The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-05-28

possible to cut aud wedge II 20 - 10 csa'
IL 10 fall uphill. 10 any csse. II would
sbstssred 10 fragments on the rous
ground.
But each ope Of the men said. in con
ciu,ion. You 30 and see Nick Mar. st Iii
gins 4 Foley's. BE can do II IL any ms
can He's the beat timber Teller 10 Cali
forui. You get him and Big Jim to "
Il III you can catch Jim sober.
Ralph went 10 see Mar ~ they advised
but was overwhelmed With confusion ~be
he rscogniz,d in him the Dwarf whom
had in.nlted. His intended apology cam
to bis mind. bu. be saw the impossibilit
OF making IL nov. He stsmmered: L,
like to have you come and Gu, big tire
that's going to fall on . house.
whsii gro~led the dwarf.
Ralph repeated his errsud tiuilly, bu
added. with fortunate wit. The men .
Kelton darent try IT They said you wer'
the only man that could do it,
No. said the dwarf. siill sngrily.I gues'
Hnmpiy.Dumpty couldn's do III
He took lon, hauilsd axe from ths
door sna shamblei away.
Alter trying unsuccessfuliy to fad soms
one who would cut the tree. Ralph start
ed homewsrd sorro~fully. At turn ia
the road, quarter OF = mile from the mill
q voice saluied him from the hillside
above.
Well, young fellow, you're down in the
mouth how, ! guess.
Looking up be saw the dwarf Behind
him stood powerful man. whose face
bore the marks left by strong drink,
This was Big Jim "a quiet and we'll bred
man while be was sober, but a terrible
ruin when drunk. Ralph could hardly
keep back his tears as be saw the mockIug
face Of the humpbuck, He turned away
aud humid on. bnt the man called 10
him again, and he paused. bopelessly.
I'm aLumpback, began the dwarf, slow
ly, but may not be as mean as you think
What tree do you want cut? reckon
FL be over that way day after to NOR
row.
It's the Tower Of Babel cried Ralph.
What The dwarf wbistled in amaze
ment, reckon I'll be over there to NOR.
row.
Lsi's go jim, he said. turning to his com
pauion. and we'll get Higgins to 20 over.
too, but I'm afraid be won't let us cut
1t.
Very we'll, lts go. said Jim hoarse.
ly
Nick Mar. Big Jim aud Mr. Higgins ar
rived ut the Tower OF Babel early IN the
afternoon Higgins pretended TO scef at
the idea OF imminent danger from the tree
aud refused to allow it to be cut unless
Nick could save at least ninety feet OF the
trunk unbioken. This seemed impossible,
for the steep hillside was not even for
more than forty or fifty feet in any direc'
lion; but Nick Mar examined TIE tree care
fully, aud declared that he could fell II
and save the required length.
His plan WAS o daring one. requiring
great skill, but he explained it to no one
but Big jim.
Higgins then refused to allow the tree
10 be cut unless one hundred and fifty dol
ars we're deposited with him. to be for'
tited il it we're broken.
Ralph still hsd the money which bis
mother had left him, but she had told him
o return sll but thirty dollars Of it to Mr.
North. He could risk but thirty dollars
his own wages for this purpose.
He was about to give up the plan when
he dwarf said, kindly: Haiut you got
he money, my boy? Never mind. I'll
put up what you can't Nick Mar sint
Ifraid to back up his figuring with
,oin.
R,lph gladly accepted the proposition.
nd having deposited bis thirty dollars
yi'h Mr., Higgins. Nick Mar became re'
ponsible for the rest, aud The work OF fell
ne the Tower Of Babel began.
ID telling large redwood tree, . deep
,otcb. called the under cut. is chopped 10
he trunk. facing the direction IN which
/ is to fall. Then ring Of the thick,
ough bark is removed entirely around
be tree, snd two men saw into the other
ide horizohtally, with q long cross cut
sw, uutil the tree breaks { II aud falls. II
tree begins 10 lean the wrong way long
tetl wedges ere driven into the saw cut
0 force il over.
Nick Mar and Big jim first erected .
taging, 80 that they could cut the tree st
be height Of twelve feet. But even there
he diameter was so great that they we're
bligei TO cut two notches. each four and
ne bali feet deep 81 right angles with the
nder cut This reduced the diameter
rom side to side to nine feet. sod barely
nsbied them TO saw the tree with . ten
DOT saw:
Tupp they reversed the usual order, and
gan The saw Gu, before cboppiug the On
er cut on the ~ hill side. They saved
ITO the tree shout six feet, and Big jim
iih ponderous blows. drove tSeniy long
.eel wedges iuto the ssw cut. This WAS
wedge the tree up firmly. 80 that when
,e under cot WAS made II would not
wing. 4
Theu Nick Mar chopped the under cut. /
landing first 90 the staging. and sfier .
ards ip the rnt itself. be swung bis axe
v tao dsys. ,iil the great yswning notch
a. completed. 4
Al Interested crowd watched the work Z
'om day TO day. Some ~oodmen sus'