Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-04-27

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She was a stranger there, yet she
seemed to feel no discomfort at the
attention which her arrival had awGk-
ened. Her good-tempered poise was so
apparent that her credentials were at
once accepted. She was used to NOV
ing through life without much dispute
over the right OF way, and was blessed
with the tact that comes from unaffect-
ed confidence.
She readily discovered the manager,
moving about among the bins and boxes,
saying quiet word here and there, or
pointing to some needed Encouragement
of the solid-looking but transient
STACKS of fruit or of empties. She went
10 him without hesitation, and asked fer
work.
The man looked up and recognized
good material at glance.
Can you pack?"
81 reckon can, but never did,"
"You won't earn very much at first"
Gail right, let me try; should like to
learn"
AS she spoke she looked keenly ut the
rows of girls sitting beside the bins
into which the various spouts from the
grader were delivering the several sizes.
At once she picked out the better work
ers, and got q notion OF the mechanical
verve and swing that told of exact and
rapid work,
There was rhythm in the motions of
a good packer. The paper came up from
the pile of sheets with the regularity of
balance wheel and fell upon the
orange in the other hand with an air Of
knowing where 1t belonged. The wrap
ping seemed to do itself, and the next
yellow subject was taking its treatment
almost before the former had settled IT.
self into precise position in the box.
TIE process had been adopted by the
automatic nerves OF the packer, and re-
quired no other attention from her
than an occasional replenishment Of
will in the effort at q continual increase
of speed. Her thoughts were free, ard
evidently ranging wide,
81 like that" said the girl; "can I
begin now?"
eyes" said the manager, smiling at
her spirit; take that third bin. You
can hang your hat and pail over yonder.
I'll be round to show you pretty soon"
In no time she was at her seat be-
side the bin, with an empty box in posi-
ton before her, had fitted a rubber Get
on her left thumb, and was eXperiment
ing. aided by frequent glal ees at her
neighbors, on the proper movements
to make the sheets rise singly and
spread widsstn cover the fruit; and she
had placed some rows of oranges in her
box before the manager came to show
her how.
She laughed as he made her take them
,ut again, and explained how each size
Is packed after regular pattern, by
which o certain number fills the box,
without need Of counting. A few more
hints of method, supplemented by an
occasional visit and comment, put her
in the position, in half-day's time, Of
knowing pretty we'll how the work is
done, and seeking only to gain in speed
of performance.
This endeavor, the pursuit of an ideal
that can never be run to earth, gives
delight to all labor, 80 long as the
nerves are not worn out with fatigue.
Whatever JOY the golfer finds in whack-
ing his little ball must be Of the same
essence as is steadily furnished to the
packers of fruit; and all the toll of men
could be counted as pastime if only our
hours were kept short of the limits Of
exhaustion.
The young man who operated the
grader was in q position OF vantage, If
he cared to observe the girls who were
packing at the bins that his radiating
spouts supplied. He stood high beside
the wide, shallow hoppers that received
the dumped boxes of ungraded fruit,
and from which the oranges distribut-
ed themselves through the discriminate
ing functions of the machine into vari-
Gus rolling professions in which each
member was just as big Us his neigh
bor Some manipulation was needed to
keep the fruit moving evenly to the
distribution; but the operators eyes
were not so confined as to prevent fire.
quent excursions among the workers
below and about him. believe he had
mentally photographed all the hands
that, each in its own way exhibiting
that wonderful individuality that wom-
ems hands possess, were moving grace
fully or heavily through their countless
repetitions. And other things he took
note of and speculated on, after the
manner of men. Nor was the toll Of the
others so absorbing that he was unob-
served by them. Generally, of course,
the chances that fell direct on his face,
merely called in passing, having az
their ostensible object some high
window beyond or some interesting
constructive feature in a corner of the
roof. But, however incidentally, he had
made, with all these neighbors at least,
80 much acquaintance as lies in the in
terchange of vision. And that is not to
be sneezed at.
He was from Kansas manly-look-
ing, rather handsome fellow, whose
I 'qck eyes showed self-reliance, born
thoughtful and energetic dealing
with the problems of western farmer.
And that Judgment, accustomed to ex-
ercise on everything within range, good
OF discerning the promise of horses and
cattle, and, under simple conditions, OF
men and women also, did not hesitate
before fresh and inviting problem,
when the new packer sat down under
his inspection.
"She is from Missouri" He guessed
rightly, as first clearing Of the ground,
"she is used to horses" he added, "and
think they like her. Let's see how she
takes hold OF her work" He quit
formulating comments and dropped
into passive observation, his quick
hands all the while passing lightly over
%ba hriobf oronoea md herdinO them