Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-01-08
Squire McClelIan,s wOod.sled.


PROBABLY the largest wood-sled ever
built in - country was one devised by
Squire John McClellan--a great-uncle
of Gen. George II. Mcclellan. For
number of years il 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 were 81 squared
eight-inch timber, with studs to match
and the "shoes," or runners, were over
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 winters 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 man who had
the reputation of being "snug," mig
gardly, and apt to shirk his due share of
the harden of paying the minister. In
deed, his remissness in this matter had
been a standing grievance in the place
for many years.
t :, 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.
| ly. Among these was the penurious
man above alluded to, whom we may
conveniently designate as Brother Z.
| Not 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 80 all benevolent objects. Waxing
exceedingly earnest in language and
tone, he declared, among other things,
that he would that winter give the min
ister q toad of a0ood. "Yea, brethren, "
he exclaimed, "the Lord has opened
my heart! will give him load OF
wood, and a big one. l will give him
the biggest load you can draw from my
woods 10 his yard!"
This unexpected outburst from so
droughty source was the parish won
der for week. Many thought that
Brother T. must be near his end.
Truly" said Squire McClellan-at the
deacons' meeting-"the Lord must have
opened Brother Us heart; but" he
added, with characteristic Scotch
shrewdness, sit may close soon, and il
may never open again. Itbehooves US
in the parsons interest, to avail our.
selves of it. Let us build a sled that
will carry ten cords and do it at once
So thought the others. The monster
sled was privately but expeditiously
framed in back yard, and early one
snowy morning in December Brother
D was amazed to see drive to hi!
door apparently all the ex-teams in town
drawing the gigantic sled, accompanied
by "a shouting throng of teamsters ant
all the small boys in the parish.
The Squire was riding on the sled
"We'ye come for the parsons load o
wood, Brother Up he cried out
"You babe us haul the biggest load W,
could, and I'm glad to hear that yol
have lately had fine lot of hickor,
! chopped"
, Brother Z, however, seeing tn
magnitude of the sled, tried to explain
and to demur; but in vain. The GROVE
roared him into acquiescence, and witt
q wry face, he finally led the way acros
,, the snowy fields to his freshly -corde,
,, tiers of hickory in the lot.
Il is said that fully ten cords of Woo
, were loaded upon the big sled under tn
Squire's supervision, and then, to tn
tune of q most vociferous gee-hawing
the enormous load was successfully
siedded to the parsons door-yard.
=, The worthy minister, equally amazed
but more agreeably so, issued forth t
I learn the cause of the uproar.
"Good people, good people," h
cried, rubbing his hands, "what mean
3 eth thisr Have the windows of heave
openedP"
e "Nsy, nay, parson!" exclaimed tn
| Squire; s'but the Lord has opene
: Brother Us heart-and that S
s great a gift could have issued from s
= small receptacle is one of the wonder
J. of saving grace. Question it not, but tax
q 1t and keep ye warm"
: The minister had roaring fires ths
d winter, but it was long before Brotht
z recovered his equanimity.
:. Youths Companion.