The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-09-05
THE STORY-TELLER.
THE FIRE TEST.

believe it, sir--I do, indeed There
never was On evil that some good did
not spring from it, It is something
hard to believe-it was for me once
but it is truth. Shall tell you why 1
changed my mind? don't know as I
ought to, fer / am not much of a story
teller-I can balance an account, or
scale load of lumber better-but I will
try this time. All, how 1 wish 1 could
felt it and saw it But don't believe
anybody ever could do that, so I'll make
the best of it,
am in the employ of heavy lum-
bering company doing business on the
lake-shore, and have been for years.
Most of the time there were two of us
in the .office-,John Richards, son of
one of the owners, and myself, Jocobed
jackson. John usually goes into the
pineries in the winter.
Well, last winter was unfavorable for
logging-there was no snow to speak of
and our supply of logs was SO much
less than usual that we were obliged to
shut down the mill about the 1st of
September. That left thirty or forty
men idle. You know these lumbermen
have to eat sometimes, and wear Clothes
and the firm decided to put crew into
the woods, if it was early. So about
the 4th or 5th of September, lot of
men started.
John Richards went up to boss them !;
and to be frank, as I always want to be,
I was glad when John was out of my
sight. There were two or three reasons
why was glad. First, John Richards
was not a very agreeable person to have
around, He was naughty and over
bearing to the last degree, and many a
wordy tilt have we had. Again, he was
paying attention to d beautiful girl
whom loved. No doubt was little
selfish, but I really couldn't help it.
There was no open rivalry between us,
however, for I never had insinuated
even to my dearest friend, my mother,
that I cared aught for Belle Royalton.
But l loved her; and the idea that John
Richardson anybody else, for that
matter-weuld bear off the prize, even
before had entered the list as COM
petitor, was repugnant to my feelings
to say the least. Lastly, John Richards
was my enemy. Wherefore, l could not
fathom, unless some act or look of mine
had betrayed my love. But he was my
enemy and aoas glad when he was out
of my sight.
John had been gone nearly month,
when the firm received letter from
him, in which he stated that he had
found large tract of pine land for sale.
The owner had just been burned out,
and John advised that should come up
with few thousand dollars, for splen-
did bargain could be made. ...-
The partners held a consultation, and
finally decided that should go UP. 1
was to start imme diately after dinner,
on horseback.
knew the road well, and was some
what acquainted with the few people
who had yentured to settle in that will
derness through which had to pass /;
therefore 1 apprehended no trouble.
Notso with my mother, however. She
took alarm at the first mention of the
journey.
II wish you were not going, Joe, "
she said, with "a show of much anx-
iety. ~ B .l l+s .t
"Why, mother e
"The fires, Joe. They are burning all
over the woods, and you have to camp
out one night"
laughed at her fears, for I thought
them groundless, and she did not press
the subject further. The look of ankle
ty remained on her face, however, and l
promised to be very careful.
chose to use my own horse; SO, at,
ter dinner, went out to the stable and
saddled Jim, and rode down to the office.
They were not quite ready, and Mr..
Richards said / had better take a turn
around. and see if there were any letters
to send to the men. 1t was only by some
such transient method that we had any
communication with the pineries, and l
found many letters already written.
After 1 had visited all who had hus-
bands in the woods, 1 headed toward
the Office again; but happened to