Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-07-29

toned scow, on which was built low
house, ten feet long and sik wide. This
house contained but single room; and
beyond 1t, at either end, the deck Of the
iscow projected about four feet. At each
'end OF the house was a door, and on
each side square hole or window that
iclosed with a wooden shutter.
; At the stern was steering
ioar, as has been stated. 1t hung
ion q swivel and its long handle
projected up over the end of the roof, on
which the steersman stood. From each
! side Of the roof hung a long, heavy
sweep, by means Of which the craft
might be slowly propelled, or turned in
ANY desired direction. When not in
iusc, the lower ends Of these could be
lifted from the water by ropes attached
to their blades, and fastened to the sides
Of tho house A rude ladder reached
; from each of tho little end decks TO the
! top Of the roof. The whole affair was
strong and in good conditions; but rough
and unpainted.
! When 1t came down with the flood and
stranded on the river bank, it contained
nothing in the shape Of furniture save
icouple OF rude hunks built against the
isides, the same number OF rough
benches, and several shelves put up
there and there in convenient corners.
, Uncle Phin had not thought of max
ing use OF this stranded craft when he
first found 1t among the trees that he
was marking to be cut down for fire
wood. Ho slept in 1t ono night, and
merely regarded 1t as q convenient shell
tier that he could occupy when working
in that distant and lonely place. When,
however, he and Arthur conceived the
idea of running away, and he made up
his mind that IL they did, it must be to
travel in the direction OF Dalecourt,
vision OF tho little old house-boat
crossed his mind.
! If it could only be got into the water,
and should prove to be tight and sound,
how easy and pleasant it would be to
float down the river on II. Whenever
they had gone as far as they saw fit by
water, they could probably sell the boat
for enough money TO meet their ex-
,penses on the rest Of the journey. 1t
seemed O fine scheme, and Uncle Phia
fastened to lay Ii before Brace Barlow
and ask his advice concerning 1t.
+ Tho young man listened to 1t with
great interest, and then they drove
over 10 take look at the stranded craft.
| After careful examination Bruce said
that. with little calking OF its seams,
I the boat could be made tight and river
worthy, and that Uncle Phin's plan
seemed 10 him n frst-class one. lie
Furthermore offered his own labor, and
the use Of his team, to help prepare the
craft for It's voyage, andget it once more
.afloat.
| This offer was most gladly accepted,
ard the two succeeding days had been
busy ohns for both men and horses. It
was found necessary to mako several
trips back and forth between Brace Bar
lows house and the Ark" as he called
the boat. There they call1cd her open
seams and smeared them thickly with
pitch. They constructed rude track,
OF straight, young tree trunks, from the
boat to the water into which, aided by
rollers, long levers and the horses, they
finally succeeded in launching her.
After this they hadsthe sweeps to make,
and, as they had no stove, Uncle Phin
builta rude fireplace In the. middle Of
sfAnnrs rsnnarrhnn.h hndsof Sthel cabin