The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-01-14
Squire McClellan's. Wood. Sled.

Squire McClellan's. Wood. Sled.
PROBABLY the largest wood-sied ever
built in - country was one devised by
SQUIRE John cClellan-a great-uncle
of Gen. George B. Mcclellan. For .
of years it was one OF the local
curiosities Of the town OF Woodstock,
Conn, the early home of the Mcclellan
family. The narrator's father, who saw
it frequently when a boy, says it was
nigh thirty-two feet In length by three
in breadth. The beams we're of squared
eight-inch timber, with studs to match;
and the ssshoes," or runners, were over
q foot in width. For drawing it, there
were two s'tOngues." or poles, in the
forward end. It 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 q cord of hickory wood esch,
and thus make up to him winter sup
ply 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," mig
gardly, 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
to earnest labor, and to live more strict.
". Among these was the penurious
man above alluded to, whom we may
conveniently designate as Brother 4 =
Not q little to the establishment OF his
neighbors, who had had ample expert
ence of his misery 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 min
lister q load of mood. "Yea, brethren, .
he exclaimed, ''the Lord has opened
nv heart! Twill give him a load o.
wood, and big one. I will g i've him
the biggest load you can draw from my
woods to his yard! %
This unexpected outburst from sc
drouehty a source was the parish won
der for a week. Many thought tina
Brother T. must be near his end
ssTruly," said Squire McClellan-at tn
deacons' meeting Lord must hav'
opened Brother Us heart; but" n,
added, with characteristic Scotch
shrewdness, sit may close soon, and
NAV never open again. 1t behooves US
in the parsons interest, to avail our
selves of it. Let us build sled tina
will carry ten cords-and do it at once.
So thought the others. The monste
sled was privately but expeditiousl..
framed in back yard, and early on
snowy morning in December Brcthe
T. was amazed to see drive to hi
door apparently all the ex-teams in town
drawing the gigantic sled, accompanies
by shouting throng of teamsters an
all the small boys in the parish.
The Squire was riding on the sled
"We've come for the parsons load
wood. Brother u" he cried out
You babe us haul the biggest load W
could, and I'm glad to hear that 20
have lately had a fine lot OF hickor
chopped" :,
> Brother T., however, seeing tn
magnitude of the sled, tried to eSplal
and to demur; but in vain. The crow
roared him into acquiescence, and wit
a wry face, he finally led the way aero:
the snowy fields to his freshly-corce
tiers of hickory in the lot.
: It is said that fully ten cords of WOO
. we're loaded upon the big sled under tn
8 Squire's supervision, and then, to tt
4 tune of q most vOciferOus gee-haWln:
t the enormous load was successful
s sledded to the parsons door-yard.
4 The worthy minister, equally amazet
q but more agreeably so, issued forth
learn the cause of the uproar.
= "Good people, good people,"
+ cried, rubbing his hands, "what meal
: eth this? Have the windows of heavt
Q opened?" -, =,
e "Nay, nay, parson!" exclaimed Il
p Squire; "but the Lord has open'
+ Brother Us heart-and that
great a gift could have issued from
70 small a receptacle is one of the wonde
% Of saving grace. Question it not, but tai
l. it and keep ye warm"
r The minister had roaring fires tn
|. winter, but it was long before Broth
y T. recovered his equanimity.
10 Youths Companion.
y Telegraph Wires Underground.