The Afro-American advance., 1899-09-09

air of quizxical condescenkieui as tt
were.
But Jane slapped me on the back and
whispered in my ear:
Good for youi and stick to it. If it
breaks your baek."
I had not thought of my back before
] in the matter. Her remark worried me
just a tritie on that account But
otherwise the speech was full of en-
eouragement and worthy of the sis
ter of my Laura.
The next morning went 10 work.
do not like TO receive visitors when
am engaged in my professional duties.
1t will be seen that regard wood
saving as a profession 1t is is
too hard for work. But the public and
my friends did not consider my wishes
in the matter.
Alex and his wife came over and took
seats on the grass TO watch me ut my
| work..The former brought his pipe
| and the latter some fancy work. They
were prepared to stay all day felt
like asking them if they had brought
their lunch with them, but soon found
that had no breath TO waste on words.
Aunt Alice came over. had chair
brought, produced her knitting. and
told me how men used to saW wood
when she was young.
Mr.. Dickson strolled up soon. after,
and the author of the monograph
watched from the window whenever
she could get an excuse to look out.
1t was nice little wood-sawing party.
| wish | could have made it progress
sive wood-sawing party Perhaps Alex
and Mr.. Dickson would not have
grinned SO much. They would have h.-s
| TO take their turn.
But there were others. The neigh
bors strolled over TO see the sport. and
leaned on the front fence, while their
children took turns in parties of six
swinging on the gate.
1t takes but little to draw Il crowd.
by noon half of the town was watch-
ing the strange sight of man saw
| ing wood. They were an orderly crowd,
and stood there in breathless silence.
They did not attempt TO guy me. as l
expected they would. They seemed to
be merely dazed at the unusual sight.
As time wore on, and they grew tired
| of standing, more and more of them
leaned upon the fence. until at last il
went down, carrying the gate and all
souls aboard with it. The wreck WINS
complete, but there was no loss of life,
for which / was thankful. 1t was INV
| fault, of course. being the owner of
the fence. that il was not strong enough
to support the weight of three human
beings to the linear foot, and if anyone
had been seriously hurt | would have
been sued for damages.
If you have never sawed wood, don't
! try. u is the hardest professional
work in the world. As an exercise il il
to be commended, but as work, it is
to be avoided, stunned, cast off. given
to the poor. There is no muscle that il
does not tire, no bone that it does not
break. In half an hour was SO weak
could have dropped.
stick 10 it," whispered Jane.
| Don't give it up" said Laura.
These two sisters were Spartans re-
incarnated-at least, for that day.
| They did not know the torture to which
they were subjecting me- 1t was aw.
| full.
IF could only do something else"
thought, as | bent my tired back over
the saw and worked il with almost PAL
sled arms, "just for little while every
now and then, believe l could pull
through the day"
looked appealingly at Alex. lie
merely glanced back with sardonic
smile.
The Spartan sisters noticed my ac-
| tiOn.
Stick to it," whispered Jane, again.
Don't give it up" repeated Laura.
1t was the author of the monograph
who saved my life that day. In some
way or other she knew and understood.
Perhaps she had learned to saw wood at
Nassar. AtaBy rate. just as | was about
to collapse, Cieely dropped a wash.
basin from her kitchen window with a
little shrek.
Don't go after it, Mr.. Wilson," she
cried, "l'll run downstairs and get IT,"
DHb ShN AiA iuA sNaTt 10 run TN tHa
contrary, she remained in the window
and winked most prodiglously. saw
the point, and started for the basin,
shouting:
"Never mind! I'll get ii for you. and
bring il up--I know you're tired"
But Alex jumped up also.
Let me get it," he said. sprlnging
toward the basin. I'm no. as tired as
either Of you. I'll take it up TO her"
"oh, no." answered; "I'll do it. You
must be awfuIIy tired from sitting on
the grass in that awkward position"
mot at all" he answered. II insist"
$50 do insist" replied.
"But you can't climb the stairs or
even work the elevator with that eramp
in your back. and that dull. tired. stitf
feeling in your armsand legs" he went
on.
II am as fresh as a daisy" replied.
BY this time we were both grasping
the pan and struggling for the posses
sion OF II. lie was bound to see his Joke
through and make me stick at the
wood-sawing until dropped from sheer
exhaustion. ] was determined not 10
give him that opportunity 10 use IT, lie |
stood with the weight OF his body rest |
ing on one foot and the other advanced |
carelessly. ! stepped in. caught the |
Ii S,F