The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-16
SQUIRE MoCLELLAN's SLED.
How the Newly-Converted Miser was Over
reached.


reached.
youths Companion.l
Probably the largest wood sled ever built
in - County was one devised by Squire
John Mcclellan, great uncle of General
George b. Mcclellan.
For number of years it was one of the
local curiosities of the town Of Woodstock,
Conn, the early home ef the Mcclellan
family. The narratOr's father, who saw it
frequently when boy, says it was nigh
thirty-two feet in length by three in breadth.
The beams were of squared eight inch tim
Der, 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 forward end.
1t was never used save on one special oc-
casion, when the team consisted of fifteen
yokes Of oxen.
The story of its origin is as follows:
In the Parish where Squire Mcclellan re-
sided, it was the custom every winter for
such of the men who had wood lots TO give
the Parson a cord Of hickory wood each,
and thus make up to him winters supply
of fuel. The Squire, In particular, was al
ways punctual in December with his cord
of nicely prepared hickory.
In that Parish there was nan who had
the reputation of being SNUG" niggardly,
and apt to shirk his due share of the burden
of paying the Minister. Indeed, his remiss-
ness in the matter had been a standing griev-
ance in the place for many years.
One autumn there was revival of re-
ligious interest iu the place and many mem
bers of the Church were stimulated to earn
est labor, and to live more strictly. Among
these was the penurious man above alluded
to, whom we may conveniently designate rs
Brother L.
Not little to the establishment of his
neighbors, who had had ample experience OF
his misery dealing. he arose in prayer
meeting one night, and exhorted to liberal
giving, not only TO the Parson, but to all be
nevolent objects. Waxing exceedingly
earnest in language and tone, he declared
among other things, that he would that win
ter give the Minister load ofwood. "Yea
brethren" he exclaimed, 1.-THE Lord ma:
opened my heartl 1 will give him load OF
wood, and big one. 1 will give him the
biggest load you can draw from my wood:
to his yardl"
This unexpected outburst from so drouthy
a source was the Parish wonder for week
Many thought that Brother L must be
near his end.
Truly" said Squire Mcclellan at the
Deacon's meeting, "the Lord must have
opened Brother rs heart; but" he
added, with characteristic Scotch shrewd.
ness, cit may close soon, and it 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 expeditiously framed in a
back yard, and early one snowy morning in
December Brother L was amazed TO see
drive to his door apparently all the OK teams
in town, drawing the titanic sled, ac-
companied by shouting throng of teams
tiers and all the small boys in the Parish.
The SQUIRE was riding on the sled. "We've
come for the Parsons load of wood, Brother
e" he called out. "You babe us haul
the biggest load we could, and am glad to
hear that you have lately had fine lot Of
hickory chopped"
Brother Z, however seeing the mag
nitude of the sled, tried to explain and de-
muir, but in vain. The crowd roare6 him
into acquiescence and with 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 ofwood were
loaded upon the big sled under the 'Squire's
supervision, and then, to the tune of a most
yociferous gee-hawine, the enormoAs load
was successfully sledded to the Parsons
door-yard.
The worthy Minister, equally amazed, but
moro agreeably so, issued forth to learn the
cause of the uproar.
"Good people, good people" he cried,
rubbing MS hands, "what meaneth this?
Have the windows of Heaven opened?"
"Nay, nay, parsonP exclaimed the
Squire; shut the Lord has opened Brother
rs heart, and that so great gift could
have issued from so small receptacle is
one of the wonders of saying grace. Cues
ton not, but take it, and keep We warm"
The minister had roaring fires that winter,
but it was long before Brother Z--recov-
cred his equanimity.