The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-22
bringing Out the Grain.

VuL tAc
sNo, didn't forget exactly, but the
truth is, I'm tired of always having
to say things Just SO. don't see why
land all the rest of the boys should
not haye noses shaped just alike, or
eyes the same shade, or precisely the
same tone Of voice,l as that l should
always be expected to say and 90
things Just as some other people 40,
because it's polite Suppose it wasn't
polite to have red hair, must l dye
smineW
The tone in which Rob asked TINS
was An aggrieved one. Indeed, ne
thought himself a much abuseu ooy,
that the rules of good breeding, snoulu
be so often mentioned in bis nearing.
He rather prided himself on having
shis own way of saying ana uoihg
things, and always thought that the
way that came easiest to him was
something that ought not to be inter-
-fered with-like the shape of his nose
Eor the color of his hair. Perhaps there
shavebeen other boys like HIM who
have the habit of saying, ooh! that is
Just my way and can't help it, as
auexeuse for actions that were rude. =.
eIf YOU have time now, Rob-" said
sUncle Marshall, suppose we 90 out 10
the shop aud pick out some timber for
: that aled I promised. to build you."
Rob was more than glad to do this,
5 both because he was interested i'll the
sled, and because it would give MIN
s an opportunity to escape the rateo
subject of manners.
I'll right" he said, 'I'll be along
You're going to the mill for some
lumber, suppose"
.sI thought of using this" his uncle
answered, handing down from the
j0ists OF the unceiled shop some rougf
pieces of split timber.
ssNot that way!' Rob SAID IN al
astonisE ed tone.
Why, you see, this it just the way
thelr; natural way. You c0ulun
expect them to be in the shape the tlm
bers ia all other sleds are, could YOU!
Rob looked puzzled for minute ne
had forgotten something else III hls
1nterest In his sled.
But you're certainly going to shave
them down aud plane them square
Tosay nothing about the looks, ths
sfed would run that much smoother
for being planed."
Oh-ony said Uncle Marshall "et
the natural way is not always the bes
WaFY 1T makes difference about tint
Z seriSoothuess with which one gel!
through life, does it?'
Rob saw the point now, but chose
not to notice it. lit reduces the frlc
ton against the SNOW, you know, ant
the sides Of the runners sometime
rln against the Isnow almost as muct
al the bottom" >.
sts Yes, reduces friction, and that Il
F6ne good thing in favor of making al
sled runners square no matter In VIVA
shape they grow in the woods. won
der III the rule applies to anything els'
-if 1nff6rm fashion in some things
reduce the amount or frictioI
hich q boy can get through life
i, there's another thing abou
Iiele; as this is very fine wood, !
smooth it up it gives chance L
6tiish It SO as to bring out the grain"
ITO bring out the grain?" repeated
Sshis uncle.
slN on see I have friend in a towr
s who works in furniture factory, and
: ssvou$ do not know what a difference j.
makes in piece of wood just to bring
SSont the grain" :,
6 aBnt Il is very hard work. should
!. think that if it had been intended tt
have the grain brought out, as you
: say, IL would have been out in the first
place. Don't J ou think that the bark
locks prettier than the grain?'
sstflo, and I don't think any one else
Gould say that. The bark might dc
or fence posts, but for tables and
Ind line Office desks they have to rub
lad rub, oil and oil, varnish and var
Ish. to make fine, glossy surface,
hard that you can hardly scratch ii
srheE. the wood in its natural state,
Wf~ the bark and roots, on, is only
or fence-posts and other rough uses.
suppose it must be the same with
1hef things, too. There was young
feliow who went up to the city from
here TO get q position. He was bright
u figures and quick and ambitious,
tuts he came back within week, and
heard that he was so rough in his
beech that he drove customers away
tom the store. suppose he was only
for a. fence post, and not for the
er uses. He hadn't had the grain
bught out, had he Rob?"
dsnppese he hadn't had any sort
bringing up" said Rob, little
EASILY, for he had been fighting shy
fhst subject,
sWnn mean the rubbing you spoke
He had the chance to have the
lin brought out, but Pm told ne
yer would stand the rubbing.
suppose If the wood had feelings it
kouId oppose being oiled and rubbed
i: the way you tell about it, wouldn't
ST would rather have the ragged
booking bark in which nature clothed
SIC and be itself wouldn't it?"
Rob WINGED good deal, but he had
drawn himself into the subject, and
: slle did not zee how to avoid it now.
Soshe bravely said, "If were piece
I of oak, / guess wouldn't mind about
Ffhe rubbing if 1t would make all the
aiHbrer,ce between fence-post and an
- desk. I'D tell 'em to rub away,
pffn aRd bear it the bess could"
Good for you, Rob"' said Uncle
Marshall approvingly, patting the boy
Ien the shoulder; that means a bar
3vain; this isn't to be fence post sled,
hut mahogany polish. And sou see
THAT the material you have gets the
Kind of finish, and nothing
aid about rubbing Oh either side.
bargain?" =,
"a bargain" said Rob. And
he walked back to the house,
sa sai0 50 himself, ''If I'd a-knOwn