The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-22
MIR, mOusEK,s sAwRUcK.

His business connections were of such a
nature that he was usually at leisure
after four O'Clock in the afternoon.
Mr.. Mouser prided himself on being a
man Of originality and brains. Mr..
Mouser also liked little joke-at other
peoples expense.
1t was autumn. Mr.. Mouser had Just
laid in good supply of winter fuel.
Wood was chiefly used for this purpose
in the land of MIR. Mouser's birth.
Sitting by the window of his cosy liv
ing DOM, enjoying royal smoke from
the long stemmeI porcelain pipe. Mr.
Mouser watched the wood sawyer plying
his trade, made easy by long habit Of
handling wood and saw. AS Mr.. Mouser
gazed and pondered an idea crept into
his head. 1t was grasped-as ideas
quickly became captive there.
Lizbeth, said he to his wife, it is sin
gular never thought of it before-I
generally think of such things-but il
strikes me that could saw that wood
myself
Gracious what an ideal
A bright one, isn't il? A big saving.
too! just see with what ease it is done
the man cuts through the sticks as If
he were slicing bread and butter; be-
Sides require more exercise; my health
is not what it has been
Why, dear, do you feel Ill
N-no but man needs to exert him
self if he does not wish to run down in
muscular power. My habits are to con.
finding; sense of this fact has been
growing on me lately. But have solv.
cd the difficulty while watching that
man play on his saw jack.
A merry twinkle of the eyes and
laudable endeavor to maintain a serious
expression would have convinced the
beholder that Lzbeth also had ideas
but like properly respectful wife she
kept them to herself until called for.
Do you not think Lizbeth, that little
gentle muscular activity is what l need
to stimulate appetite?
You might paint the house or do some
less tiresome work than wood saving,
remarked Mrs. Mouser.
Oh you underrate my capacities, my
dear. And saving wo, d is not 81
hard. Come and see how simple it is
done, yet how every muscle is brought
into play. L am enchanted with my
| idea, and shall carry it out. The man
can finish this job, but it shall be the last
ever pay for. What think you of il
wife?
Well, laughed the lady demurelN,
think we shall be obliged to live on cold
victuals and wear blankets to keep from
freezing. But seriously, dear, you had
better consider what hard labor you are
planning for yourself If were you |
would experiment on few cord sticks
and assure myself that it is as easy as il
looks.
That's just like woman! retorted
Mouser dlsdainfully; she never does any
thing heroically she is totally incompe-
tent in matters of physical calculation.
Now can see just as well as if | had
stood over that mans saw-jack for an
hour the amount of force required TO
drive a saw through stick of cordwood.
, And declare to you here and now that
am going to do the next load myself.
1t is play-nothing but play!
Llzheth laughed SO tantalzingly that
Mr.. Mouser turned upon her in furry
of Indignation, saying
You seem TO have your doubts about
it, madam
Seeing is believing, sir
Well, you shall see. You ought to
know by this time that am a man with
mind of my own, and when ! say ! am
going to do a thing | do it. Please bear
this in your shallow mentality, Mrs.
MOuser, that |, your husband, am deter
mined to nave, more to pay one dollar
for wood sawyer's hire,
am afraid | shall have to do little
of the wood saving myself, then, grave
Iy murmured Mrs. MOuser.
Mr.. Mouser meant business. He at
once ordered the very best kind of a
saving jack made He purchased
splendid saw, with sharp teeth and
light frame. He prauced about, happy
as school hoy, with dabs of yellow apd
green paint spatterel all oyer his person.
uutil finally the saw frame suited him
in its bright yellow coat. The saw-jack
he painted a lovely light yellow green,
Daily he pTOmenaded Impatlently
around the sheds where the wood was
stored ahd grumbed because the fuel
lasted so unusually long, At intervals
he added another Goa: of green paint to
the highly decorated sawing-iack saw
buck it IS called sometimes), and bade
all his acquaintances and friends come
and inspect his patent calisthenic toys,
until every pne for miles around became
familiar with Mr.. Mouser's green saw
ing jack.
AT last the longed for day arrived. A
big load of fine hickory had been piled
up in close proximity to the tools of
defamation.
Mr.. Mouser was all excitement. He
passed by his amused wife with import
ant dsdain, and scarcely gave himself
time to de YOUR his dinner, he was so
eager to be at work.
Nothing more, thanks, he replied, as
his wife wished " replenish his cup.
Rising he fastened to handle his pets
with an ardor that caused LiZabeth to
smile knowingly as she watched him
pick out the very smallest and most
tlender cord sticks.
That was great mistL Ike on Mr.
Mouser's part. He should have tackled
the difficult ones first, on the simple but
fruitful theory that custom would have
sweetened his toll with the balm OF the
greater ease.
Ny! how the saw rented and the alb
breyiated sticks tumbled to the ground
Still Li2beth, who was peeping with
laughter brimming eyes, noticed that at
the third cord stick work seemed to
sacken just little, but seven were fin
ished and Mr.. Mouser came in,declariDg
he felt glorious.
The second day Mr.. Mouser remained
at table trife longer. Four cor sticks
in broken lengths licked the dust, how
ever.
Third day-Mr. Mouser took time to
glance over the daily news after dinner.
Record, Three cord sticks.
Lizbeth, said he, ! think I've been
cheated in the saw jack, 1t is not put
togther on as practical plan as was
led to believe. 1t wriggles.
Fourth day-Mr. Mouser toyed over
his dinner extensively. lie smoked his
pipe and read the paper. He glanced
over his monthly magazine until dark.
and then started up exclaiming.
Mercyf how short the days are
Mrs. Mouser enjoyed the situation in
tensely but never said a word
Fifth day-Mr. Mouser rose with
sense of injustice resting upon him. All
day he was haunted by the outrageous
fact that made him the owner of a saw
ing jack,
My dear, we require more wood than
usual today and tomorrow, washing and
ironing days yon know, said Mrs. Nous
er as soon as he got home,
never saw anything like the way
you women manage to consume fuel
and Mr.. Mouser grabbed hat and strobe
angrlly toward the wood pile.
A few sticks fell before the savage
manipulation of the saw, while Mr..
Mousers snarling kept excellent time 10
the wild motions Of the sawyer.
With crash he sent the saw flying
nyar tba yoodnilp This was too much