Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-05-03
SQUIRE McCLELLAN's wOOD.SLED


Probably the largest oo1-slcd ever
built in the country was one devised
by Squire John Mcclellan. For a
number Of years it was one OF the
local curioSities of the town of Wool
stock, Conu,, the early home of the
Mcclellan family. The narrator's
father, who saw it frequently when Il
boy, says it was nigh thirty-two feet
in length by three in breadth. The
beams were of squared eight-inch
timber. with studs to match; and the
"shOeS' or runners, were over a foot
in width. For drawing it, there were
two tongues" or poles, in the for
ward end. 1t was never used save on
one special occasion, when the team
consisted of fifteen y0kes Of oxen.
The story Of the origin is rs fol-
lows: In the parish where Squire
Mcclellan resided. it was the custom
every winter for such Of the men as
had wood-lots to give the parson q
cord of wood each, and thus make up
to him a winters supply Of fuel. The
Squire, in particular, was always
punctual in December with his cord
of nicely prepared hickory. In that
parish was man who had the repu-
tation of being Snug niggardly,
and apt to shirk his due share of the
burden OF paying the minister, In
deed. his remissness in this matter
had been a standing grievance in the
place for many years.
One autumn there was revival Of
religious interest in the place, and
many members of the church were
stimulated labor, and to live more
strictly. Among them was the penu-
rious man alluded to, whom we
may conveniently refer to as Brother
l.. Not u little to the astonish-
met Of his neighbors, who had ample
experience Of his misery dealing, he
arose in prayer-mecting one night,
and cXhorted to liberal giving, not
only to the parSou, but to all benev
olent objects. Waxing exceedingly
earnest in language and tone, he de-
clared among other things, that he
would that winter give the minister It
toad Of rood. "Yca, brethren,' he
exclaimed, "the Lord has opened my
heart. will give him the biggest
load you can draw from my woods to
his yard"
This unexpected outburst from so
droughty a source was the parish won
der for a week. Many thought that
Brother L must be near his end.
"Truly,' said Squire McClellan-at
the deacons' meetiug-"the Lordmust
have opened Brother Us heart y
but, he added with characteristic
Scotch shrewdness, "it may close soon,
it and may never open again. 1t be-
hooves us, in the parsons interest, to
avail ourselves of it. Let us build a
sled that will carry ten cords-and dc
it ut once
SO thought the others. The mon
ster sled was privately, but expedite
ously framed in back yard, and
early one snowy morning in Deem
Der. Brother X--was amazed &c
see drive to his door apparently al
the ORLEANS in town, drawing the
gigantic sled, accompanied by q
shouting throng of teamsters and al
the small boys in the parish.
The Squire was riding on the sled
"We've come for the parsons load o
wood, Brother =" he cried on
"You babe us haul the biggest loat
we could, and I'm glad to hear tina
you have lately had fine lotof hick
DRY chopped"
Brother y. however, seem!
the magnitude of the sled tried t
explain and to demur: but IN vain
The crowd roared him into acquies
encc, and with a wry face, he finall,
led the way across the snowy field
to his freshly corded tiers of hlckor,
in the lot.
1t is said that fully ten cords o
wood were loaded upon the big SLED
under the SQuire's supervision, anc