The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-11
THE COB-PIPE.
4 TALE OF The COMET OF '45.
II1.-TuE cHoPPING, LoG-RoLLISG,
AND CAHD1SG.
BY DR.. o. B. MAYER, SR.

A lew Gays alleT tue oCCullehSSoJ'' J''''
related, sleek-faced negro belonging
to Captain Joshua Grimm rode through
the neighborhood, stopping at every
house to announce that on the next
Wednesday bis master would have
chopping and log-rolling, and his mis-
tress carding, which the young men
were invited to attend with their axes,
and the young women with their cards.
The old people Of both sexes were also
expected to be present, to pass day OF
lisht-heartedness with the family OF
Captain Grimm. The Captain was
well-to-do, cheerful farmer, the father
of four sturdy sons who, with the aid
of several well-disciplined slaves, had
for many weeks been telling the smaller
growtbs in tract of heavy forest con-
tanning twenty acres, more or less
leaving the larger t=7as ta==ees-ro 7be handled
BY their friends, when they should as
sembie for that purpose on an approach
ing day. The parts of the fallen timber
which could not be split into rails, or
otherwise utilized, were to be piled for
future burning with the brush-heaps.
Taking advantage Of the occasion, Mrs.
Grimm had prepared large quantity
of cotton which the invited maidens
were to card into rolls. for the good old
lady and her three daughters to spin
into yarn, at their convenience. The
hight was then to be devoted, until
late, to merry-making.
An me! it was the last gathering Of
the kind I ever attended. l was the
youngest person among the many that
laughed so carelessly that night; and I
am still the youngest among the grey
headed few that now sigh so often,
with eyes fixed upon the surface of the
earth, as though searching for the
openings through which the many
others have disappeared from view,-
searching for the openings perhaps with
the desire to follow after.
Wednesday came. It was a calm
frosty morning. The roar of the Cohees
shoals was pleasant to hear,-coaxing
the fancy to listen at it as the voice of
old centuries long passed away speak
ing instructively to centuries yet to
come. From miles away could be
heard coming through the still air the
various noises of laborers going to their
work before the break of day. .'.'
BY sunrise all the persons summoned
to the ehopping and and log-rolling had
assembled in the Captains "new
gronnd." He himself soon made his
appearance there, and rubbing his hands
together in great glee shouted to his
friends: "Now, boys, git to your work!
Breakfast will be here socn; and when
the work is over, you know what is to-
be done at the house."
They left the blazing lightwood
stumps, which had been set on fire fo-
their comfort, and dividing off into
companies began the work of the day.
Such tumbling about oflogs, amidst the
crash of falling trees will never again
be seen and heard in Dutch Folk; ror
will there ever be repeated such jokes
followed by such laughter as went the
rounds, that day. There were Mark
Meyer and George Eckerfeld who, after
tossing an immense knotty log upon
the top of the heap, would throw down
their handspikes, and engage in pag:-
listic mock combat for the amusement
of the bystanders. Then by common
consent there would be nlomentary
suspension from labor, to witness =
wrestling match between two negroes;
or they would pause to listen to joke
the captain volunteered to tell about his
triumphing over Jonathan Dummer,
when he tried to cut out the Captain in
the ceurtship that won Mimy Pretzel
for his wife;-''and the fool had to go
and git angry about it." The cd men
stood about in groups admiring the
feats of strength displayed by their
sons, and told of what they had them
selves done in the days of their prime.
The venerable Ulrich EckerfeId, a |
prsctical joker to his last day, stepped |
up 70 Mark Meyer, and slapping him
upon the back asked him, if it was pos
sible he could thiuk of doing a days |
work so soon after holding Nancy |
Halberdoppels on bis lap whole night;
and then the old fellow would explode
into an asthmatic laugh that threaten
ed to terminate his existence on the
spot.
"Oh, it's nc use FOR Mark to tell sich
story as that" said 2 young man Of
such size and strength as would force
Mark to tax good part whatever he
might say re was wust sheered nor
Nancy; and ef you will all believe my
racket, it was him wat sot on Nancys
lap instid of her settin' on his'n."
Then the hills echoed back the peals of
laughter INDUCED in at Mark Meyers
expense.
Thus the day wore on from breakfast
time until late in the afternoon, when
the dinner horn sounded at the house,
at first so softly as scarcely to be heard,
but gradually swelling into a fulness
unsurpassed by any note ever attempt
ed by Gambati or Herr koenig.
"Never mind the rest, boysr ex-
claimed the Captain; ''dinner is ready"
Handspikes are thrown away, axes
are shouldered, and, after several more
boxing and wrestling matches, not to
mention foot-race or two, the laborers
leave the clearing for the house.