- At the end of the workday on Christmas Eve, Erlo calls all the men (Mr. Hook, the Moucheauds, Ox, and Tom) into the office for a small celebration.
- The men drink scotch and whiskey, with Tom getting a small pour of whiskey with lots of water. He doesn't care for the taste.
- Mr. Ackerman passes out envelopes as he does every year. Tom gets one too even though he has only been at the mill less than four months. Tom isn't sure what the envelope is or what to do with it, so he observes the other men and puts it in his pocket without opening it as they do.
- Once the men are outside, the Moucheauds open their envelopes right away and each pull out a five-dollar bill.
- Tom waits until he is alone to open his envelope, and he finds a half-dollar piece inside.
- Tom is disappointed that he did not receive as much as the Moucheauds.
- Ox notices Tom's disappointment and reminds him gently that Tom is "at the bottom of the ladder" for now, having joined the mill only a few months ago with no previous knowledge about how mills work (22). He's also not even through puberty yet.
- Tom is able to accept the half-dollar for what it is: a gift to be appreciated, even if it's not the same as what others have gotten.
- Metaphor alert!