The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-11
THE COB-PIPE.
4 TALE OF The COMET CT '45.
1rI.-THE CHOPPING, LoG-KoLLISG'
AND CARDING.
BY DIR. 0. B. MAYER, SR.


BY DIR. o. B. MAYER, SR.
A few days after the occurrences just
related, sleek faced negro belonging
to Captain Joshua Grimm rode through
the neighborhood, stopping at every
house to announce that on the next
Wednesday his master would have a
chopping and log-roliing, and his mis-
tress a cardirg, which the young men
were invited to attend with their axes,
and the young women with their cards
The old people of both sexes We're also
expected to be present, to pass day OF
lieht-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
growths in a tract of heavy forest con-
tanning twenty acres, more or less
leaving the larger trees to be handled
by their friends, when they should as
semble for that purpose on al approach
ing day. The parts Of the fallen timber
which could not be split into rails, or
otherwise utilized, were to be piled for
9uture burning with the brush-heaps.
Taking advantage Of the occasion, Mrs.
Grimm had prepared a large quantity
of cotton which the invited maidens
we're to card into rolls. for the good old
lady and her three daughters to spin
into yarn, at their convenience. The
night was then to be devoted, until
late, 20 merry-making.
All me! it was the last gathering OF
the kind I ever attended. l was the
youngest person among the many that
laughed 50 carelessly that night; and L
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
p heard coming through the still air the
various noises of laborers going to their
work. before the break of day. 90.
By sunrise all the persons summoned
to the chopping and and log-rolling had
assembled in the Captains 'new
gronnd.n He himself soon made his
appearance shere, and rubbing his hands
together in great glee shouted to bis
friends: "Now, boys, git to your work!
Breakfast will be here soon; 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 for
their comfort, and dividing off into
companies began the work of the day
Such tumblingab about oflogs, amidst the
crash of falling trees will never again
be seen and heard in Dutch Folk; nor
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 a pugi'
listic mock combat for the amusement
of the bystanders. Then by common
consent there would be a momentary
suspension from labor, to witness 8
wrestling match between two negroes
or they would pause to listen to a joke
the captain volunteered to tell about bis
triumphing over Jonathan Dummer
when he tried to cut out the Captain in
the courtship that won Mimy Pretze
for his wife;-''and the fool had to sc
and git angry about it." The cd mer
stood about in groups admiring the
feats of strength displayed by theil
sous, and told Of what they had them
selves done in the days of their prime.
The venerable Ulrich Eckerfeld, s
practical joker to his last day, stepped
up to Mark Meyer, and slapping hin
upon the back asked him, if it was pos
sible he could thiuk of doing day!
work so soon after holding Nancy
Halberdoppels on his lap whole night
and then the old fellow would explode
into an asthmatic laugh that threaten
ed to terminate his eXiste: ce on tht
spot.
ooh, it's no use for Mark to tell sict
story as that" said young man o
such size and strength as would force
MAIN W lahS III SOoN pau "heleo'eA LIN
might say; abe was wust skeered no.
Nancy; and eff you will all believe my
racket, it was him wat sot on Nancy
lap instid Of her settin' on his'n.'
Then the hills echoed back the peals o
laughter indulged in at Mark Meyer
expense.
Thus the day wore on from breakfas
time until late in the afternoon, whel
the dinner horn sounded at the house
at first so softly as scarcely to be heard
but gradually swelling into a fulnes
unsurpassed by any note ever attempt
ed by Gambati or Herr koenig.
"Never mind the rest, boys"' ex
claimed the Captain; ''dinner is ready.
Handspikes are thrown away, axe
are shouldered, and, after several NOR
boxing and wrestling matches, not t