Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-16
VOL. XXXVIII.
Squire McCIeIlan's Wood Sled.

EEODaDly Tue laTSeSl WOOu-Sltu ever
built in--county was one desired by
Squire John McClellan-a great.uncle of
Gen George B. Mcclellan.
For number of years il was one of the
local curiosilies of the town of Woodstock,
Conn, the early home of the Mcclellan
family. The narrator's father, who saw
ii frequently when u boy, says 1t was well
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 forward
end
1t was never used save on one special
occasion, when the team consisted of fifteen
yokes of oxen.
The story of its origin is as follows:
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 cord of hickory wood
each, and thus make up to him Il winters
supply of fuel, The squire, in particular
was always punctual in December with
his cord of nicely prepared hickory.
In that parish there was a man who had
the reputation of being "snug,' niggardly,
and apt to shrink his due share of the
burden of paying the minister. Indeed,
his remissness in this matter had been
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
to earnest labor, and to live more strictly
Among these was the penurious man
above alluded to, whom we may conven-
iently designate as Brother T..
Not q little to the astonishment of his
neighbors, who had had ample experience
of his miserly dealing, he arose in prayer
meeting one night, and exhorted to liberal
giving, not only to the parson, but to all
benevolent objects. Waxing exceedingly
earnest in language and tone, he declared
among other things, that he would that
winter give the minister Il load of wood.
" Yea, brethren he exclaimed, "the Lord
has opened my heart! will give him
load of wood, and big one. will give
him the biggest load you can draw from
my woods to his yardH
This unexpected outburSt from so
drouthy a source was the parish wonder
for week. Many thought Brother T.
must be near his end.
Truly" said Squire Mcclellan at
the deacons' meeling,-"the Lord must
have opened Brother Us heart; but" he
added, with characteristic Scotch shrewd-
ness. "it may close soon, and ii may never
open again. 1t behooves US in the parsons
interest, to avail ourselves of it Let us
build sled that will carry ten cords,-
and do it at once
So thought the others. The monster sled
was privately but expeditously framed in
a back yard, and early one snowy morning
In December Brother WAS amazed to
see drive to his door apparently all the OK
teams in town, drawing the titantic sled,
by a shouting throng of
teamsters and all the small boys in the
parish.
The squire was riding on the sled
u" We've come for the parsons load of
wood, Brother u" he called out You
bade US to haul the biggest load we could,
and I'm glad to hear that you have lately
had fine lot of hickory chopped"
Brother T., however, seeing the mag
nitude of the sled, tried to explain and to
demur; but in vain. The crowd roared
MIN into acquleScence, anu WIN WrY
face, he finally led the way across the
snowy fields to his freshly corded tiers of
hickory in the lot.
1t is said that fully ten cords of wood
were loaded npon the big sled under the
squire's supervision, and then, to the tune
of most vociferous gee having, the
enormous load was successfully sledded to
the parsons door.yard.
The worthy minister. equally amazed,
but most agreeably so, issued forth to learn
the cause of the uproar
Good people, good people," he cried,
rubbing his hands, what meanest this?
Have the windows of Heaven opened?'
Nay nay, parson!' exclaimed the
squire;" bat the Lord has opened Brother
Is heart.-and that so great gift could
have issued from so small receptacle is
one of the wonders of saving grace
Question it not, but take it and keep ye
warm
The minister had roaring fires that win
ter, but it was long before Brother 4
recovered his equanmity.