The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-12-09
An Impromptu Pine Cutter.
ny GERTRUDE ELoIsE DEALER.

and shadows to her rs n painting Of
ono of the old masters.
The present days were employed in
the fashioning of dainty garments, in
n preparation for wedding not far
distant. With every stitch went n
thought of the piny woods where she
had found what she felt to be her life's
happiness.
She had gone to visit friend
in South Georgia, whose cultured
home lay Just on the outskirts OF
n small village. She had returned ful |
of wonder that few short weeks
could hold such joy.
The first portion of her visit was
spent in idly enjoying all the delight
ful languor created by the climate;
then she reused herself, and, in n
whole-hearted way, joined in the plans
formed for her entertainment.
Such novel affairs these appeared to
her, fresh from her conventional city
home. One evening there was an oyster
roast in great yard. Both sat upon
pile Of adjacent lumber, and ate
with decided relish the oysters brought
to her in quick succession by her rus
tic admirers. The large logs burned
with cheerful glow. and allowed no
closed oyster shell to remain long on
its warm bed without revealing its
inmost secrets. There were dances
characteristic of the surroundings, and
tho rough fddler's notes lent light
ness to her feet which the most select
city orchestra failed to impart. 1t
was all delightful. That which pleased
her most OF all was to drive through
the piny woods and over the sandy
road for hours at time. The tall
pines whispered softly their gladness
that here at least no ice king ruled
over the trees and the flowers. The
white soil glistened with the suns
rays, as IL its broad bosom were
decked with precious stones.
A few weeks after Beth's arrival in
Jesup. having expressed desire to
visit turpentine farm, her friend
Mrs. Leigh planned winter picnic to
the most interesting still in the sur
rounding country. 1t was owned and
operated by two brothers, Ralph and
Herbert Landell, who, five years be-
fore. had come from North Carolna.
Both brothers werc unmarried. The
elder was forty years OF age, and an
interval of twelve years lay between
his and tho younger brothers age.
The Landells were old friends OF Mrs.
Leigh, and they entered into the
scheme for her guests enjoyment with
much pleasure.
On the appointed day quite n crowd
OF young people went out on this pic
mic frolic. 1t fell to Herbert's lot to
be Beth's guide over the interesting
portion Of the farm. after the party
had dined in the kitchen -dining-room
OF the little log house. He showed
her the hands busy at work cutting
deep gashes in the trunks of tho pines
30 that in the approaching spring the
sap would collect for its useful pur-
pose. The workmen piled their chop
ping to an accompaniment of weird
song, the melody of which We'd in
sweetness with the notes OF neigh
boring mocking-bird. The immense
turpentine still lay near by, silent.
The huge, serpent-like copper pipes
served at present only as tunnels to
facilitate the travel of the varied fami-
lies OF Creeping things ever on the
move. Before many months, how
ever, all this would be changed.
There would be instead the whir of
the machinery and the hum of life.
Heat applied to the boiler would
cause the pine sap to bubble and boil
and two new substances would appear
the condensed vapor forming the sal
able turpentine, and the residue the
rosiu.
Herbert informed Beth that after
this was accomplished he and his
brother and the hands were kept ex.
tremely busy, packing and shipping
the barrels Of their goods to different
points. She grew thoroughly inter-
ested In the work.