Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-01-15
". C.. Il. u. NOTES.
CLARA MARCELLE GREENE.
THE RAISING.

= SSN~sT-FiIEI what u 'FaiS!US Il. ASH
GW|DRHWA ed papa. who had prom
AHEAH A ised US story when we
9LA gathered u bout the libra
~ fire after tea. Little
Ted nestled close to me, and laid his
head Oh my lap.
"a 'raising'?" repeated ten-year-old
Ohio. with the look ANA tone of super
i0r wisdom peculiar to his age: "oh,
yes. it's something about farms and
cows, isn't it?"
sob, oh, OH" derided younger Jack,
doubling himself over the kness of his
first pants; Il know better than that;
it's what you put in pudiin's!'
A general shout extinguished poor
little jack, who hung his head and fell
to admirng his pants for comfort.
And what does papa's baby think
raising i-?" said papa, stopping over
and smothering kisses in little Ted's
neck, between his tumbled curls.
queer little shrug of the shoulders and
stifled laugh were the only response,
ana papa proceeded to crafty the cur
iosty of his eager listeners.
"'Down East where / was born.
when a man wanted to build a house
or barn, men did not then come, as now,
and bring lot of fine timbers, ready
made and fitted, and run up stick after
stick, and brace after brace, like canes,
so fast that in twenty-four hours the
To int
''Instead of that, a carpenter sat day
after day, patiently hewing by hand
great timbers, until enough were hewn
to make the square foundation, the
upright corners, and the top and ends
OF the roof. Then the man gave out
word to his neighb ors to come on a
certain day and help him and the car
penter raise rhe great timbers into pc
sition. That was the raising
when it was finished, there stood
the skeleton of building to be covered
and the men were all invited into the
house for dinner. Besides that, what
else do you think they had to cheer
them on through the 'raising'?"
brass band" guessed Ohio, who
had headed a procession of seven boys
with four torchlights and a harmonica
and felt his bIushing honors thick up
on him.
Lemonade" venturel Jack a gOoC
deal subdued by the ignomiDg of his
first fail ire.
No, my boys, jug of rum with {
tin cup was set out near tue men, nc
went to it aud drank as often as they
pleased. Some of them only drank a.
ter one of the heaviest timhers was
hoisted into place, with much hare
straining and Juggling, and shouting q
orders. Others drank oftener, and Il
night were quite intoxicated.
"a very sad thing happened at on
raising that | remember. The build
ing was large barn, a hundred fee
long, and many men and boys wer
there, among them a f.ther and son
The SOD, John Dudley, was about fif
teen years old, my own age.
His father was often drunk, ant
that day proved no exception. Johi
was a handsome. strong-l;nIbed fellow
with fine head, ruddy cheeks ant
black eyes, the idol and only hope o
his mother, patient, hard-workin!
woman who had done her best to kee]
her boy out of his fathers footsteps.
81 think he never tasted liquor before
But that day L saw him go around tn
jug several times till a rough fellow
dared him to drink. John was bold
bright boy, and he laughingly seizet
the cup and started the liquor. Severa
times afterward | saw him do it, AM
when he started tor home he reeled
little.
at was a keen, bitter night in De
cember and soon began TO snow. A
dsytreak a neighbor tappe1 at on
window t. know if we had seen JohI
Dudley. He had not reached home
and men were looking for him. NJ,
father and L quickly dressed and Wen
to Join in the search. Fields, forests
barns and fences were all inspected
but no clue was found till woman
said she saw him crossing her field to
ward dark, and that he seemed bewild
cred.
Jack Simpson and / started tina
way and soon found tracks in the thi
snow. We followed them in silenc
with beating hearts.
Turning the corner of high stone
heap, Jack suddenly started back wit
q great cry. There lay the dreadful
sight before us. John Dudley lyIni
in the lee of the rock, frozen to deatt
His cap ley little way off and tn
keen wind was blowing through hi
hair.
~ saw 1t all at glance, and stoppe
for nothing. / ran to turn his mothe
back, who was following fast behint
But she real the whole terrible trut
in my face, and rushed by Inc like
mad creature. / could not tell yol
my dears, any more of that scene.
was plain that the liquor bewildere
him. that he lost his way, and bein
benumbed with the cold and the drinl
he Law down under the shelter of Il
rock to his death.
$50 we buried him, in the present