The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-09-16


Burke answered neither yea nor nay,
though ho was trembling iDwardly with
excitement. The foroman's complete self.
possession annoyed him, aud he was the
moro annoyed because conscious of no
power to disturb this oquable frame by
passionate reaction.
Returning to his bench, he sat lnoodiy
thoughtful for several minutes before
commencing his work. Ho could not bear
to yield this point, which touched his
prido ss o workman; nud then, like most
workmen who have become used to ways
OF doiog thiug,, all changes are annoying.
The worst OF tho case was a giving up to
this new foreman, whom be bad threaten.
ed to drive out OF the establishment 10
loss than a week. Passion never leaves
the judgment very clear In his mental
obscurity, Burke resolved not to proceed
by the new method which tho foreman
had given, bat TO proceed 10 the old way.
So he commenced putting the material
together. Some two hours passed, and
the foreman stood beside his bench.
Not word was spoken. Burke almost
held his breath, waiting remark. But
the foreman moved on to the next man,
gave brief directions, then crossed to an.
other part Of tho shop.
Burke felt uneasy. The old foreman
would have spoken out sharply at seeing
an order dirregarded, and there would
have been a stormy alteration, and most
probably triumph on the workman's
part. But silence is mysterious, and sug.
gests hidden power Two or three times
during the day, the foreman stood at bis
bench, but made DO remark, although
the dcviations from his orders were ap.
parent at a glance, and Burke know that
ho eaw thom. Six o'clock came, and the
workmen dispersed to their homes. The
man least satisfied with himself was
Burke. Like him. oil the rest had felt
tho presence of hyperion influence in the
shops silently operating, but only he stood
face TO face with that power in open re.
sistance. II he could have measured itq
capacity; it ho could have drawn it out
from its intrcnchments, and surveyed it
upon all sides, be would have felt more
assured in himself But conscious ignor.
ance in this direction gave conscious
weakness.
Promptly at seven on the next morning
Burke presented himself He was ten
minutes behind timo on the previous day
Tho foreman stood at his desk in the little
Office. 1t was remarkable how hugely
respect for this individual had grown iu
the workman's mind.
"Mr Burke" The voice was kind
but Grm. Burke stopped and tried to
irovn.
II wish to say word to you" lie
came to tho desk
you are too sensible a man not to
know that order and subordinstioD are
necessary to the right conduct Of any
business" The foreman looked steadily
into tho workman's eyes, but with no in
timidatina aspect. IA this cotabli hmeu,
l have certain duties and on the faithful
performance of these its oficienoy de
pends. One thing is certain. shall dc
my part; bat not in a way to offsud OF
wrong auy man Ii auy one Is offeuded
it will bo through his oHn assault upot
laa oud order, which is always tho supe
rlor force aud his assaults can harm onl /
hmsoli. You hayo begun the assault
kt,f . Les. ,.~- hyr, ~ a;.t,-b.l ,,, 10
cau-o ls@ and order are all on my side
Nor, my friend, it would be easy Tor mt
10 say that in consequence Of your delib.
crate violation Of instructions yesterday
you must leave the shop, or you mus
throw aside your work done, aud bt
charged with the material spoiled, mat
Ter OF three or iour dollars. and doubt
less. if either decision were laid befor,
your fellow vorkmen for approval or re
jeetion, tho verdict would be against you
But shall not deal with you poremp
torlly. You shal! have your time !o
deIiberation. Go on, and complete thi
job in your own way, aud then consider
yourself at full liberty to retro from tn,
shop, or accept me a3 foreman withou
reservation. | understand my positiol
entirely. | admit Of 20 controversy will
you or any cue else in the establishment
Ii you make controversy, it will b.
against order, to which |, with all th
rest, wust come under obedience; and
need not tell you that in such q contos
you will be beaten"
Il think it most likely" answcret
Burke in frank tone. bis whole demean
or changing 10 tell the truth, yon ar
not tho man | took you TO be. Hereto
fore we've had the law to push and div
in this shop, and one.half Of the men sa
on their benches, with rptled feathers
from mofniag till night, ready for a set
to with tho foreman, and determined t
have their way, to the last possible thing
But if we are TO have tho law of order
Why it's give up aud como down to il
That's the best kind of law and irritate
no one. So here's my hand to it. 20
will slways lnd John Burke on duty a
roll call"
And graspir. tho ioreman's hand h
shook i. warmly, adding
"lf7ouI h.on different man it nigh
have been vo;sc fr me. But depen
upon it shali tot forget your forbeaI
anco aul consideration 70 a blind foo
who was in the act of throwing hlmsel
against stone wall" Burke went to hi
place wholly conquered. To tho law G
iorco ha had always been in open wal
fare, aud tho leader of insubordiAAsion i
the rhcp; but to the law of order hc bos
ed in complete submission.
Our story gives no striking positions
or dramatic climaxes; but % ever
thoughtful reader it will sugges. !. mos
important truth, applicable to all rels
tions in life, where one mind is called t
the duty Of scting upon and oontrolln
other minds. Order, as VIC said 10 th
commencement, Is an invisible power, {