The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-03-07
Mr.. MOuser's Sawbuck.

Mr.. Mouser and his merry little wife
occupied a charming cottage in the
suburbs of large city in the " Father
land" His business connections were
of such nature that he was usually at
leisure after four o'clock in the after
noon.
Mr.. Mouser prided himself on being
man of originality and brains. Mr..
Mouser also liked a little joke-at other
peoples expense.
1t was autumn. Mr.. Mouser had Just
laid in goodlv supply of winter fuel.
Wood was chiefly used for this purpose
in the land of Mr.. Mouser's birth.
Sitting by the window of his cosy
living-room enjoying royal smoke
from the long-stemmed 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 cap
tive there"
Lizbeth," said he to his wife, a." it
is singular | never thought of it be-
fore--I generally think of such things
l.
wood myself"
Gracious what an idea'
A bright one, isn't it? A big saw
ing, tool Just see with what ease it
is done-the man cuts through the
sticks as if he were slicing bread and
butter; besides, l require more eXer-
else; my health is not what it has
been"
Why, dear, do you feel ill?"
N-nO, but a man needs to exert
himself if he does not wish to run down
in muscular power. My habits are too
combining; sense of this fact has been
growing on me lately. But 1 have
solved the difficulty while watching
that man play on his saw-jack."
A merry twinkle of the eyes and a
laudable endeavor to maintain a serious
expression would have convinced the
beholder that Lizbeth also had ideas
but like properly respectful wife she
kept them to herself until called for.
Do you not think, Lizbeth, that a
little gentle muscular activity is what
need TO stimulate appetizer"
You might paint the house or do
some less tiresome work than wood
saving" replied Mrs. Mouser.
"Oh you underrate my capacities,
my dear. And saving wood is not such
hard work. Come and see how simply
it is done, yet how every muscle is
brought into play. / 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 it wife?"
WE'LL" laughed the lady demurely
81 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 it looks"
"That's justlik woman!" retorted
Mouser, disdainfully; she never does
anything heroically; she is totally in
competent in matters of physical calcu-
lation. Now l can see just as well as
if had stood over that mans saw-jack
for an hour the amount of force re-
quired to drive saw through a stick of
cord-wood. And declare to you here
and now that | am going to do the
next load myself 1t is play-nothing
but playp
Lizbeth laughed so tantalizingly that
Mr.. Mouser turned upon her in furry
of Indignation, saying:
"You seem to have your doubts
madam"
"Seeing is believing, sirl"
Well, you shall see. You ought tc
know by this time that am man with
a mind of my own, and when say
am going to do thing do it. Please
bear this in your shallow mentality
Mrs. Mouser, that /, your husband, am
determined to nevermore pay one dol
lar for wood-sawyer's hire"
81 am afraid | shall have to do lit
tie of the wOod-sawing myself, then,
gravely murmured Mrs. Mouser
Mr.. Mouser meant business. He a
once ordered the very best kind of {
sawing-jac made. He purchased {
splendid saw, with sharp teeth and {