Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-07-30
A TussLE WITH A TREE.

half an hour Ia put up some boxes Tor
the accommodation of the blue birds
amid the branches of the magnificent
oak which stands IN the rear OF my
house.
This oak is the pride of my estate.
IL is erect, lofty. symmetrical, now In
It's 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 cudcavor TO place the bird
houses on it find that peryersity 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 IA ladder against the treo. The
tree refused to allow the ladder TO rest
solidly against its massive trunk.
Whichever way directed that ladder
it fell against small but stout branches
stout as steel springs. These fought
the ladder and wardod il of against
too near approach.
tried to insinuate the ladder between
these grabbed, obstinate little branches.
tics. Where the ladders end edged in
little on one side, n 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-a house painters ladder
saw that must cut these branches
on | could not reach them from the
ground so to do. Nor could saw them
OF by getting on the ladder rs it leaned
against them, since to do this might be
TO saw myself of in a sense. The axe
failed to cut them of because | could
not get in a position to deal an effective
blow. | had recourse to handsaw.
] would saw from the top of any 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 a secure hold.
At this time il occurred to me that
was u 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
the aim first sought-that of mailing the
boxes to the tree. ! had commenced
with the endeavor TO place q ladder
against the trunk, found mind and body
intercepted 10y those obstinate branches,
( hal leftthe branches and now found
! myself 1T work with pick and shovel
on the ground. | thought to myself;
Il 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-
| looks rs if il 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,
mysel or the tree, are to be masters OF
the situation"
The stcp-ladder sided with the tree,
and was unreasonably particular il
getting Il level basc--now topping as
stood on il over on this side. now Oh
that in decripit, helpless sort o.
fashion. II was a striking example, II
its seeming efforts to overturn me, o
what q friend calls 1.-THE total depravit,
of inanimate things"
At last ! mounted this ladder an,
commenced operations with the saw OF
branch No. |. The branch bcin,
green and full of sap, the saw stucl
and hung in an obstinate manner
Being on the top board of the step-lad
der my footing was shaky and uncertain
sawed, worried by the thought Of
possible broken neck or leg, and OK
pericnccd great wear and tear of min,
and body in consequence. Branch No
required change of location for tn
step ladder and another secure level TO
its base. So did branch No. 3. b,
the time the three branches were off
found myself forgetting the original in
. tent of all this work, and even wonder
ing at times what was working for.
The branches were at last out of m
way and all seemed plain sailing.
raised the heavy ladder against tn
tree. IL rested securely against tn
trunk. mounted il with one of Tn
boxes in my hands, got two thirds of tn
way to the ladders top, heard some
thing crack ominously and found tina
the left ladder upright had diagona
split running drought 1t, was threaten
ing every instant to part, and that m
neck was in greater danger than ever
descended rapidly, but carefully. iron
the ladder. Another instance of tn
total depravity of inanimate things.
There was nothing to do but repai
the ladder The placing of the bir
boxes on the tree had retired farther i
the distance than ever. said then L
myself: II wonder where this under
taking will carry me ere il is finished
What new thing shall find necessar
TO incorporate into this Job? Perhap
Il may bring me to the repairing of M
coop. Ii may take me to the cit
to get some needed article. II ma
carry me TO Europe. l may be oblige
10 consult with lawyers and jurists, a.
through some indirect operation o
development growing out of this blu
bird box business. II has already cos
me two and half hours labor. and
expected TO accomplish il in thirty mir
utes." But ] am now prepared for wal
| will devote the whole day to this ur
dertaking -perchance two whole DAYS
l repaired the ladder carefully, mai
ing braces both within and without th
broken upright placed IL in positio
and mounted it, carrying bird DO
with.me. Arrived at the ladders top
found ] could not climb the tree to tn
spot where desired to nail the DO
with the box in my hands. So wcr
down the ladder again and placed tn
box on the ground. Then went u
the ladder so far as il reached, an
henceforth took to climbing. More oil
staclcs presented themselves. Branchc
got directly in the way. Twie
scratched my face and tried to put OF
my eyes. Bits of rotten branches an
dry bark dislodged and fell into m
eyes There was more cutting ava
TO be done. descended the ladder fo
my Ratchet, got II, and trimmed roa
| a.