The San Francisco call., 1896-10-18

jeopardiZing my toes. TO say nothing OF
knocking itself out of plumb and making
one cornerpost go into terrible SKEW
wabble. thought it all out and decided
that my correct course was TO go and hnd
man to come and help me. What are
men for if not to help women-new as well
as old-out of their ditficuities2 So l
sought out clever craftsman, who came,
as clever craftsmen always do when ap-
pealed to, and together we raised that
plate. He was very good, and only did
what was absolutely necessary, respecting
to the fullest my determination to do it
all myself, but he gave me some valuable
ADVICE about running up my ridgepole,
and when the plate was secured he stood
contemplating my work with smile
which promptly challenged. "Oh, it's all
right" he explained. Il was only smiling
to think you did it." and 1 was fain to ac-
cent the explanation.
The next day sawed my wall and roof
boards into the proper lengths and found
to my delight the right use of the ripsaw
in filing in chinks. To put them in place
was mere child's play. Close beside the
house grew the two great oaks that shell
tered me through so many restful hours.
While the house was built upon the ground
the slope of the hill was so steep that the up
per branches of these trees reached around
and over my little building. So. screwing
hinges upon the side nearest the trees l
stayed and cross-stayed it, and then sawed
out a large square, which, turned up and
securely hooked to the inside OF the roof,
left window that actually opened into
the tree. On the side looking out toward
the valley and the gate window ran the
whole broadside of the house, opening by
the simple process of sliding one sash
past the other. [ made my door OF
inch redwood, putting it up with two pairs
Of heavy strap hinges, and then sawed it
across SO that the upper half swings open
independently of the lower. My funds did
not allow for locks and iatches, SO wooden
buttons secured it. To batten walls and
roof was an easy task, and at the end of
week my summer residence stood snug
and tight ready for its furnishing.
The greater part of these were in
cluded in the estimate of SO 65 Across
one end of it's single room built pine
bench, six feet long by three feet wide. I
covered the wall back of this and at the
two ends with barley sacks, tackled se-
curely and finished with strip OF lath all
around. A mattress, with cover Of bar
ley sacks, made comfortable couch, and
within the curtaned recess was endless
storage-room. Above the couch I put
long shelf TO hold few dishes and some
absolutely necessary books. A low stool,
two small benches and table, all made
by me, constituted the rest of the furni-
ture. The table and floor were covered,
like the couch, with the ever useful barley
sacks. Two curtained shelves in one cor
ner made capital cupboard, and just
outside the door, on place leveled for
the purpose, rustic tripod held my camp
kettle in place over my kitchen fire. The
benevolent old oak lent its sturdy sides
to hold frying pans and tlns never re-
senting the pegs driven into its bark for
that purpose, and clear. fresh water
trickled, free as air, from little spring
Just below. What more could heart de-
sire2
Companionship2 In the early days of
my stay up there small brown toad
came to dwell with Ine. The place had
been overrun with spiders before his ad-
vent. but he cleared them all out and
knighted him, clubbing him the Guardian
of nv private peace" Birds came and
nested In the oak trees. and after they de-
cided thai was quite harmless would
even venture in through the open window
and help themselves from my table. /
Once a ground-squirrel paid me a lengthy
visit. and stray iackrabbit made his