Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-09-30


Willis kept his temper, although ev
cry one of his uncle's words stung hin
to the quick.
Il understand all that" he said
"and am willing to do anything from
wood-sawing up that will enable me L
save little money"
"Wood-sawing, eh?" said JudsoI
Hardacre, and the grim smile agaiI
curled his lips. LET me see you
hands,"
Willis held out his hands-they
were certainly rather small and white
although tennis playing had worn $
few hard callouses on the right palm
II thought So" said Uncle Judson
tennis hands, eh?"
They may be soft now, but as
sure you, Uncle Judson. am moi
afraid Of any kind of work which will
help me finish my course"
At the sound of the unfamiliar
words, "Uncle Judson," Judson Hard.
acre glanced up sharply, and then he
said rather more grufiy than before:
We'll, I'll take you at your word
Times are dull, and haven't much OF
anything else besides chopping and
saving" u
Judson Hardacre pressed a button
and tall, quiet man with pen thrust
behind his ear stepped in to the room.
"Calkins, this is Willis Everett. He
will go to work tomorrow morning at
the Edwardsburg mill at $50 month.
He will board at the company's hotel.
Have him report to Matthews. Let
me know each week how he is doing"
I'm very much obliged to you
Willis faltered, hardly realizing that
at last he had fourd job
Don't thank me yet" said his
uncle, almost gruffly; "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 a job at last-and job from I'm
c,s Iudson, too"
That afternoon Willis packed his
satchel and took the train down the
valley for Edwardsburg, where the
Hardacre 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, redfaced, stoop-shouldered giant
with voice like foghorn, Matthews
read the letter, and then glanced at
Willis keenly and half contemptuous-
ly, Willis thought.
WELL" he said; ''be on hand at Z
o'clock tomorrow morning and I'll
put you to work"
Willis found a place in the COM
pany's boarding house-a single bunk
in an attic room with four other men.
The walls were dingy, the floor was
covered with coarse mating and the
bedding did not look any too clean.
One little cobwebby window COM
manded view of a vast heap of saw
dust and slabs. Supper was served on
a long table covered with oilcloth, and
the tea was brought in by men walters
who laughed and joked one another.
The workmen came in with their
sleeves rolled up, and ate almost in
silence.
In the morning Willis was set to
loading slabs from the waste pile into
a box car which stood on a siding
near at hand. One man handed them
down from the pile, a second tossed
them into the car and third corded
them up. Willis was given the easiest
job-that of piling-but he was COM
PEELED to keep up with the other two.
The slivers stuck into his soft palms
and the jagged bark bruised his arms
Besides that 1t was a hot June day
a breath of air stirring in the
car. For an hour or two he stood it
pretty well, but before 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 ma
chinery of the big mill, and he pro-
posed to do his duty until he broke
Town. Never was sweeter music than
he 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 too
tired to eat, but he managed to swal-
ow little dinner, and by 1 o'clock he
cit better. But he knew he never
could last through the long afternoon
1T the same work, and ii was with q
leep feeling of relief that he heard
Matthews order his crew from the car
oading to the sawdust chutes Here
he was required to stand knee-deep in
'oft sawdust at the end of the chute,
where the waste of the mill came
blowing out in a dusty cloud, and
shovel for dear life to keep himself
rom being buried. 1t was hot, wear
ng work, and by the time the after
loon was finished Willis was thor
)ughly discouraged
But he was naturally vigorous of
body, and, although, his uncle had
made fun of his tennis and football
lie knew now how much good strength
hey had added to his muscles. He
awakened the next morning lame in
very Joint and with his hands almost
'aw with blisters.
But I'll stick to it." he said, gritting
his teeth; I've got to get through COL
eye next year."
That day he was paired with a big.
'ed-bearded Scotchman, and they were
to the work of trimming up
'ome timbers with a long cross-cut
saw. For few hours Willis bent
)ravely back and forth. 1t was fear