Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-05-25
THE HOMESTEADER.
BY CHARLES MANN.

The mighty slls of tawny oak
Are laid and squared with many stroke
The lemons ct with nice precision,
And pinned down to their new position
Disclose to view the ample space
or houseroom which they embrace.
The logs are all upon the ground,
Distributed the space around;
And soon the neighbors come by twos
And threes-they had received the news,
From their new neighbor, of the "bee"
A week before. Now, full of glee
And willing help, they all have brought
Their sharpest axes; there is naught
That men enjoy on these occasions
More than the friendly emulations
To own the best tools, and the skill
To defty handle them at will.
Fifteen stslwart men and neighbors
LaughingIy divide the labors:
-Four men skilled in cutting notches
And in saddling-no mere botches-
Take the corners eight young giants,
Bidding each a log defiance,
Are to lift them into space,
Leaving three TO "chore' and spell
Whilst the builder, Tom Bedell,
Does the bossing with face
That says plainly, Boys, you know
What to do, and how, trow."
Well it might; no better few
or the settlers better knew
How to build the all-prevailing
Style of house, or knew dovetailins
Better, or with conscious pride
Place logs where they ne'er would ride,
Nor yet that the spaces were
Too large or too small for ''chinking.'
But hear merry clinking
AS of glasses and jug,
Or pitcher and mug
Pitcher both and jug are there:
And the men take hearty draughts
OF the foaming juice of barley,
Or sip lightly of the strong,
Generous liquor. Was it wrong
To indulge in merry-making
Which the breeze, in passing, watts
Through the trcc-tops, echo-waking
In the glen? This is a question
That will stand upon its merits
Just go long as man inherits
Human nature. No suggestion
AS to right or wrong will ever
Danish such mighty lever
At house raising. Roudd on round,
Quickly raised into position,
Firmly notch-and saddle-bound,
Seems to cause faint suspicion
OF the stimulus imbibed,
Having its effect inscribed
On the muscle and the brain
OF the worker5-and again
Sounds the merry "yo-hee-yo'
OF the giants from below,
AS they aid the pull above
With a strong, determined shove
And another round is laid
Ere the dinner-horn has staid
Their desire to add one moro.
But they quit their task before
Viands cooled meath breezy trees
Lose their flavor; ere the bees
BY the odor sweet allured
Have their part of sweets ensured
soon the seats around the table
Improvised of casks and planks-
Like the be1ches-fll with able,
Willing hands and mouths; the ranks
And array of tempting dishes
More than meet their modest wishes
Roastin' ears and mashed potatoes,
Pease and string beans; sweet tomatoes,
Chicken broiled and chicken roasted,
Roast beef, woodland grouse, and toasted
Kidneys, with pie of veal,
Mallard canvassback and teal
Cakes and lucious custard pies,
and pudding made Of rice;
Tea and coffee, sweetest cream,
And Of milk a snowy stream,
Greet the nostrils and the eye;
And they zealousy comply
With the hearty, "Boys, pitch inr
And the knives and forks begin
vigorously to work; the glasses
Filled, while joke and banter passes
Round the board, aid mastication
And promote the conversation.
'Tis scene fit for the brush
OF Turner or Wilkie;
Note the healthy, glowing flush,
And the talk that flows 80 glibly
Through the pauses in the feast!
Here is nothing Of the hurry,
Nor unseemly haste and furry
At their meals Of city-men,
Who, with pencil or with pen
Stuck behind their ears, as though
They were mark ing still, and noting,
Calculating, prices quoting,
Will around the tables crowd
Standing. leaning, bowing, sitting,
Some arriving. others quitting,
Shout their orders to the fiunkeys
Much like Spanish gardners' donkey@
Meath enormous burdens bow'd-
Cram with furious energy
Their dyspeptic stomachs, groaning
Under needless cruelty i.
To be seen, full soon, bemoaning
Loss of health. and sluggish blood
Deluged in tn insipid food tf4sf
swill-coffee, poorer tea 4io,
Which, by way Of company.