of wood
for the Factory Company. Having piled his
wood to the satisfaction of the overseer, he
bated his team with a bundle of green grass
brought all the way from home for that pur-
pose, and then having invested portion of
his wood proceeds in root-beer and ginger
bread at Hams he started TO see the sscity''-
filling his countenance rapidly with bread, and
chewing it rapidly as he went.
He reviewed the iron foundry and machine
shop, and just opposite the warp-mill as the
hands were going in from dinner. The girls
were hurrying in as only factory girls can hur-
ry-and Jonathan, unaccustomed to such an
array of plaid shawls and hood bonnets, de-
posted his goad-stck on the stairs, and stalk
ed in ssto see what the trouble was.''
The clattering machinery and the movements
of the operatives, bewldered him for the
moment; but being of an inquiring turn OF
mind, and seeing much that was calculated to
perplex one whose observation in mechanics
had been mostly confined to threshing ma
chimes and corn shelters, he began to push
vigorous inquiries in all directions. In this
way he made himself acquainted successively
with the external and internal economy of the
various machines through which cotton-warp
progresses in the course of its manufacture
the .spcker'' ssbea.er," slap-winder,' ssdoub-
ler," and "speeder, and finally reached the
"breakers' and ssfnishers'' just as the card
stripper was going through the operation,
technically termed ssstripping the fats" In
doing this, the large cylinder of the card is
exposed to view, and is seen revolving with
very pretty buzz. Not content with contem-
plating the s'poetry OF motion" at safe dis
tance. our hero must needs Introduce himself
between the cards TO get a nearer view. This
movement brought his neither habiliments in
dangerous proximity to the gearing of the
next card, and s:thereby hangs tale"
ssYou-I say! She goes pooty-don't she
boss 2'' said Jonathan inquiringly.
ssShe don't do anything elsc," responded
the stripper /; ssbut you must be very careful
how you move around amongst this hardware.
Twas only last week, sir, that promising
young man from Minet, student at the Acad-
emy here, was drawn into that very card sir,
and before any assistance could reach him,
he was run through, and manufactured into
No. 16, super-eStra, cotton warp yarn"
81 s-s-sw- WOW / believe you're joking !''
suffered Jonathan.
s'Fact, sir,'' continued the stripper. ssand
his disconsolate mother came down two days
ago, and got five lunches of that same yarn
as a melancholy relic.''
Shy the mighty that can't be true ~
ssFact, sir, fact, and each of his fellow stu
dents purchased tkem apiece; 10 be set in
lockets and worn in remembrance of depar-
ted worth.''
Sis that the truth now Was he rally keer-
ded, spun, and sot in lockets ?''
A sense of personal danger here shot across
our hero's mind, and he began to retreat pre-
cipitately, without waiting for an answer
There was not much room to spare betwixt
himself and the gearing of the card behind
him. Another step backward completed the
ceremony of introduction. His unwEispera-
bles being of large calibre, the process of
snarling them into hard knot was no ways
slow. Jonathan gave tongue inStanter, and
by the twentieth gyration of the embodiment
the music was melodious. Gen. Scott, HIM
self, could not have protested more forcibly
against an attack upon his ''rear."
ssO-h M-u-r-d-e-r.i Let go You hurt !
Blast your picturs--let go! Amt We asham-
ed! Giteout-'tant pooty! Darnation seize
ye, let alone on me, can't We, dew :"
The gearing by this time had wound him up
so that he was obliged to stand on tiptoe.
His hands were revolving vigorously behind
him, though he dared not venture them too
near the seat of war. The card-Stripper threw
off the belt, but the momentum of the cylin
der kept it revolving. and the green 'un sup
posing it in full operation burst out anew;
ssOh stop her Stop her won't yel Stop
her, dew l amt well, and orter be at home.
Father wants the steers, and mothers going
to bake. Stop the ternal macheen-can't ye 2
Dew! Oh deer, I'll be keerded and spun. and
sot intew lockets Je-ru-sa-lem how wish
l was tew hum 20
The card was stopped at last; but Jonathan s
clothes were so entangled IN the gearing that
it was no small task to extricate him. Like
Othello she was not easily moved" /" and it
was only by cutting out the whole of the in
vested territory that he was finally released.
ssWhat are you about here ?'' inquired the
oyerseer, entering.
sNothing sir, only stripping fats !" an
swered the stripper.
Jonathan not caring to resume his pursuit
Of knowledge under difficulties, pair of over
hauls charitably loaned him, and he start
ed with his steers on a fast walk towards home,
giving series of short kicks with either leg
as he went as if TO assure himself that he had
brought away his full compliment of limbs
from the "cussed masheen. n."-Bosfon Yankee
Blade.