The Indianapolis journal., 1896-09-06
THE WOOD HAULER.
One of the Odd Characters Found
Within Reach of Country Towns.

The most faithful rural visitor to most
of our Western towns is the wood hauler.
Early and late, throughout all seasons and
in every kind of weather he is on hand
with his scant wagon load of stove wood.
Noting his apparently tireless persever-
ance, one is apt to look upon him as an
extremely industrious man. Yet, paradox
ical as it may seem, the fact is that this
very persistence is in itself mark of i'm
providence and shiftlessness. A more ener-
getic man would endeavor to increase his
output in fair weather and thus be enabled
to avoid the daily necessity of toiling in
rain and snow. But the wood hauler is
satisfied with the immediate present. He
has no tomorrow, and his yesterdays are
few and far away. He belongs to that
easy-going ilk which Western writer has
termed the branch water folk from the
characteristic fact that they never dig
wells, but depend upon the nearest brook
for their water supply. His team consists
of light sorrel mule and a fiea-bitten
mare who droops her head and tail as do
all horses compelled to work side by side
with their low-born hybrid cousins The
inseparable companion of this ilI-sorted
pair of equines is a squatty, tailless bulldog.
In their numberless Journeys to and fro he
trots along just in advance of the team, ex-
cepI WllHIn the corporate limits OF the
town, where he invariably assumes a posi-
ton between the rear wheels of the wagon
The wicked city is to the dog as to the
wood haulers ten-year- son, who al
ways accompanies him-a place of tempta-
tion, of viciousness and contumely. There
are city-bred dogs and boys that take de-
light in decoying, fleeing and ridiculing
their rustic relatives. So for the most part
the country bulldog keeps close to the
wagon when in town, with one sharp ear
ever turned upon the pack of terriers at his
heels, and the country boy likewise strives
to avoid all contact with his urban cousins
But woe to the city dog that grows over
bold and the town boy who becomes too
presumptuous, for when rustic Drawn
chooses to assert itself among dogs or men
it is apt to prove invincfble.
The wood hauler himself is a quiet con-
tented man of few words and fewer ideas
His wants are chiefly physical and are sup
piled by cornbread, bacon and beans with
tobacco between meals and an occasional
glass of liquor. His dress is limited in
summer weather to a blue-checked shirt
and pair of brown overalIs
with no underalls Whatsoever in
winter these garments are supple
mented by various superficial addi-
tions to the number of three or four. His
HOlIe Is III the TdSSeu SQSe OF the woods
several miles from town. There he has
erected log cabin of three nominal rooms
two of which are separated from each
other by a purely imaginary partition,
which he intends to render substantial
some day. He also expects to daub the
chinks in the south wall next summer if he
has good luck. In each corner of the main
building is heavy bedstead, which, per-
haps, is of more interest to the ethnologist
than to u.s. and a miniature stove stands
upon one leg and three bricks in the mid
die of the room. The walls are festooned
with old clothes and crinkling rows of
half-cured long green tobacco hang from
the low ceiling. There Is a peculiar pun
gent, greasy odor of smoked bacon per-
vading the premises and clinging to the
occupants so persistently that / am in
clined to believe it sometimes exudes from
their skin. BY its means | have occasion
ally scented the wood hauler in the midst
of the woodland. miles from home and
have been enabled to locate him as un-
erringly the pointer finds the covey of
quail A visit to the wood hauler's abode
cannot be made without ones seeing some
thing of his large, .luxuriant family of
children.
The casual caller may not have the op-
portunity to study them, for like all wood
land fauna, they are shy and retiring. On
the approach of stranger they disappear
precipitately and mysteriously as a
flock of ledgling quail, squatting among
the weeds lodging behind the house on
the instant. In the summer time, however
there is certain element of modesty as
well as timidity in their flight, for they
are likely to be very simply attired-large-
ly, in fact, in the tawny garment nature
gave them. But if the visitor chances to
prolong his stay their innate, sylvan cur
iosity gradually gets the better of them
and they begin to reappear simultaneously
from all sides. tiny, tow-headed urchins
gingerly holding up their trousers, big-eyed
little maids carefully holding their scanty
skirts down. all innocent. eager-eyed fawns
-nymphs no one could call then-fuli of
the gentle, sturdy. healthful life of the
forest. Their mother. withered, care
worn, yet altogether careless wisp of a