Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-03-24
A PERILOUS VOYAGE.

Those familiar with the lumber re-
gions, not only of7the United States,
but of Canada, know that the great
streams which fieatethe huge rafts of
timber down to the various ports and
mills along their course, are often
made serviceable for other purposes.
Sometimes the lumberman or shin
gle-maker takes his family with him
to the scene of his winters labors;
and in the spring, when the seasons
work is ended, places them-women
and children, sometimes q round
dozen-on a raft of logs or shingles,
and keeping them close to the shore,
floats down ten, twenty, or thirty
miles to his home. The hunter, who
has for weeks hunted and trapped in
the vast forests along these streams,
binds his packages of furs together,
makes himself conveyance by lash.
ing half a dozen logs firmly to each
other, and accomplishes bis journey
of q hundred or more miles In TWEEN
ty-four hours.
As a general thing, there is little
risk in such a journey. If the wealth
er is fair and the river clear of float
ing lumber, there is hardly more
danger than there would be in MAX
ing the distance behind a pair of farm
horses m a country wagon. People,
however, if they live in constant CON
tact with danger, grow careless in
time, and often risk their own lives
and those of.others where there is no
apparent necessity.
And SO it happened In the instance
] am about to relate.
John Allen was . well-to-do far
merof Woodstock, on the St. Johns
river, and beside the income derived
from his land and dairy. he owned,
in connection with his SON, a tract
of wild timber, some dosen miles,up
the rivers. Beginning to turn itsad-
vantagesto account ma small way,
the two had erected a small shingle
mill near the shore, and kept half
dozen men at work during the WIN
ter@ The result the first year Was
30 satisfactory that 1t was resolved
to increase the facilities of the man.
ufaeture, and that it might be done
understandingly, they determined to
visit the mill for personal examine
ton. i
They were to have zone Of. the
farm hands drive them mp as far as
they could get with a-team, and from
that tpointlit was hardly more than
half mile TO the mill. More than
half the way the road was merely q
rough cart track through the woods,
making the journey rather tedious
one; but BY starting very early in
the morning they calculated to make
all the necessary investigations and
get back early in the afternoon.
This was the plan agreed upon,
and the time set was the following
Saturday. As soonas it became
known in the house, theitwo young
est boys, Harry and Jack went wild
with excitemet.
Mayn't we go tor they shouted
in concert. Please let us go-we
never saw shingle-mill.
A shingle.mill isn't much to see,
answered their father. And besides,
you'll be getting into all sorts Of
danger.
Oh, no, we won'tI Well be SO
carefalaif yoalll letAus GO Itwo6ld
be such nice ride. YaOIe !
Why don't you let them 90, faith.
err said Mrs. Allen. They won't
take up much roorny and they'll en-.
Joy it so much. as7ss srriss
Well, well, ssid the farmer, good
paturedly, let sem 60, let aem 60. ]
shall have TO take the double wagon
if they go, though; and that's big
enough for the whole family.
Why not take the whole family,
then, asked Mrs. Allen, half in earn.
est. Pye hardly been opt Of doors
the whole winter and spring and
should enjoy the ride as well as the
boys.
Farmer Allen laughed.
ANY more of you want to go?-
What would Een do with the babyf
Fake her, of course. ou don't
suppose weather like this would hurt
her? She needs air as much as anv.
body ,..,..4 ...et-.,.
Are you really in earnest, motherf
Certainly. Idon't see WHY YOU
can't make pleasure ljaddt ott Of
it as well as a business one. / hayen't
been SO far away from home IN FIVE
yeara and j guess the house yould
get along without me for half day
Becky can get dinner for The men
at noon, and we shall get home by
two or three O'Clock at the latest
And SO twas settled. y ~ y
At seven O'clock thenext Saturday
morning the party set out, all in the
u rsh@