Year: 1878

silence said that some unaccounta~
bic accident had put the lights out,
but the audience must sit quiet and
preserve order, and the lamps
would soon be lighted.


"The sexton hurried away for q
torch-there were no lucifer matches
in those days-and presently back
he came with lighted candle. AS
he came into the church, holding it
in front Of his face and shielding it
with one hand, the swallows, of
course, went for the light, and one
OF them struck the candle, knock
ing it out of the old mans hand and
into his face. He tumbled back,
gave yell of fright, and gathering
himself up took to his heels, vowing
there were spirits there, sure. The
crowd, now frightened in earnest,
the students leading, got out of the
church in a hurry, and the abolition
meeting was at an end.


THE WATER WHEEL STORY.


"Is the popular story true about
your attaching the great wheel of
one Of the factories in Lowell to
compel the payment of wages to
some of the female operatives 2 1
asked General Butler.


"No," he replied, "tllat is fiction,
and one by the repetition of which
I have. gained credit among the
ignorant for great shrewdness as q
lawyer. There are many other
tictions current by which I have
gained credit for something worse,
and none of them have as much
foundation rs this story about my
attaching the great wheel. Not
long after [ began to practise law
ut Lowell, the factories msie rule
that if their employees quit service
before the end of the month they
could not be paid until the, first Of
the next month, the regular pay day
Thore was probably some excuse
for this rule, as help was q great
deal moro Independent then than
now, aud by leaving in the middle of
the month or earlier could seriously
embaTrass the mill owners, us we'll
as put them to great inconvenience
to settle a multitude of little bills.
But, of course, all rules ought to
have their exceptions. I was on
friendly relations with some of the
mill owners, and saved them many
a1noyances by paying the employees
who quit before the end of
the month, and came to me to have
their employers sued. 7 kept Oh
account of these payments, and at
the next pay day sent around the
items by my office boy and got my
money. One or two mill owners,
with whom I had no relations Of
this kind, once undertook to treat
me cavalierly, but they soon learned
better Well, one day IN old spin
ster, whose parents or relatives
lived in New Hampshire, came to
my Office and told her story. Some~
body at home was sick F; her presence
was required it was absolutely
necessary for her to 60, but her
employer would not pay. She
needed money she must go home !;
she could not wait till the first of
the month. 'But what can I do for
you, my good woman ? L said. I
want you to see them, she replied.
But that will not suit your purpose.
You can't wait. You must 90, and
if I bring suit, it can't be tried in
your absence 30 yes, but I know
you can make them pay ne right
away, this very day How SO Z
I asked. why, by attaching the
great wheel of course that will
stop the mill I rather liked that,
and so I thought I would humor
her. 7 told her to come back later,
and I would see what could be done.
I sent around q note to the mill and
asked if so and 80 had quit
work, and how much was due
her, and if I should pay as
usual. In little while the re-
ply came. All right The ac-
count was all right, but the rule
could not be broken. H.I""1 q"


".When my New Hampshire spin
ster returned, I gave her receipt
to sign and paid'her The amount Of
her wages. She was triumphant
and said: Il knew you would bring
them to terms when you attached
the great Wheel OF course she
told how I attached the great wheel
all the way from Lowell to her home
in New Hampshire, and thus the
story got started" ,tlUGttMl0IL E