The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-11
BACKWOODS LIFE.
A Story of Early Days in Michigan.
BY II. II. JOHNSON.
CHAPTER III.
THE NEW HOME.
BY II. II. JOHNSON

AS there was yet no house erected 10
| shelter the family, they could not well
do otherwise than they had been accus-
toned to do upon their journey, name
| ly; perform their cooking in the wagon
| sheltered by the canvas covering, i'll the
top of which an aperture had been made,
through which protruded the pipe from
the cooking stove fastened securely near
the center of the capacious wagon box.
The horses were embarrassed and fed
with grain brought along for that pur-
pose, and in short time supper or din
ner. or both combined, was prepared
and partaken of with relish by the
hungry travellers.
After the meal was finished, Pat filled
and lighted his d,dIteen, and the two
men aided by the boy Julian, set about
preparing site for their home.
The center or summit of the elevation
before spoken Of was selected for the
spot, and then they commenced opera
tons by clearing away the mderbrush,
measuring and stalking out a plat of
ground twenty 10y twenty-five feet,
which was to mark the ground dlmen-
siOns of their house
They did not take the time to dig
cellar. that was an apartment that could
be built later. A place in which to live,
where they could enjoy some of the con-
yeniences Of home that would shelter
them from the storms of Indictment
weather, was the first requisite: and to
the accomplishment of this object they
bent their energies.
Long before SHUTDOWN, they had sue
ceeded in clearing and stalking out a
plat of sufficient dimensions for the
house: and then they began to select
from the growing timber, straight trees
of the proper diameter and required
length for the logs of which their build
ing was to be composed; and soon the
ringing sounds of their axes were heard
as they struck them deeply into the
bodies of the forest giants.
After sturdily applying their strokes
for awhile, the stately trees would tot
ter. and with a sound almost like hui
man groan would slowly topple over on
one side, and then fall to the ground
with crash that woke the echoes in
the surrounding forest
BY the time it began to grow dark,
they had several logs cut into the proper
lengths, ready for commencing theil
house. Then, building fire near their
wagon to frighten away any proving
wild beasts that might chance to stray
that way during the night, they all lay
down in the wagon, and soon were
sound asleep and recuperating for the
next days tolls.
Next morning they arose at an early
hour, partook of substantial break
fast. and with stout hearts entered up.
on the labOrs of the day, and by the
. next night, nearly enough logs had been
prepared to erect their new house.
Immediately after breakfast tie can
vas covering was lifted from the wagon
and deposited upon the groundto serve
as shelter and sleeping place until
their new house could be made ready
for occupancy. The stove was also re-
moved from the wagon, together with
the other articles, and Julian lad been
dispatched early in the morning to the
nearest saw mill situated about fifteen
miles distant, to obtain lumber for the
roof, floor and partitions Of the new
house.
The drawing of a sufficient amount OF
lumber employed him two days, at the
end of which time his father and Pat
had prepared a sufficient number OF logs,
and upon the third day, the business OF
erecting the dwelling began.
This was done much in the same man
ner as children sometimes build play
houses with sticks. only the ends Of the
logs were notched, the upper and under
sides of each log were hewn smooth, SO
that they would fit closely together and
exclude the cold and unpleasant atmos-
phere from in Indictment weather.
Midway along one side was left an
opening for a door, apertnres were made
in the sides and ends for windows
Nllltll WtIt NIOStu WIN otDIi uii' S'''''
brought with them from the east, the
floor was placed, the partitions set. the
roof nailed on, and within little more
than a week from the day on which they
reached the end OF their journey, their
new home was completed and ready for
occupancy, and with light hearts and
many spicy comments upon the skill
displayed in its architecture, they moved
| in their effects and took formal posses
sion.
True, situated in the fashionable
quarter of city it would hardly, even
10y an amazing stretch Of the magma
ton, be styled palatial residence; but
it was home, and it was their home;
paid for, and unburdened by claim OF
, mortgage. 1t was to them. the one dear
spot on earth, and as they entered for
the first time across its threshold, Car
RE unconsciously repeated those sweet
lines written by John Howard Payne
d winch have since become household
e words in every civilized land: "Be II
ever so humble, there is no place like
It home"
j. Carrie and Julian almost went wild
with enthusiasm over their palace. as
d they facetiously styled the rude loo
: dwelling. There were pantry and tw,
| bpdroomS hollow haaidas nna l., ,,.o -