The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-12-30
Uncle Jake's New Year.
PART I.

Inc BUSY mum ana tremDle or tne
machinery in the large rolling mill of
G. M. Durant & Co. had ceased. Many
of the employees were engaged in put
ting on their coats and hats, while
others, ready to depart, stood in knots
of three or four, conversing in low
tones, waiting for the whistle to sound,
which was the signal of their dismissal.
Tomorrow would be New Years day,
and the mill was to close an hour earlier
this afternoon on that account.
The room was long, dusty one.
Huge cobwebs, heavy with SCOT, hung
from the beams of the low ceiling, and
the few lamps that were lit gave forth
a dull, smoky light. The gloomy and
unpleasant appearance of the place ex
tended to the men, whose faces and
hands were begrimed, and whose
clothes were shiny with the oil and
dirt of the machinery.
AT one end of the room was plat
form, upon which stood desk; hang
ing on the wall above this was clock,
towards which many eyes were
anxiously turned. 1t was already a
quarter past five, and still no whistle
sounded. The men became restless.
A few were pacing impatiently up and
down, stopping now and then to glance
at the time and utter some sullen re-
mark.
The hands of the clock were point
ing to half-past five when the door lead
ing to the private offices opened and
the superintendent entered, holding in
his hand letter. He passed quickly
through the crowd without noticing the
scowling faces, and ascending the plat
form struck bell that stood upon the
desk. AT this signal the men began
reluctantly to gather round him. They
feared some pressing orders had been
received that would necessitate their
return to work upon the morrow. This
had happened before on holidays.
The superintendent stood for mo-
ment reading the letter, then laying it
upon the desk at his side he glanced
uneasily around the room, and in a
harsh, abrupt manner, said:
have received an order from the
firm to discontinue all further work at
once. The hands will receive their full
weeks wages on Saturday, and, in the
meantime, are given full permission to
procure other employment, as it is I'M
certain how long the mills may remain
closed"
The frowns of disappointment quickly
changed to mingled looks of anxiety
and surprise, and low whisper went
round the room. When the superin-
tendent descended from the desk, a
number of men gathered respectfully
around him, anxious, if possible, to
learn more of the particulars. They
could gather nothing, however, from
his answers, except that the firm had
become so embarrassed that it was
obliged to suspend business.
Among the most eager of the listen
ers was an old, white-haired man, who
stood leaning against a post, upon
which was lamp. The light shining
down upon his upturned face showed it
stamp of many years of hard labor
The men passed slowly out into the
street until he was left alone. He did
not seem to notice their departure.
His eyes were fixed as if gazing upon
some far-dstant object, and his face
wore a tender, almost refined express
sion, which accorded strangely with his
surroundings.
He was still standing in this position
when the night Waterman, who came
to lock up the building, entered. Walk
ing toward the old man, he said,
pleasantly:
"Well, Uncle Jake, time you were
moving along, isn't it? You see it is
past Six"
I" Yes, yes, I am going now," he
said, as he stopped down to pick up his
hat, which had fallen to the floor.
"Bad news about the mill closing
up" continued the Waterman; "what
do you think of it?"
" / don't know what to think, except
that it will be hard winter for those
who look to it for support. God help
them"
The old man stopped for a moment.
His voice quivered alittle, and his eyes
grew brighter, as he added, g 1t would
not seem so hard, though, if Will was
only alive" As if ashamed of his
momentary weakness, he drew his hat
down over his face and in a few
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