The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-12-09
Selert Sfu,y.
DYING FOR HIS MASTER.
A Shepherd Dogs Adventure With
RattlesDake.

NV name is Thomas Wilman and
live in Philadelphia, where my son Hsr.
ry is prominent business maa, Thirty
one years ago / married in Great Bar
rington. Mass, as pretty a girl as that
village famous for its pretty eirs) ever
sheltered. She had been well brought
up but hsd no fortune. had al 500
which had made BY running sawm II.
We were young and had the world before
Us. and we concluded to 60 West. Going
West in those days didn't mean, what II
seems to now, going beyond the Mlssis-
sippi Going into york State" was 60
ing West then. had cousin in Cat,a-
raugus, little village on the E"ie Rail-
way, 80 miles east of Dunkirk, and we
concluded to go there.
II was late in August when we reached
Cattaraugus. My cousin gave US hearty
welcome, and set about looking for a
spot to build. Cattaraugus is curious
sort OF place. The village is surrcun-
ded by hills, and the wonder to me is
that it doesn't slide down into the wash
bo vii like valley on the side OF which it
is built. A little creek runs through the
village, and mile to the west 6nds itself
in deep narrow valley, with almost per-
pendicular sides. 100 feet high. This
valley is called Skinner Hollow, and is
one OF the most pictur. sqne spo's on the
Erie road. l went down 10 the hollow
prospecting. The sides. where they were
not too steep, we're covered with heavy
growth OF first-class pine, and for miles
around the hills we're thick with the same
timber. saw there was money in saw
mill right down in that hollow. and ]
built one on the stresm, which / could
zee was q good-slzed creek most of the
year. 1t is one OF the branches Of Cat
Creek, which empties into Lake
Erie 30 miles west of Buffalo.
] built my mill there, and close TO it q
little house, SO close in fact that the two
Joined. l took Katie, that Is my wife,
down there and we began housekeeping.
That was we'll into the winter and ] be-
gan logging at once. ! hired gang oil
men to help me, raised money by con
tracing my lumber ahead, and started
in. We cut logs ON the bill close to the
rill. rugged up slides and ran them down
10 the logway. Itell you it was music
to me when the saw ripped into the fist
log ard clean cut slab dropped away
from the teeth. We had ali,tle jolliics.
ton. That was the first log ever cut in
SkirDer Hollow ami people drove miles
to see T.. Business was good there was
lots OF snow which made it easy work
getting logs to the mill and drawing The
lumber out to the village besides giving
me all the water wanted. In fact water
was running over the tail OF my 6ume
every hour from the tine turned 1t into
the race TIL the middle of July Then Q
dry spell came on and had to shu,
down two or three hours every day to
let nv race fill up.
But | didn't mind that. I bad had
tip.top season and had made money. ]
had logs enough st nv door to keep me
busy for year and knew where there
were plenty more when those ran out;
and beside / had two 10 look after in
stead OF one You wouldn't think If
you'd see Harry, with all his refined ways
and education, that the first music he
ever bsard was q saw tearing through
pine knot. But it's SO. He was pio-
neer's son and knocked around sawmiIl
till be was into bis teens. Well, wuen
business was slow worked around the
house, fixing up things here and there for
Katie, so as TO make her more comforts
able. She couldn't have been more con.
tented She used to think sswmill
was just about the pleassntest place In
The country Hour after hour she'd stay
out there with me and we'd keep up the
conversation while the log was running
back and stop when u went up to the
saw Dear me Dear me! Why, !
can see her as she used to look in those
days in that little sawmill just as plainly
as if I stood there with her to-day. She
used to jump on the log and ride up
pretty close to the saw and then, just as
l would get scared and lump to drag her
oWoyS oH que ~ NVooNy ""S S'ci
happier than we ~ere.and we have never
heen as happy since, though we've been
pretty happy and are vet.
The yellow sunlight, aickered into the
room where the two sat, aud the wine
looked like blood IS the dancing rays
shone through'it. The old man was lost
in happy reverie, and the young man ven-
tured to remind him that there was 8
snake story promised.
"True." said the old mans,arting. I'm
just coming to that. / lost myself think
ing Of those old days. There we're snakes
then and We had killed them. k.ttlers
used to come out on the lodges of rocks
and lay In the hot sun. One or two bad
come around the mill, and had shot
one or two in our door yard. But We
thought nohing of that. People living