The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-16

Entering at random one OF the little shops I
sat for half an hour watching On old man at
work. bent, shrewd faced and kindly man who
might be some seventy years old. but WAS stin
one of the best workmen in the place. The
method of making the nails--theso are all hob
nails, such As are used in rust,cs' shoe soles to
save leather-is comparatively simple. Grasp
ing with his left hand a couple of rods OF iron
about an eighth OF an inch square, which are
the raw material of his trade. the workman
thrust them into the glow OF his forge till the
iron was red, when the rods were withdrawn
and placed upon the anvil Twisting the rods
now this way, now that, dexterously with his
left hand, the old man hammered ont with q
few deft strokes the pointed shank Of the nail,
working both rods together Then laying the
half FINISHED nails across upright cutting edge
upon anotl or portion of the anvils stand allow
ing precisely enough material for the heads. with
a single blow he severed them half in two. A
quick touch of the glowing iron sideways
turned the half severed nails At right angles to
the rod Rising in front OF tho mailer an
upright or standard with q hole sunk in the top
big enough to admit the point of the nail
Dropping the point first of one nail and then the
other into this socket, the workman struck each
two blows with his hand hammer and two with
a simple trip hammer operated by tho foot sew
ering it from the rod and shaping the head, aft
er which it was thrown ont of the socket by
tap upon a spring falling to one side, finished.
cool to work and were thrust back into the fire
and another pair taken up. When the ends be-
came TOO short 10 work conveniently they were
welded together and laid aside to be used when
cool. There was no waste, no delay. Blowing
his little bellows. shovsling coal upon the fire,
hammering the nails and welding the rods by
turns, the old man worked with mar velous dex-
terity and uuiagging industry.
And when I've made twelve 'undrad o them
nails, they will weigh five pound. How much
think thee will get for mt Seven pence. sir;
seven pence. We makes seven shin week
where once twere q pound and more, and We
pays our rent and tools out'n that, a2d for nails
as are worth pound ALA our master allows us
is nine and six You can ask in any of the shops
they'll tell 70 the same"
The news Of the strangers visit had spread
through the nailsrs' novels, but none left their
work to look into the little shop save middle
aged man, half-grown lad and baby OF three
four who toddled in and out at the door. and
called the bent and gray haired mau 'g'snpe."
In her play she picked up three or four Of the
precious nails and dropped them upon the dirt
| floor of the hut.
"What's thee doin'r demanded the middle
| aged man. leaning in the doorway, whom now
conjectured TO be the cid mans son, thrusting
tbs child gently out of the shop Wasting nails
seems to be the cardinal sin Of childhood In
| Bromsgrove.
| ~ tell thee, SIR" said the younger man, this
| act of necessary discipl inc accomplished, ''wem
| starving. and that's the truth. There's the mon
| next door. Z worked ell last week an . 'ad 4