The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-21
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&c on account Of adherence

;S f ~ 81 Is on account Of adherence
to pecularities of character and raimen1
long established. Now, this is the case
more or less all over the world; and has
been through all time. 1t requires
more than a half century to change
notably the characteristic habits of 8
people. Therefore, the ways of the
Dutch Fork families were very much
the same in 1926, as they were in 1850:
and as I am not satisfied with the
Ineagerness of detail just given concern
ing their agricultural beginnings, and
have bright recollection Of the state
Of their industry sixty years ago, l
shall venture to describe a chopping
and log-rolling by assembled neighbors
when I was boy eight or ten years
old,-believiug that such a description
will answer for similar gathering at
the time when John Adam Summer,
the First, was in the zenith Of his sue
cess.
It was in the year 1S26-'2S. One of
the most prosperous farmers IN the
Dutch Fork had two fields separated by
about fifteen acres of primitive forest,
His desire was to have these two fields
united by the removal of the woodland
thus throwing all into one large in
closure containing in all fully forty
acres. Accordingly, a negro boy OF
proper age and intelligence was sent to
all the nearest neighbors, inviting them
to repair with axes and handspikes to
his "massa's" on the next Monday,
soon in the morning, to assist in cut
Ting down the woods in the Clubhouse
field, and rolling the logs into heaps.
At the same time he bore message
from his "Missus" for all 'de young
wimmins to come later on in de day,
bringin' dare cards wild 'em to card
rolls out O cotton for spinnin' arter-
wards; and dare nammies muss come
along to, for insistence in cookin' of de
dinner; and dare was gwine to be muse
ment tel fur in de night" The appointed
ca,ue Oh, sparkling with sun
shine and frost; for it was in the first
week of January. At the first break of
day, four light-wood stumps, at nearly
equal distances from one another were
set ablaze to give light and warmth to
the neighoors when they should arrive
at the place of Labor. A stoutjug of corn
made bitter by the liberal in
sertion Of ofsprings of double tansy, stood
centrally in the woods at the roots Of a
dogwood selected to re-
main for shade-tree under which to
rest for a little while when the heat OF
the coming summer seasons might be
too oppressive. This whiskey was pre-
pared with tansy as a stomachic for
giving edge to their appetites for the
breakfast which was to be brought to
them, Just as tile sun should rise above
the tree tops over towards the Cohees
shoals. Now, the axe-men begin to
make their appearance. The morning
has scarcely begun to throw forward
her crimson streamers, when their stall
w&rt figures emerge from the darkness
INTO the ruddy light afforded by the
burning lightwood stumps. One by
)ne at first and then in groups they
come. Each one strikes his axe into
he trunk Of doomed tree, goes to the
ire to take short warm, and to tAeJug
20 take long swig, and then, with the
nvariable preparation of the palms of
heir hands, they grasp the axe-handies
md begin the work ofthe day, though IN
/ somewhat desultory manner,-not yet
10 the vigorous methodic effort that is
y animate them under the inspection
IF the sun.
Now, willie the breakfast is being
I will venture upon digres-
ION. In the days of which I am now
writing every farmer was boastfully
proud Of the qualities of his axe. No
Collias' razor~edged, convexed surfaced
!xes were then to be seen. The neigh
,orhood blacksmiths kindly competed
With one another in giving points Of
excellence to the implements they sent
orth from their shops. At a working
II some road or other I once listened
o conversation substantially the
anne as the following:
"Sam, who made your axe?"
"Why, Summers York, "replied Sam;
who made yourn?'
"John Settler made mine" said the
ther, "and q better axe never jerked |
hips out Of tree"
"That's mighty true" remarked au-
ther, coming up at the moment. "Iou |
ee, John Settler is the grandson Of the
I'D witch-gunsmith, who could put
pells upon folks"
"Bless your hearts, people," said a
ourth party who heard what had been
aid, "John amt the man as would take |
dvantage of sich gift. I have hearn
# guns what wouldn't go off when the |
rigger was pulled, if the witch what
'ut the spell on the gun warn't willin'.
tou all knows, Doctor Schmitt has !
done thae at schootin'- !
but never have I know'd one !
# John Settlers axes ever failin' to !
ink into the tree it was aim'd at, no
natter who was agin it,
~