ips off the nap. I
understand now why a knot in the back of the cloth would do so much
harm. As it passes over the plate 'twould raise the cloth up so as to
cut a hole in the face of it; but when you told me about it the other
day I thought a little thing like that didn't amount to much."

"Yes, that's right," responded Carl, with a pleased look on finding his
explanation had proved successful. "I have told you a little about
nearly all the processes of finishing cloth. I may as well tell the
rest. Oh, I forgot to tell you how the cloth is brushed. Well, it is
done by machinery. The brush itself is a roller about six inches
through, and the same length as the shear cylinder. The bristles are put
into the roller all over it, so it is just like any brush, only round.
The cloth runs on the brushing machine about the same as on the shear,
and the brush that is let down on to the cloth revolves with an awful
speed--so fast that it appears to be like a smooth piece of iron or
wood. I tell you it takes the dust out and straightens out the nap in
good shape."

"I should think it would," said Fred; and then added, in a humorous
vein, "I would like to run my clothes through a machine like that; and I
don't know but myself too, after working all day in this stifling dust.
I wonder if it would clean our jackets? I rather think they would have
to run through more than once to remove so many flocks."

"Oh! there is a brush up where the handles are brushed that is just the
thing for our jackets. I have brushed mine there a good many times."

"Where the handles are brushed? Why, what is the object in brushing
them?"

"The teasels fill all up with the nap that they dig out of the cloth, so
they are only run a little while at a time before they are changed and
clean ones put into the gigs. Then those that are taken off are brushed
so that the nap almost all comes off and leaves the handles clean again.
Didn't you notice that light stuff that we put into the wet grinder?
Well, that is what comes off from the handles. It is made into flocks,
pieces of teasels and all."

"Yes, I have seen it, and meant to ask you before where it came from. I
suppose that is where the profit is made, in allowing as little to waste
as possible. Well, go on with the finishing business."

"There isn't much more to be told about it. The cloth goes from the
brush to presses where it is pressed with steam and by machinery of some
kind that is awful powerfu