The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-09-01

iOoheu at III from q diff
aeient point OF view. She declared that
WASH strong enough for sucb wort
ana that 1T was shame for Laura 20
permit me to do it," At this Ta,r,
looked so blank that / bastepad a.
assure her that 1 was quite strong
enough 1or the work; in fact. that If
would be only mild exercise for mo
such as L was accustomed 10 ar COL
iege and before.
Alex merely looked at mo .;,,
amusement when / told him. with an
arr OF quizzieal condescension as :,
were. 40 ~
But Jane slapped me ON the back and
whispered in my ear:
Good for you! and stick to II ;f;,
breaks your back"
1 had not thought of my back before
IN the matter. Her remark worried mo
Just trifie on that account. Rnt
otherwise the speech was full of on.
couragement and worthy of the sis
ter OF my Laura.
ih6 L NtIl 10 WORK.
Alex and his wife came over and took
seats on the grass to watch me at NV
WORK, The former brought his min.
and the latter some fancy work. They
were prepared to stay all day. 7 fell
IKE 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 a chair
brought, produced her knitting. and
told me how men used to saw wood
when she was young.
But there were others. The neigh.
oors 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 n 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 GREATNESS silence.
lhey did not attempt to guy me. as
expected they would. They seemed to
De 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 II
went down, carrying the gate and all
souls aboard with it. The wreck was
complete, but there was no loss of life
Tor which | was thankful. 1t was nv
fault, OF course, being the owner of
the fence, that was not strong enough
to support the weight of three human
beings to the linear foot, and if anyone
had been seriously hurt l would have
been sued for damages.
If yoq have never sawed wood. don't
try. 1t is the hardest professional
work In the world. AS an exercise it is
to be commended, but as work. it is
to be avoided, stunned, cast off, given
to the poor. There is no muscle that if
does not tire, no bone that it does not
break. In half an hour was so weak
| could have dropped.
stick to 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 it with almost pal
sled arms, lust for little while every
now and then, believe l could pull
through the day"
l looked appealingly at Alex. He
merely glanced back with a sardonic
smile.
The Spartan sisters noticed my ac-
ton.
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 It
Vassar. At any rate. just as was about
to collapse, Cicely dropped a wash
basin from her kitchen window with .
little shrek.
Don't go after it, Mr.. Wilson," she
cried, III run downstairs and get it,
But she did not start to run. On the
contrary, she remained in the window
and winked most prodigiously. saw
the point, and started for the basin,
shouting:
"Never mind. I'll get it for you, and
bring it up-I know you're tired"
But Alex jumped up also.
Let me get it, he said, springing
toward the basin. I'm not as tired as
either of you. I'll take it up to her"
"Oh, no." answered; I'll do it. You
must be awfully tired from sitting on
the grass in that awkward position
''Not at ALL" he answered. Il insist"
$50 do insist" l replied.
But you can't climb the stairs or
even work the elevator with that cramp
in your back, and that dull, tired, stiff
feeling in your arms and legs" he vent
on.
81 am as fresh as a daisy" replied.
Bv this time we were both graspiDg
the pan and struggling for the posses
sion of ii. lie was bound TO see his joke
through and make me stick at the
JrOnnad from hppr