The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-10-13

I'm very muCn ODllgeQ 10 yOu-WllllS
faltered, hardly realizing that at last be
had found job.
Don't thank me yet, said his uncle, al
most gruf1ly, you may not want to after
you have been working for awhile.
Willis went home in high spirits:
Mother, Mother, he called; I've got
job at last-and a job from Uncle
Judson, too.
That afternoon Willis packed his
satchel and took the train down the val
ley for Edwardsburg, where the Hard
acre mills were located. 1t was about
twenty-five miles from home and he
had never been in the place except on
his bicycle and he hardly knew where
the mills were located. But he found
them easily enough, and with them the
foreman, Matthew'S big, red-faced,
stoop shouldered giant with voice like
a oghorn; Matthews read the letter,
and then glanced at Willis keenly and
half contemptuously, Willis thought.
Well, he said; be on hand at seven
O'Clock tomorrow morning and I'll put
you to work.
Willis found place in the company's
boarding house-a single bunk in an
attic room with four other men. The
walls were dngy, the floor was covered
with coarse mating and the bedding
did not look any too clean. One little
cobwebby window commanded view
of q vast heap of sawdust and slabs.
Supper was served on long table COW
cred with oilcloth, and the tea was
brought in by men walters who laughed
and joked one another. The workmen,
their sleeves rolled up, came in and ate
almost in silence.
In the morning Willis was set to load
ing slabs from waste pile into box
car which stood on a siding near at
hand. One man handed them down
from the pile, second tossed them
into car and third corded them up.
Willis was given the easiest job--that
of piling-but he was compelled TO keep
up with the other two. The slivers
stuck into his soft palms and the jagged
bark bruised his arms. Besides that
it was hot June day without breath
of air stirring in the car. For an hour
or two he stood it pretty well, but be-
fore noon he began to feel that he
should drop in his tracks, but he was
determined never to give up. He was
a cog in the machinery of the big mill
and he proposed to do his duty until he
broke down. Never was sweeter mu.
sic than the sound of the noon whistle
He YEARLY dropped the last slab and
staggered into the dining room of the
boarding house. AT first he was toe
tired to eat, but he managed to swal.
low little dinner and by one O'Clock
he felt better. But he knew he never
could last through the long afternoon
at the same work and it was with 8
deep feeling of relief that he heard
Matthews order his crew from the Cal
loading TO the sawdust chutes. Here
he was required to stand knee deep in
soft sawdust at the end of the chute
where the waste of the mill came blow
ing out in dusty cloud and shovel fol-
dear life to keep himself from being
buried. 1t was hot wearing work anc
by the time the afternoon was finished
Willis was thoroughly discouraged.
But he was naturally vigorous o.
body and, although his uncle had made
fun of his tennis and football, he knew
now how much good strength they ha(
added to his muscles. he awakened
the next morning lame in every join
and with his hands almost raw will
blisters.
But I'll stick to it, he said, grittinl
his teeth; I've got to get through col
lege next year.
That day he was paired with big
red bearded Scotchman, and they wer,
assigned to the work of trimming
up some timbers with long eros
cut saw. For few hours Willis ben
bravely back and forth. 1t was fear
fully hard work, particularly becaus
he did not understand the science O
getting the greatest results from tn
least effort. Toward noon the BIZ
Scotchman, who had been watching
him keenly, found that the saw woul,
need filing. Willis never felt NOR
grateful for anything in his life and il
the afternoon he was enough rested t
continue the work.
And 30 it went on, day after day
Before the end of the second wee
Willis grew somewhat hardened, an
although the work was still very hare
, he did not grow painfully exhausted
| He also found that the other men wer
good hearted, kindly fellows and a
. ways ready TO help him where the
, | could BEFORE the middle of July Ma