Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-11-22

new form of housekeeping in
THE FOREST CAMP.
The prelimiuaries being settled, We com.
mence "light merrily" our camp. The top
strata of leaves aud turf are removed from
the spol upon which the structure is TO be
erected this is necessary, as we should
otherwise be ia great danger of fire from
the dry url, While This process is going
forward, uther,are engaged IN telling the
trees on the spot, and cutting. them the
length determined upon Tor our edlhce.
The work commences by throwing the
larger loses into square, nolching the
ends together. This one tier after another
is laid up until the walls attain the proper
height The smallest 10y being used TO I'm
ish out the upper tiers. In form they
resemble TIL baker, rising some eight
feet in front, while the roof pitches down
within Two or three feet OF the ground IN
the rear, A double camp is constructed
by putting TWO such squares face 10 face,
with the fire in the middle. The Spruce
Tree is generally selected for camp-building,
it being light, straight, aud quite free from
sap. Tie roof is covered with shingles
fromahree 10 four feet in length. These
such AS the Pine. Spruce, and Cedar. The
shingles are not nailed on, but secured IN
their place by laying long heavy pole
across each Tier or course. The root is
finally covered with the boughs of the fir,
Spruce, aud Hemlock, SO that when the
snow falls upon the whole, the warmth OF
the camp is preserved in The coolest wea-
ther The creNiceS between the logs con
sttuting The walls are lightly calklng with
moss gathered from the surrounding trees
s. The interior arrangement is very SIMPLE.
One section of the area oil the camp Is used
for the dining room, another Tor The sleeping
apartment, and third is appropriated 10
the kitchen. These apartments are not
denoted 10y partItioned walls, but simply by
small poles some SIX inches IN diameter,
laid upon the floor of tile camp (which is
the pure loam,) running in various drec-
tions, and thus forming square areas of
different dimihSions, and appropriated as
above suggested. The head board TO our
bed consists OF one or more logs, which
form also Tie back wall of the camp. The
foot ord is a small pole some four or six
feel from The fire. Our hedstead is mother
earth, upon whose cool but maternal bosom
we strew a thick coaIng OF Hemock,
Cedar, and fir boughs. The width OF this
bed is determined by the number of occu-
pants, varying from ten 10 twenty feet.
Bed clotbes are suited to The width of the
bed by sewing quilts and blankets together
The occupants, as general thing, throw
off their outer garments only when they
''lurn in" Tor the night. These hardy sons
OF the forest envy not those who roll on
beds of down; their sleep is sound and iu-
vigoraling; they need not court the gentle
spell turning from side to side, but, queitly
submitting, sink into lis profound depths.
Directly over the foot-pole, running par
;lel with il, and in front Of The fire, is The
greatest photographer OF the age to define
the word, or give Its eiynology as apple d
TO a seat, which indeed II Is, and nothing
more nor less than seat but, so far as
can discover from those most deeply learn
ed in The antiquarsnism Of the logging
swamp, it has nothing more TO do with
deacous, or deacons with it, than with the
Pope The seat itself though The name be
involved in a mystery, is nothing less nor
more than plank hewn from the trunk OF
a Spruce Tree some four inches thick by
twelve inches wide, the en9th generally
raised some eighteen inches above the foot
pole aud made stationary. This seat con
stitutes our sofa or setlee, TO which we add
few stools, which make up The principa
part of our camp furniture. Should amy O
my readers ever be situated beyond III,
reach Of cabinet makers, but in the vicinity
OF the forest, | may introduce them int
the secret of chalr-making without lii,
necessity oil any tools except an axe, Spli
the top part oil the trunk OF II Spruce or Fir
tree in halves, cuI a slick OF The right lengIl
upon which three or four stouIs limb
grow; smooth lbe piece OF timber TO whIcl
they adhere by hewing, aud your seat !
completed. | can assure the reader iha
the instances are rare ~ which it becomes
necessary to send them to the cabinet
maker for repairs, especially 10 have TN
legs glued IN.
The luxury OF temporary table is nov
: pretty generally enjoyed, w,lh plates, kui
yes and forks, lin dippers for tea and coffee
and somtmes cups and saucers. Formerly
the deacon seal Was used instead OF table
and large frying pan served tor platter
for the whole crew. Around this the mer
would gather, each putting in his bread o.
potato, aud salt hsh, 10 sop IN the pork TAI
and never did king or cuurtier ENJOY III,
Injuries of palace more exqulsltey thar
do our Ioggers this homely fare. On the 81
Croix River, lumbermen generally adhere
from CHOICE, TO the original custom OF eat
ing from the flying pan. Bread and beans
are baked in large Clutch oven," which
is placed in hole dug in the earth by III,
side Of the fire, aud entirely covered vii
hoi Goals and elnbers Ia this position i
is allowed TO remain until the contents art
done, when the ashes aud covered are re-
moved. need NOT presume TO inform III,
skillful cook that this mode OF baking j,
nnequalled. Our campfire is made on the
.rrnnnh npxf To the irnnI will which i,