sly from
his lips, mainly for the poor men and women he must lock out to poverty
and suffering.

Finally his being became all hearing. Life appeared to stand still a
moment as loom after loom stopped. A sudden total silence followed. It
was broken by a long piercing wail as if some woman had been hurt, and
in a few minutes Greenwood looked into his office and said, "They be all
waiting for you, sir." The man spoke calmly, even cheerfully, and John
roused himself and with an assumed air of hopefulness went to speak to
his workers.

They were standing together and on every face there was a quiet
steadfastness that was very impressive. John went close to them so that
he seemed to mingle with them. "Men and women," he said, "I have done my
best."

"Thou hes, and we all know it."

It was Timothy Briggs, the manager of the engine room, who spoke, a man
of many years and many experiences. "Thou hes done all a man could do,"
he added, "and we are more than a bit proud of thee."

"I do not think we shall be long idle," continued John, "and when we
open the gates again, there will be spinning and weaving work that will
keep the looms busy day and night. And the looms will be in fine order
to begin work at an hour's notice. When the first bell rings, I shall be
at my desk; let me see how quickly you will all be at your looms again."

"How long, master, will it be till we hear the sound of the bell again?"

"Say till midsummer. I do not think it will be longer. No, I do not. Let
us bear the trial as cheerfully as we can. I am not going a mile from
Hatton, and if any man or woman has a trouble I can lighten, let them
come to me. And our God is not a far-off God. He is a very present help
in time of need." With these words John lifted his hat a moment, and as
he turned away, Greenwood led the little company out, singing
confidently,

"We thank Him for all that is past,
We trust Him for all that's to come."

John did not go home for some hours. He went over his books and brought
all transactions up to date, and accompanied by Greenwood made a careful
inspection of every loom, noted what repairs or alterations were
necessary, and hired a sufficient number of boys to oil and dust the
looms regularly to keep the mill clean and all the metal work bright and
shining. So it was well on in the afternoon when he turned homeward.
Jane met him at the park gates, and they talked the subject over under
the green trees with the