Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-07-06
Mr.. MOUSER'S SAWBUCK.

suburbs of large city in the FEATHER
land" His business connections wer'
OF such nature that he was usually
at leisure otter four O'Clock in thu
afternoon.
Mr.. Mouser rrided himself on beins
man OF originality and brains. Mr.
Mouser also liked a little joke-at
other peoples expense.
1t was Autumn. Mr.. Mouser had
just laid in goodly supply OF winter
fuel. Wood was chiefly used for this
purpose in the land OF Mr.. Mouser's
birth.
Sitting by the window OF his cosy
living-room, enjoying a royal smoke
from the long-stemmed porcelain pipe,
Mr.. Mouser watched the wood-sawyer
plying his trade, made easy by long
habit OF handling wood and saw. As
Mr.. Mouser gazed and pondered an
idea crept into his head. 1t was
grasped-as ideas quickly became
captive thers."
"Lizbeth." said he to his wife, cit is
singular never thought OF it before
i generally think OF such things-but
1t strikes me that l could saw that
wood myself"
"Graciousl what an ideal"
"a bright one, isn't it? A big saving,
too! Just see with what ease it is
done-the man cuts through the
sticks as ii he were slicing bread and
butter; besides, l require more exer-
else; my health is not what it has
been"
why, dear, do you feel ill?"
''N-no, but man needs to exert
himself il he does not wish to run
down in muscular power My habits
are too combining; sense OF this fact
has been growing on ME lately. But |
have solved the difficulty while watch.
ing that man play on his saw-iack."
A merry twinkle OF the eyes and
laudable endeavor to maintain Sc
rious expression would have con.
WINGED the beholder that Lizbeth
also had ideas but like a properly re-
spectful wife she kept them to herself
until called for.
tDo you think, Lizbeth, that lit
tie gentle muscular activity is what l
need to stimulate appetizer"
You might paint the house or do
some less tiresome work than wood
saving" replied Mrs. Mouser.
"oh, you underrate my capacities,
my dear. And saving wood is not
such hard work. Come and see how
simply it is done, yet how every mus
Gle Is brought into play. l am en-
chanted with my idea, and shall carry
it out. The man can finish this lob,
but it shall be the last / ever pay Tor.
What think you OF it wife?'
o"Well," laughed the lady demurely,
81 think we shall be obliged to live on
cold vietuals and wear blankets to
keep from freezing. But seriously
dear, you had better consider what
hard labor you are planning for your.
self. If were you l would experiment
on a few cordsticks and assure N.Y.
self that it is as easy as it looks"
''That's just like woman" retort-
ed Mouser, disdainfully; "she never
does anything heroically; she is total
ly incompetent in matters OF physical
calculation. Now | can see lust as
well as if had stood over that mans
saw-jack for an hour the amount of
force required to drive saw through
a stick OF cord-wood. And / declare
to you here and now am going to do
the next load myself. 1t is play; moth
ing but play"
Lizbeth laughed so tantalizingly
that MIR. Mouser turned upon her in a
Hurry OF indignation, saying:
You seem to have your doubts,
madam"
Seeing is believing, sirl"
"Well, you shall see. You ought to
know by this time that | am man
with mind of my own, and when l
say | am going to do a thing do it.
Please bear this in your shallow men
,allty, Mrs. Mouser, that /, your hus.
band, am determined to never more
pay one dollar for wood-sawyer's
hire"
81 am afraid / shall have to do a
little OF the wood-sawing myself, them"
,ravely murmured Mrs. Mouser.
MIR. Mouser meant business. He at
once ordered the very best kind OF a
'aw-jack made. He purchased a
splendid saw, with sharp teeth and |
light frame. He pranced about,
lappy as schooboy, with dabs
u yellow and green paint |
pattered all over his person, until |
inally the saw frame suited him in it's |
bright yellow coat. The saw-iack he
painted lovely light green.
Daily he promenaded impatientIy |
Iround the sheds where the wood was |
tored, and grumbled because the fuel
asted so unusually long. At inter.
'als ne added another coat OF green
'aint to the highly decorated saving.
ack (sawbuck, it is called some
imes), and bade all his acquaintance
md friends come and inspect his
'atent calisthentic toys, until every
me for miles around became familiar
With Mr.. Mouser's green sawing.iack.
At last the longed.for day arrived.
| big load of fine htokory bad -.