INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS 57 



board with a wooden sword, which further re- 

 moved the woody fibre. Then it was hatcheled or 

 " heckled " which carried the operation of elimi- 

 nating the woody fibre to a finish. The material 

 which remained was called linen, and a hank of it 

 looked not unlike a fluffy, light-blond switch of 

 hair. That part which the hatchel combed out 

 of the linen at first was " tow," suitable for mak- 

 ing ropes; and that combed out later was spun into 

 yarn and used as filling in making tow and linen 

 cloth. 



The process by which wool was prepared for 

 weaving was less laborious. The wool was first 

 washed on the backs of the sheep and the day on 

 which that was done was looked forward to by 

 the children with joyous anticipation. Then it was 

 tub-washed and picked apart by hand. A part of 

 the white wool was mixed with about one-fourth 

 of its bulk of black wool to make sheep's gray cloth 

 or yarn; while the balance was left in its natural 

 color. If pure black or variegated colors were de- 

 sired the yarn was dyed. The wool was then 

 treated with melted lard and picked a second time 

 making it ready for the cards, which by skillful 

 manipulation formed it into rolls ready for 

 spinning. 



