Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-02-20
Clearing of Timber.
BY PARMENAS MIX.

A few weeks ago, wearied with
my editorial duties, lay my pen aside
and went on visit to my uncle. who
owns a farm in a distant state.
am partial to rural life. Nothing
would suit me better than to own
farm in the country. l hardly think
a farm ig the city would do. The
horse cars might run over your cows
and the policeman break into your
corn crib and steal your corn.
Well; my uncle received me with
open arms. Said he: "Parmenas,
those heavy editorials that you wrote
me were creating such a profound
sensation in Europe are wearing you
out Better look out, my boy, and
not strain your brain too much-the
top of your head may fly off some
dav."
'Ienjo! cd mvselfvery much at Uncle
Jim's. Nothing was too good for
meat least thought so-and time
slipped away very pleasantly. AS
cold weather approached the bracing
air seemed to fill me with a desire to
exercise my muscles, so one morning
| remarked to Uncle jim: "Say,
haven't you got some timber you
want cleared off this winter? Pm an
excellent chopper, and to see the chips
fly and the giant oak fall crashing to
the earth always fills one with un-
bounded delight. (Once, while in the
army, l hacked down a few small
cedars for firewood) Uncle Jim im-
Inediately got me an axe and piloted
me to the worst looking piece of
timber l had ever seen. Most of the
trees were four feet in diameter, and
the underground was as thick as the
hair on dog. Besides there was an
intricate network of wild grapevines
woven in among the trees. Uncle
Jim said: "rhere, my boy, amuse
yourself" and left me.
After an hours arduous toll l made
clearing around one Of the largest
oaks, spit on my hands and sailed IN.
! managed to get through the bark
after awhile, and then sat down and
gasped for breath, l know now why
a mans RIBS are built so substantially;
it's to keep wood-choppers' hearts
from jumping through their breasts
and bouncing off into the woods.
When night came 1 had made a
hole in the tree about the size Of the
first cut in cheese, and | felt next
morning as if l had been run over
by all the artillery and cavalry in the
| United States service.
was three days telling that tree.
cut all around the confounded thing
and then tried to push it down, but
it stood there as firm as the proprie-
tor of a one price store. l went to
the house and secretly got an old
lrip-saw, and tried that on awhile,
but no go. Another hours super
human efforts with the axe, however,
made the stubborn old fellow topple
and crack, and the next instant he
fell with crash that shook the earth
from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico.
1t fell across new eight-rail fence
and killed COW that was grazing on
the other side-killed her as dead as
a cove oyster. | then sat down on a
stump and shed the first solid tears /
had shed in sixteen years. To think
that should toll and sweat and
swear for three whole days just to
knock $50 out of my dear Uncle Jim's
pocketl
went sorrowfully TO the house,
| and when the old gentleman came in
he said: "Well how are you getting
along?" SCOT that big tree down"
replied. (which way did it fall p
asked Uncle jim. "Downwards," /
answered, sand smashed four panels
of fencing and gave an old spotted
COW such a rap that her cud flew fifty
feet. There's nothing salable about
her now but her hide and horns
deduct the price of those and charge
the rest to me-"
Uncle Jim sank into chair, leaned
his head upon his hands, groaued
dismally, and sighed, "Poor Spot!'
Aunt Susan covered her face with
her apron and. sobbed, Poor old
Spotty!" The children also set up q
wall of fermentation l was forced tc
go into the Kitchen and take smoke
Of the old mans tobacco to hide my
emotion. Presently he came in and
, said: "Well, there's no use crying
over spilled milk" Ct was spilled milk
in this instance, sure enough; "you
5 can go right on and clean off that
timber, work the trunks up into
| cord wood and fence rails and tho
f tops into tirewood, and we'll say nC
more about It,"
"No, uncle" 1 feelingly replied
t "that would be too slight remuner
: alton; you must receive more gen
erous reward. I'll send you my
i paper for twenty-five years at 50 ;
i. year" The next morning l cam'
) home. There's GOODNESS now e.
I isting between Uncle Jim and me