. From whence this ill-will
originated it was impossible to say, but there it was like a smouldering
fire, ready to break forth when the time should come.

"Another threatening letter," Uncle Jack would say, for he generally
attended to post matters.

"Give it to me," said Uncle Bob. "Those letters make the best
pipe-lights, they are so incendiary."

"Shall we take any notice--appeal to the men--advertise a reward for the
sender?"

"No," said Uncle Dick. "With patience we have got the majority of the
workmen with us. We'll show them we trust to them for our defence.
Give me that letter."

Uncle Jack passed the insulting threat, and Uncle Dick gummed it and
stuck it on a sheet of foolscap, and taking four wafers, moistened them
and stuck the foolscap on the office door with, written above it to
order by me in a bold text hand:

"_Cowards' Work_."

and beneath it:

"_To be Treated with the Contempt it Deserves_."

But as time went on the threats received about what would be done if
such and such processes were not given up grew so serious that when Mr
Tomplin was told he said that we ought to put ourselves under the care
of the police.

"No," said Uncle Dick firmly; "we began on the principle of being just
to our workmen, and of showing them that we studied their interests as
well as our own, that we are their friends as well as masters, and that
we want them to be our friends."

"But they will not be," said Mr Tomplin, shaking his head.

"But they are," said Uncle Dick. "What took place when I stuck that
last threat on the door?"

"The men hooted and yelled and spat upon it."

"But was that an honest demonstration?"

"I believe it was."

"Well," said Mr Tomplin, "we shall see. You gentlemen quite upset my
calculations, but I must congratulate you upon the manner in which you
have made your way with the men."

"I wish we could get hold of the scoundrels who send these letters."

"Yes," said Mr Tomplin; "the wire-pullers who make use of the men for
their own ends, and will not let the poor fellows be frank and honest
when they would. They're a fine race of fellows if they are led right,
but too often they are led wrong."

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The days glided on, and as there were no results from these threats we
began to laugh at them when they came, especially as Tom Searby the
watchman also said they were good for pipe-lights, and that