Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-09-20
7STssS8$sSSY3s YSyys3@yyy1

the place is tight enough"
@<S MI. Colchester had spoken
after We had been silently
sitting tor several minutes watching
Tie mist that was creeping over the
moonllt water and listening to the
chlIp OF the crickets in the grass. He
always began a story by stating the
moral. His way was to present some
conclusion and then prove it by 4 ner-
sonal experience.
l was thinking Of my sister," he
explained. "She once saved us both
from a fearful death. If it had NOT
been for Ter ready wit I sbould have
been a b:scuit.''
AT TINS every II Strengthened I'D
p~erceptibly. Mr.. CoIchester's stories
We're always interesting.
Ierllaps all Of YOU do not know that
III! lather was 4 cracker manufacture
eli" he continued, land that he had a
shop With machinery and three ovens
IN it. Of course that would be con-
sldered nothing to-day. when there are
bakeries that supply thousands of peo-
ple i'll every part of the country, but
when l was a boy 1 remember [ used
to wonder that there We're enough
mouths to consume all that my fathers
Workmen made.
Il often went down to the shop, for
it was really fascinating to watch the
mixers turning the great rolls of dough
V e and over, and see the cutting ma
chimes chopping a long strap of it into
little sticky Jumps. Then old Carberry.
the baker, would toss the pieces which
had been patted and nodded by hand
on the tiled floor of the oven. Some
times my sister Margaret used to go
with me, for we We're great chuns,
and it was on one of those occasions
that we got into trouble.
"The day, | remember had been
rainy, and after a discouraging attempt
to amuse ourselves in the house. Mar
garet said, Let's take umbrellas and
go down to the bakery
Il was so glad of the suggestion that
I forgot it was the moor hour. when
the men would be gone and the ma
chinery shut down. 1t wasn't until we
saw tie deserted room that we remen-
Dered it.
"'Well.' said I, we are bright, aren't
We? But let's look round-Ill tell you,
let's look at the cool oven.'
"'Cool oven! exclaimed Margaret, in
surprise.
Il explained to her that in the Or
binary course of business only two
ovens were used, and that unless there
were extra orders there was always one
oven Which was out of commission.
being shut off from the furnaces below
by the big sheet-iron hampers.
Il raised the latch Of the heavy door
and bent down to look across the fiat,
tiled surface inside.
"'Its just like a cave. isn't it, Bob?'
cried my sister; and I laughed at the
idea and asked her whether she ex-
pected to see a bear or a robber walk
out.
"'Of course I don't" she said, for she
always was on her guard against my
making fun of her. Let's crawl in
"'Ap right said I, touching the brick
walls to make sure I hadn't made a
ulIoldhS, tl1Iu luell L uer III
side through the gloomy opening.
"'Nill it get my dress dirty?' Mar
garet asked, out Of the darkness.
"sNo, indeed said 1. They have to
keep these ovens clean as can be.
They're fussy about every speck of
DUST
Il had hardly finished when the iron
door behind us shut with a resounding
clang. One of the workmen who had
come back to work had closed it!
$50 Bob,' cried my sister. with a lit
tie scream of fright, we're shut in!
Like two biscuits 1 laughed.
All we have to do is to shout and
some one will come
But Margaret was really scared,
and groped her way near me to put her
hand on my shoulder. 1 confess the
darkness and the close, stuffy air were
far from cheerful.
Il began to call as loud as I could,