The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-07-07

with short cut straw TO keep II from F.
cracking. The floor above was invari !
ably laid with clapboards, rived from
the best timber in the forest; these all
laid loose over the ioi-ts, and il required
careful walking that one did not step on
some overhanging end or misplaced
board, and fall through. A good deal
Of the constantly accommodating house
keeping materials would find lodgment
there. The larger boys had their sleep
ing places there, and felt themselves as
much at home as the king in his palace.
The stairs were a pair Of runR ladders
running up outside the building. The
roof consisted of cfapboards, which
we're held in position by weight poles"
laid at proper distances apart. The
space in the loft waa usually from four
to ak feet from the goor TO the top Of
the comb, and the boys we're often COM
PEELED TO walk stopped 10 keep their
heads from coming in contact with the
roof. Such il the picture OF the FIRST
/ log cabins, as the writer has seen hun
dreds Of them in his early days, and as
he drew from the lips Of his friends, " ho
were among the very first TO break the
stiffness of the primitive forest.
There was, however, another kind Of
cabin INDUCED in by the more able and
aristocraiic. That was the donble
cabin, or two cabins in near proximity,
with covered open space of eight to
twelve feet between them. In this the
family often partook of their evening
meals, and in SUMMER il afforded a
healthy place for chatting purposes
After the country becnlne more settled,
the old log cabin began to give way for
hewed log residences, some of which
may still he seen in the country. At
the time ! speak Of timber had no cash
value, and the only opinion people
could form Of it was that it was always
in the way.
In the struggles Of the early pioneers
there was one, TO them, seeming neces-
siiy, which they never parted with
That was the whisky bottle. From al.
most the time the first grub was uproot-
ed from the primeval forest, the still
house made its appearance, although
there was hardly grain enough raised
for family consumption. Speaking Of
0rubs, it is due to say that Samuel
Grubbs, an old and respected citizen Of
Somerset, was the first man knew who
refused 10 furnish his harvest hands
with liquor. He came from Virgins
1 over forty years ago, went upon farm
and raised large crops. One harves
when his hands came to work for hin
they found no liquor. They were cha
grined and maddened that he shoulC
, break Fin upon an old established Gus
tom. They called him penurious ant
stingy, and spoke nothing bnt evil o
!, him. But Grubb stuck TO his principle
r and finally got his harvest off, but no
), until everybody else was done. Thi
= email beginning made the first break il
d the chain Of the early custom, and afte
g that Grubbs' example was followed b,
n others, and now it il seldom that Iiqno
Is il seen in a harvest field. So much 70
y good example.
d / can recollcct not less than MN
h places within distance of four mile
y circliug round Somerset, where ther
e was whisky manufactured for the mul
J. titude. There may have been Others
l. Some Of them had ceased 10 exist a
d early as 1926, and the others droppe
IS out later. All people drank liquo
., then, except the ladies, and to thei
d honor be it said, that but few Of ther
n ever INDUCED in the article, when
's was considered both fashionable an
le honorable to drink il. And may we nc
ir claim that God has specially endowe
ir the female with the power Of restrain
D. above that of man in order that til
re mother may not transmit the hereditar
nj taint which onr sad experience gives 1
l. to understand ia the great curse of mar
ID kind to-day. Infinite Wisdom has d.
1t creed that the mother shall not so readil
'e addict herself to habits which weaker
10 eth intellect and body beyond the
t. present status. With all the drinking
.. however, that was INDUCED in by mel
10 there was not the fourth part as muc
a of the degraded debauchery that We fin
W. now, and certainly there was less Of ev
III effect upon mems minds and bodies.
gs That day, too, had its hardships fc
j. the pioneer minister. His circuit NJ
oi unfrequently run out through the wi
II derness a hundred miles. He travele
OF increasingly through the dense forest
often sleeping during the night in Il
be woods. and feeding himself and hor
n. from the food he carried in his saddl
rd bags. He went through burning sul
r.. shine and wintry blasts, rode on hors
n. back, il he had horse, or took it afoo
r through rain and hail and storm, swim
-is ming streams and Drawing every diff
by Gully, to reach his monthly appoin
nents in some rude cabin where the
was n little settlement just beeinnin
.. He was the one. indeed, who was beir
'" "spent in Gods service" and he count,
" it no hardship, for he was already e
" joying his reward in the pleasant CO
: sciousness of doing good in the face
." " difficulties. Compare the labors of Il
" ministers Of the present day with tbs
pioneer fathers labors. Now it oft
happens when minister has only OF
small congregation, the members
which he can almost cover with his han
~, ~ he complains of his arduous labora, al
y" of his being 80 overweight with niLi
terIal duties that he must occasional
he ask for vacation TO recuperate b
Of wasted energies! o temporcl o mdr,
&C. SENEX
" Blondin, the tight.rope performer,
=, visiting San Francisco. and it is "a
..s that he purposes taking mp his futu