Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-10-31


wooprs-SHOE MAKEns --1.el us
describe part Of wooden-saoe makers,
or as they are termed, sa5ofiers. at
work near q clear stream. The whula
family fs together; the father with his
son and dson-in-law, the apprentices, the
mother and children running about in 4
the beds cf cress. Under the trees rises.
= hut Of planks, where all sleep; not far
OF, the two mules which carry the be.
Iongings ofthe encampmentare tethered.
They are birds Of passage, tFaversing
the forest. and sOjonrRing where tie
wood is cheap. In this green eom.he.
several fine beech-trees arr marked for
the axe. they are 30 feet high and ,
feel Ii girth. Each will probably give
Sin doxen pairs Of wooden shoes. 0sh~
er woods are spongy and soon penetrated
with damp. but the beech sEbofs are
light, OF close grain, and keep the feet
dry in spite OF snow and mud; and in
tins respect are greatly superior Ia
leather. All Is animation. The men
cut down the tree, the trunk IS sawn
into lengths, and if the pieces prove too
large, they are divided into quarters.
The FIRST workman fashions the sa6of
roughly with hatchet, taking care To
give The bend for right and Iefl: the
second takes il IN hand, pierces the
holes for the interior, and scoops the
wood out with an instrument called the
cEiiier. The third Is the artist of the
company; il Is his work 20 finish and
polish IL, carving a rose or a primrose
upon the top, il il be for the fair SEX
Sometimes he cuts an open border
around the edge, so that the blue or
white stocking may be shown BY co.
quettish girl. As they are finished
they are placed in rows under the white
shavings; twice a week the apprentice
exposes them 10 a fire which smokes
and hardens the wood. giyingita warm,
goldeH-bTown hue. The largest sizes
are cut from the lowest part OF the bole.
TO cover the workman's feet. who ls in
the rain from morning till night. The
middle part IS for the busy housewife
who is treading the wash-house, the
dairy, or stands beside the village foun-
tain. Next come those Of the little
shepherd, who wanders all day long
with his aOck, and still smaller ones
for the school-boy. Those for the ba-
bies have the happiest lo.: they are sell
dom worn out. As the foot grows, the
mother keeps the little sabots in a cor
ner Of her cupbord beside the hapiismsl
robe. Long after when the child has
become a man, and his chair Is vacant
by the hearth, they are drawn out 10
be looked at sometimes with a smile.
too often with tears. During all his toll
the workman talks aud sings; he IS not
tacIturn like the charcoal-burner; his
muscles continually in action, his work
in the open air keep him in good
temper, and give hin refreshing sleep
and appetite. He sings like a linnet,
while the women chatter and mend the
family garments. When the trees have
all been cut up, the camp is raised, the
mules are loaded, adieu TO the green
hollow, and another place ls songht for.
Thus all the year long, whether the
forest be tinted with pale spring yer-
dure or covered with yellow autumn
leaves, in some corner will be heard
the workers, busy as bees IN a hive.
gayly carrying on their simple, healthy
forcst-lile.-C Chambers Journal. .s