“What?” I shouted at the top of my lungs.
He laughed, and then warned, “Don’t thunder so. I can hear you if you speak lower. You’ll get used to hearing soon. Come with me. The boss says for me to show you where to dress.”
“To dress!” At last I was to put on overalls and go barefooted! Zippy led me to the elevator room, a large, quiet place, when the thick door was shut and there were cheerful windows open, where the cool air came in. I stripped off my clothes and put on the overalls. I was ready for work. “The boss wants to see your certificate,” announced Zippy.
I Was Given a Broom, and then I Found Myself alone with Mary
The overseer was a Canadian, like the second hand. He had his feet on the desk, and was engrossed in the Morning Mercury when I reached him. He turned around with a terrific speed on his swivel chair, when we came up to him, and enquired, somewhat kindly, “Well?”
“Please, sir,” I began, “I come to work—to sweep. Jim Coultier told me to come last night!”
“Take him to Jim. Don’t bother me,” grumbled the overseer. “Jim will settle it.”
Jim did settle it. He took my certificate and gave it to the overseer, and then told me to follow him to the other end of the mill. In a cupboard was a great supply of new brooms, waste, and oil cups. He took out a broom, spread it wide, and gave it to me.
“Two a week,” he said, “no more.” Then he turned to Zippy, and said, “Show him whar for to do!”