When the
fall of the year came, it was announced that we must retrench our
meagre diet, to enable us to go on until our labor could pay us better--
until we could improve our employments and enlarge the institution so
that there could be more producers--and it was submitted to without
much complaint.
The work on the new building ceased, so that all hope of entering into
it before the coming spring was abandoned. There was one motto,
"Retrenchment," and it was echoed from all sides with all manner of fun
and mock solemnity; but those who were in the inner circle doubtless
felt, more than the youngsters did, the seriousness of matters. A more
strict account of everything was kept; indeed it seemed that the time
spent in keeping all the various items, was out of proportion to the
work done. I shall not soon forget, in this connection, the joke of
"the Parson," E. Capen, who, holding up a pair of pantaloons that he
had just received from the Mending Group, said sharply, "I have just
gotten a _reseat in full_ for these pantaloons!"
It will not be necessary to go into details of changes made to secure
more prosperity. I was undisturbed by them. I could go with crust of
good bread all day and be satisfied, growing strong and healthy.
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