The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-01-03
WooDEx SHOE MAKERS.

Let us describe a party of wooden
slioe makers. OF as they are termed Sd-
b0iiers. at work near n clear stream.
The whole family is togethcri the tatu-
er with his son and son in law, the ap-
prenticvs. the mother and children run
ming about In the beds OF cress. Under
the trees rises a hut Of planks, where
all sleep: not far of, the two mules
which carry The belongings OF the en-
campment are tethered. They are
birds of passage, traversing the forest
and s0jOurning where the wood Is
cheap. In this green camp several
fine beech-tIees are marked for the AK
LIiey are City feet high, and three in
gnth. Each will probably give six
dozen pairs of wooden shoes. Other
kinds Of wood are spongy and soon
penetrated with damp; but the beech
sGb0ts are light, Of a close grain, and
Keep tie feet dry IN spite of the snow
anI mud and in this respect are great
ly superior 10 Ie4th,r All is auima-
tiOn. The men cut down the tree: the
trunk is sawn into lengths, and if the
piece proves too large, thev are d:vi-
ded into quarters. The workman fash
ions the s0bot roughly with hatchct,
taking care to give the bend for the
right and left the second takes it in
hand, pierces the holes for the interior
and scoops the wood out with an in
stTumcnt called the cutler. The third
Is the artist OF the company; it is his
work to finish and polish it; carving
4 rose or primrose upon the top If it
be for the fair sex. Sometimes he
cuts an open border round q e edge,
SO that the blue or " hite stocking mav
be shOne by coqUettish giIl As they
are finished, they are placed in rows
under the white shayiHgs twice a
week the apprentice exposes them to a
fire, which smokes and harIlens the
wood, giving it a warm golden brown
hue The largest sizes are cut from
the lowest part of the bOle, TO cover
the worhman's feet, who is out III the
rain from morning to night. The
middle part is for the busy house
wife who is treaIiHg the wash-house,
the dairy, or stands beside the village
fountain.
Next come those of the little shcp
herd who wanders all day long with
his flock, and still smaller ones for che
school boy. Those for the babies
baye the ha ppiest lot; they are seldom
worn out As the fo0t grows, the
mother keeps the little sabots IN a cor
ner Of her cupboard beside the baptIs
nal robe. Long after when the child
has become q man, and his chair is va
cant bY the hearth, they are drawn
out TO be looked at sometimes with Il
smile, too often with tears. DuIing
all his toll the workman talks and
sings he is not taciturn, like the char
coal burner; his muscles continually
in action Ibis work in the open air keep
him in good temper, and give him re-
treshing sleep and appetite He sings
like n iinmct, while the women chatter
and mend the family garments When
the trees have Ecen all cut up, the
camp is raised, the mules are loaded,
adieu to the green hollow. and another
place IS sought for Thus all the
year long, whether the forest be tinted
with pale Spring verdure or tinted
with the yellow Autumn leaves, in
some corner will be heard the workers.
busy as bees in a hive, gaily carrying
on their simple, healthy forest life
Chambers JOurHdi