The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-22
4 TUSSLE WITH A TREE.

imagined it would take me about
half an hour to put up some boxes fol-
the accommodation of the blue birds
:amid the branches of the magnificent
oak which stands in the rear of nv
house.
This oak is the pride of my estate.
1t is erect, lofty, symmetrical, now in
ats fullest vigor-a temple not built
with hands-more marvellous in con-
struction than any palace ever erected,
and, in my brother mans estimation,
good chiefly for tirewood or railroad
ties.
In the endeavOr to place the bird
houses on it find that perversity dwells
among its branches. Or perhaps its
desire is not to be meddled with in any
way-a feature of strong character
and marked individuality, whether in
men, women or oaks.
wanted to put the boxes on the oak
about twenty feet from the ground. |
erected a ladder against the tree. The
tree refused to allow the ladder to rest
,solidly against its massive trunk.
Whichever way l directed that ladder
lit fell against small but stout branches
stout as steel springs. These fought
the ladder and warded i: off against
too Fear approach.
Tried to insinuate the ladder between
these grabbed, obstinate little branches.
They resisted intelligently all such tao
tics. Where the ladders end edged in
little on one side, cats claw of a
branch managed to catch it on the
other. Meantime /, myself, the human,
'moving machine at the ladders foot,
was expanding much force in these vain
efforts. For it was an old and very
heavy ladder house painters ladder
SAW that | must cut these branches
off. l could not reach them from the
ground so to do. Nor could saw them
off by getting on the ladder as it leaned
against them, since to do this might be
to saw myself off in sense The axe
failed to cut them off because could
mot get in position to deal an effective
blow. l had recourse to a handsaw.
would saw from the top of my STEP
ladder.
Posting the step-ladder at the foot of
the tree proved another difficult opera
ton, for the ground was uneven, and it
was necessary to level off place to
give the base secure hold.
At this time it occurred to me that
was long way off from placing those
blue bird boxes. Every move thus
developed and necessary in this under
taking seemed to carry me farther from
Tthe aim first sought-that of mailing the
boxes to the tree. / had commenced
with the endeavor to place ladder
against the trunk, found mind and body
intercepted by those obstinate branches
had lett the branches and now found
myself at work with pick and shovel
on the ground. / thought to myself:
81 wonder how far | must travel away
from those boxes in this fashion in order
to get them? Is this one of those af-
fairs in life, seeming SO easy of accom-
plishment. really so difficult, which
looks as if it could be done in a day.
and which may require years? At all
events, the affair is assuming the aspect
of sort of game. or rather combat, be-
tween myself and this tree, and I'm
going TO drop all hurry and anxiety to
place the boxes and see which of us,
myself or the tree, are TO be masters of
the situation.
The step-ladder sided with the tree,
and Was UNREASONABLE particular in
getting level base-now topping as |
stood on it over on this side, now on
that in a decripit, helpless sort of
fashion. 1t was 4 striking example, in
its seeming efforts to overturn me, of
what friend calls 1.-THE total depravlty
of inanimate things"
At last / mounted this ladder and
commenced operations with the saw on
branch No. /. The branch being
green and full of sap, the saw stuck
and hung in an obstinate manner.
Being Oh the top board of the step-lad-
der my footing was shaky and uncertain.
sawed, worried by the thought of a
possible broken neck or leg, and ex-
perienced great wear and tear of mind
and body in consequence. Branch No.
= required a change of location for the
step ladder and another secure level for
its base. So did branch No. g.. By
the time the three branches were off l
found myself Forgetting the original in
tent of all this work, and even wonder
ing at times what | was working for.
The branches wers at last out of nv
way and all seemed plain sailing. l
raised the heavy ladder against the
tree. Ii rested securely against the
hunk. mounted it with one of the
i pxes in my hands, got two thirds of the
way to the ladders top, heard some
thing crack ominously and found that
the left ladder upright had diagonal
split running drought it, was threaten
ing every instant to part, and that nv
neck was in greater danger than ever.
descended rapidly, but carefully. from
the ladder. Another instance of the
total depravity of inanimste things.
There was nothing to do but repair
the ladder. The placing of the bird
boxes on the tree had retired farther in
the distance than ever. l said then to
myself: Il wonder where this under
What new thing shall find necessary
to incorporate into this job? Perhaps
1t may bring me to the repairing of my
Ihen-coop- 1t may take me to the city
to get some needed article. 1t may
carry me to Europe. l may be obliged
to consult with lawyers and jurists, all
through some indirect operation or
development growing out of this blue
bird box business. 1t has already cost
me two and q half hours labor, and l
expected to accomplish it in thirty min
ates." ButI am now prepared for war.
| will devote the whole day to this I'M
dertaking -perchance two whole days. !
1 repaired the ladder carefully, nail
ing braces both within and without the
broken upright. Iplaced it in position |
and mounted it. carrying bird box !