Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-23
OLD MOSINEE TOM.
Copyright, 1894. by Bachelor. johnson
Bachellerl

The lumbermen who trailed their way
up the river passed through tamarack
swamps SO thick deer could scarcely
penetrate them, and over dry ridges
clothed with splendid pine without
underbrush, clean as park and of in
estima BILE value.
Old Mosinee mountain rose oat of the
wide, green reach of the valley, dark
with his robe of pines. All about was
forest land untouched by the az. al
most untraversed by the pioneers rest
less foot
But year by year the loggers pushed
northward, seeking points where the
pine trees could be felled into the river,
or where sideways could be constructed
to make hauling unnecessary. The
whole river had been ransacked and
every favorable river point stripped Of
It's timber before the movement back
into the forest began. From short
hauls and heavy timber the r,ovement
was toward long hauls and smaller
timber. Each year the attack widened
as well as heightened it's battle line
against the pines.
Two young boys from La Crosse coun-
ty in 1859 pushed up the river to Gin
ny Bull falls" and being attracted by
old Mosinee mountain planted their
camp at its foot and set about prepara-
tons for winter They were be-
yond any other camp so far as they
knew, and when they blazed out
trail in September they had before
them great deal of stern labor.
They had hay to cut in the marshes,
wood to clear out and shanties to build.
They We're sturdy young fellows, OF
that indomitable sort raised up in
America to do such work in face of
everything.
Holland was a bridegroom of only
three months duration, and his wife
was expected to be the cook for the
camp when the SHOWS came and work
of logging actually begun. He was
tall, young fellow, with broad, fiat,
but powerful, chest, very erect and
active.
Miller, his companion, was a short
man, inclined to be fat when food and
sleep were plenty. He was forever
grumbli G, and yet was great joker,
He assumed great airs at times, and
told how well he lived at home. This
he did when it would embarrass the
cook. He was, in fact, comedian.
The work was hard, the fare mo-
notonous, aid his patience really gave
out during severe sickness which
came upon him during October. He
came to be about again, but he
grumbled about Hollands cooking
more and more.
II don't want to say anything against
your cookin', Hank. It's good, what
there is oft, but I'd like to have the
boys turn up with Mrs. Holland and
some grub"
you don't want to see her any
worse than do, old man"
"Of course not"
"You ought to stand it if can," Uol
land concluded.
Miller turned his slap-jack over twice
before he cut it and began eating.
"Seems to me these things git leath-
erer N leatherer every day. l may he
mistaken"
He worked his jaws meditatively on
the problem.
"All in y'r eye; they're right up to
highwater mark. You're n little of
y'r feed, l guess-Lampers down or
something"
In secret Holland was little bit
worried about his partner. 10
changed the subject. II heard a rifle
to-day, Jack! Off to the north"
doc Adams, guess"
"No; the Doc. wouldn't be up here
so soon as that. It's some other
party"
Miller took little interest in this, but
worked away stubbornly on his slap,
jacks. Suddenly his jaws stiffencd
and his eyes distended.
Blank, look Mere!'
Holland turned to the window, and
saw the huge furry head, alert ears and
pointed muzzle of a bear, wistfully
looking in.
1.-THE rifle" he whispered.
Miller raised his hand to feel for the
rifle on the wall behind him, but the
bear vanished so silently and swiftly
it was hard to think there had been a
bear there at all.
AS Miller leaped for the rifle Holland
flung the door open, and q broad path
Of light streamed out toward the for.
est, and in the midst of it was huge
rounded shadow, shambling swiftly
away.
Quick! There he goes, frer'
Miller pulled up and fred at the
vanishing shadow. And, like the echo
of the shot, came another report from
the edge of the clearing and cry
from man beyond the circle of light.
"'Y CORY, we've got i'm. Bring q
lantern"
Miller dashed In for the lantern
while Holland waited for the voice to
embody itself.
II wish had oil Zip here, we'd have
that Teller shores aigs," continued the
voice, now getting near the house.
As the light from the shanty shone
on him the stranger appeared a mid
dle-aged man, very tall, with ragged
beard. He had long and well-kept
rifle in his hands.
.,IN.1