Wichita eagle., 1888-03-02

1erSelI 70 my ear:
lam afraid" she whispered. "Let US go
back, please, let us go back"
''How frightened you are: Don't you rec
ognize the sound of the wood splitter
malletg" :,
do you think that you con soothe me with
your wood splittersl What do they sph''
these splittersF'
sThey are splitting logs Of wood to make
barrel slaves. That is the mystery"
"You are very sure"
"Yes, my dear" ~.
"And they are good men, these wood spit-
tersp
ssTbese are certainly; know them very
well Come and see them; they arc not more
than three minutes from here"
She decided to follow me, though not with
ont tagging behind little. Some minutes
later We found ourselves in most picturesque
Mace facing two or three cabins as primitive
as the Indian huts one reads about ID Coopers
novels Imagine heap of logs and boards,
black with age and covered with moss,
somber and wet in the dark forest, and sur
mounted by a white chimney from which
rosa a light column Of blue smoke, to lose
itself in the green vault above. Around this
encampment were piles of logs, mountains OF
chips. pyramids of yellow boards, and, ON
cord stretched from one tree to another, some
clothes hung out to dry. The ground was
beaten down around these huts, and before
a small low door some dozen Of fowls were
picking up the grain thrown them by an Old
woman.
s'Good evening, )" said the old woman, seeing
us approach won't you come in and warm
yourselves a bit9 1t is fresh tonight"
Louise looked at it all as one looks at a
successful painting. We entered The IN
terror was worthy of the exterior. In the
middle Of an irregular cabin, full OF corners
and recesses, q bright fire was burning on
the ground between four bars OF iron, winch
kept the firebrands in place and marked the
hearth. The flames rose high; the roof was
omen in the middle, like the impluvium OF
Roman house, and beyond the opening,
through a wide, gaping chimney, through
which the light came down and the smoke
rose. one could see the branches OF the trees
and the gray sky. In the ashes was pot
where something was boiling; and in the cor
ners of the cabin, surrounded by materials,
debris. and all sorts Of tools, were three men
lone of them little old man, with cheeks
scanned and red like brick, who struck In
turn with their tools. They were father, son.
and son-in-law and from one years end TO
the other, summer and winter, In thls caoih
where we were, and which served them for a
workshop, they split and respllt the OAK logs
About once a week the son went to the VII
laee for provisions, and that was all on
Sunday the entire family played at bowling
under the shade Of the great trees
As we entered they stopped their work, and
each of them, after having bid US GOOD DAY,
laid down the huge, bright Ratchet With
which they we're armed, a frightful instru-
ment, like the knife of guillotine, furnished
with a handle. a heavy blade, sharp and
large. we'll made for the execution or oaks,
but of a sinister aspect.
Louise seated herself near me on little
bench.
awe are interfering with your work, said
| 1 to the old man.
THANK you, no, sir; we were just gong 0o
eat our supper"
The two young men laid down their blades
| and came toward large table, made In a
most primitive way Of plank and foul
roughly hewn feet While they were putting
! ON the table the small thick, blue plates the
| old woman had occupied herself in getting
large frying pan and throwing on the fre al
armful of sticks In that scene, SO rough anc
rude. how fine and delicate Louise appeared
70 me: so dainty with her long giants az
Suede: her white skirt just lifted trlfe, and
her little boots. With her two hands out
stretched she shielded herself from the heat
of the fire, and while chatted with the stav'
makers she watched from the corner or he
ewes the butter which was beginning to sput
ter in the frying pan. Suddenly she rose
and taking the handle of the frying pal
from the hands of the old woman, Let m
help YOU with your omelet, will you!" sh
said
The good wife smiled and gave it upto be-
and I,ouise found herself alone, standing Il
the attentive attitude of a fisherman hoidin
his rod at the moment when the bobbing cor
warns him of nibble. The fire brightene
q hit. she fixed her eyes upon the meltlu
butter. with outstretched arms, biting he
lips in her effort e..
at is a trife heavy for madam" said Cd
old woman. 81 would wager that this is tn
first time you ever made an omelet IN IN
cabin of a wood cutter; is it not, my lady
Iouise nodded YES without turning he
head.
1.-THE eggsi the eggsw she cried suddenl,
! ana WlCQ SUCH nhAiOoo XVII
burst out laughing.
"The eggs! the butter is bubblng VI
Ouick. OF will not be responsible for the r
suit" The old woman hurried to break Il
eggs
"And the herbsl" cried the old man.
aAnd the bacon and the salts" said II
young man.
So everybody began to work; one choppet
I Id Ia nSyIGn
flushed face, tapped with her feet and calie'
.Hurryl come, hurry now"
At last the sound of much suffering arc
from the frying pan, and the great work hi
begun. We all gathered around the mr.
looking on with much anxiety, for, SIN
each one had had a hand in the omelet, q
result of the operation interested every on
The good wife. on her knees near lari
platter. lifted with her knife one corner
the omelet, which had begun to brown.
"Madame has only to turn it now" she sal
Zone quick turn added the old man.
, "Without too much force" observed t
young man >,
"One single toss; houp! my child" said
in my turn.
"lf You speak to me all at once
Hurry, madame"
"If YOU speak to me all at once, sh'
never dare - Oh, but its awful heavy
r .One quick turn"
, sBut can't Its going to upset. a
heavensm
. In the heat of the action her hood had fell
l off. She was as rosy as peach, her ey
shone, and. while fretting over her work, S
, laughed merrily from time to time. At la
3 after a supreme effort, the frying pan "
, turned and the omelet rolled out, tri
: slowly, must confess, on the great plat
5 which the good wife held for its reception.
Never had omelet better appearance.
I .I am sure that the little lady's arms mi