Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-10-29

al think II Is. pretty strong one,
Colonel" was the frank reply: Sin fact,
1 know II IL, for have been told over
and over again by the best OF judges,
that from ridgepoie 10 plate, and from
plate to sill, IL Is just AS strong as huge
beams, iron rods and steel bolts can
make IT.; but, Colonel, you and l are
both lumbermen; and more than once we
have seen great tracts of timber, through
which the wind had hewed itself path,
and do you remember ever seeing tree
left standing in any one OF those
pathsY And did you ever think OF what
tremendous force it must have been
that took hold Of those big trees and
pulled them up out of the ground just as
quickly and easily as dentist would pull
a toothp If we're you, Colonel, guess
would take Il al back, and not pit
mans little strength against the mighty
arm of the Lord!"
aIf you were me!' said the Colonel,
mockingly. "But you're not me, Story,
I and |, Brainard, don't take back any
thing / say, very often. You're on the
losing side, Brother Story! Don't forget
thatl"
As the DAYS went by it became evident
that Colonel Brainard did not intend that
| Amasa Story should have chance to
forget it. Every time he saw Story he
never failed to remind him in the most
offensive manner of the fact that the
barn still stood firm and strong upon its
foundations, and will stand, Brother
Story, until time rots the timbers and
rusts out the bolts!
And Story would answer cheerily:
"I'hc Lord has got lots OF patience,
Colonelv
Winter came on. Colonel Brainard
and Amasa Story both engaged in extern
sive numbering operations in the great
forests in the northern part of their ma
tive State, and did not see each other
again for some months; but with the re-
turn of spring, logs and lumbermen came
down the river.
Colonel Brainard got home first. He
was i'm the best of spirits. His winters
work had brought him great deal OF
money, and naturally he felt rather jubi-
liant. AS soon as he heard that Story
had got home he made oil haste to go to
the village.
"Hello, Story!" he shouted as soon as
he caught sight of Story's CHEEKY face
"when did you get homer"
'Just come, Colonelw answered the
other heartily. whats the newsi
Everybody ali well up to your place?"
Pretty we'll, Story; pretty well; and
come to think of it, neighbor, why didn'
YOU inquire about the barn, also? Don
forget that barn, Story! l want you Il
keep an eve on that barn, said the Col
onei with the same old hooking infection
in his voice.
Story colored furiously. He had for
fotten all about their dissension in hi
joy at getting home, and his pleasure il
seeing his old friends; and to have hi
. friendly inquiries met in this way, wa
almost too bad But, controlling hi
temper, he answered with something o
an effort:
mo need of me, Colonel! The Lor'
has got His eye on that barn fas
enough
Somehow the Colonel could not seen
, to get those words out of his mind, al
though the impression they made on hin
; did not hinder him from attacking hi
: victim every time he came within SCUM
! of his voice.
Matters went on after this fashio
until midsummer. One day about tn
last Of July. the sun rose in the mornin
lust like ball of red-hot iron. All tn
: forenoon the very air had quiverin
! appearance, as though it were painting !
! the intense heat, and the glare of tn
: : sunshine was binding. But, in tn
:. afternoon, q soft haze came into the al
: and,some fecy clouds crept over the fac
= of the sun. Now and then there was
little Whit of wind.
Late in the afternoon, bank OF gra
clouds softly rolled up in the Yves
There was nothing particularly alarmin
J about them. They were not dark {
u thunderous looking, but were simply
! soft, fieecy mass of misty cloud; butsom
i how they seemed to bring with them
deathly stiffness that settled down owe
- everything, " fold upon fold" and il
IL influence was felt by even Colonel Brazil
> ard himself.
% He hanessed up his horse, and dow
III town he came. Story and a number
his friends were standing on the steps
| the village store, busily, though quietl
u talking politics; and thus did not noti
e Colonel Brainard until he drew rein b
-, fore them
20 At the sight Of the Colonel, Story, wi
| a. bo snao kar NJ tho n,OmQn