The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-01-16
CLEARING OFF TIMBER.
A Work OF Infinite Labor and ProdIeious
Expense.

Expense.
a few weeks ago. wearied with my
editorial duties, lay my pen aside and
went on visit TO my uncle, who owns
farm in distant State. ! am partial
to rural life. Nothing would suit me
better than to own a farm in the coun-
try. hardly think farm in the city
would do. The horse ears might run
over your cows and the policemen break
into your corn-crib and steal your corn.
Well, my uncle received me with open
arms Said he: ''Parmcnas. those
heavy editorials that you wrote me were
creating such 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 day
/ enjoyed myself very much at Uncle
Jim's. Nothing was too good for me
at least thought so--and time slipped
away very pleasantly. As cold weather
approached the bracing air seemed 10
/ fill me with desire to exercise my
muscles. 50 one morning remarked &c
Uncle Jim: ..Say. haven't YOU got some
timber you want cleared off this winterf
I'm an'cxccllent chopper, and TO see the
chips fly and the giant oaks fall crash
/ ing to the earth always fills one with
nnboundcd delight. (Once. while in the
army. hacked down few small cedars
for firewood.) Uncle Jim Immediately
got me an axe and piloted me 10 the
worst looking timber | had ever seen.
Most of the trees were four feet in d.
ameter. and the underground was a.
thick rs the hair on a dog. Besides.
there was an intricate network Of wild
grape vines woven in among the trees.
Uncle Jim said: There. my boy. amuse
yourself" and left me.
After an hours arduous toll made q
clearing around one Of the largest oaks,
spit on my hands and sailed in. man
aged to get through the bark after
awhile. and then sat down and gasped
for breath know now why man !
ribs are built so substantially; it's
to keep woodchoppers' hearts from
jumping through their breasts and
bouncing off into the woods.
When night came l had made hole
in that tree about the size of the first
cut in cheese. and felt next morn
ing as if had been run over BY all the
artillery and cavalry in the United
States service.
was three days in telling that tree
cut all around the COMPOUNDED thing
and then tried to push ii down, but il
stood there a. firm as the proprietor Of
a one-price store. / went to the house
and secretly got an old rip-saw. and
tried that on awhile. but no 90.
Another hours superhuman effort 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 a cow that was
grazing on the other side killed her
as dead as cove oyster. i then sat
solid tear had shed in sixteen years.
To think that | should toll and sweat
and swear for three whole days just to
knock fifty dollars out Of my dear
Uncle Jim's pocket!
went sorr wfully to the house. and
when the old gentleman came in he
said: well. how are you getting
alongP- "Got that big tree down." j
replied. which way did it fal?''
asked Uncle Tim. "Downwards,"
answered, land smashed four panels
OF fencing and gave an old spotted
COW such . rap that her cud flew fifty
feet. There's nothing salable about
her now but her hide and horns; de-
duct the price Of those and charge the
rest to me.
Uncle Jim sank into chair. leaned
his head upon his hands. groaned dis
mally. and sighed: Poor Spotr'
Aunt Susan covered her face with her
apron and sobbed: Poor old Spottyr'
The children also set up wall Of
lamentation. Twas forced to 60 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 (it was spilled milk in this in
stance. sure enough: lyon can e
right on and clean of that timber,
work the trunks up into cord-wood and
fence rails and the tops into fire-w0od
and we II say no more about IL Y"
No. Uncle" fcelingly replied
{" that would be too slight rcmunera
ton; you must receive more gener
Gus reward. Ill send you my paper
for twenty-five years at two dollars :
. yesr." The next morning came
home. There's goodness now existing
between Uncle Jim and me. fdrme
mas MIR. IN Detroit Free hess.