52 GALA DAY BOOKS.

the gaunt wolf, Poverty, was looking in at
the windows. The strike had lasted for
weeks and the mill hands were growing
restless. They began to wonder where
their bread was coming from, and they
could not put the thought of imminent
want out of their minds. Almost every-
one who was old enough to work had
been employed in the great cotton man-
ufactory. Now engine-tenders, scutchers,
piecers, spinners, reelers, warpers, and
doublers were idlers together. They
had expected Mr. Kelsey to surrender at
once, and yet time-dragged on and he
showed no symptoms of yielding.

Now it was rumored that he was look-
ing for new workmen, with an excellent
prospect of finding them. |

There had been a great many speeches
made in the town of Cottonville about
the beauty of independence. Luke Slater