The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-10-12
There was nothing in my agreement
with her TO prohibit that.

You'll find the best bucksaw in town
hanging on that nail over there. When
you find blisters on your hands, just
go right on as if nothing had happened.
After awhile your hands will get used
gloves any more"
81 think" / answered, with some
hesitation, "that I'll take my work
home with me-"
''What?'' he roared. Take your
work home with you? What do you
think you're doing-plain sewing or
washing and ironing? You're big
ger fool than thought you WERE"
''Not at ALL" / answered, getting
rather angry. II prefer to do the work
at home, and if I pay for having the
wood drawn to my house and back
again surely you can have no objec-
ton"
The coal and wood man uttered pro-
longed whistle.
''Well, you are queer one," he said.
"But il doesn't make any difference to
me where you do the work SO long as
you do it. And if you want to pay for
having it drawn back and forth, why
that's Just SO much more business for
my teams. But / don't see how you're
going to make living going at it that
way"
/ did not try to enlighten him, but
closed the bargain at once, and that
afternoon his teams began hauling
wood to our yard.
"You see,'' I said to Laura, when l
explained matters to her, ''by this ar
rangement l can be near you all day
long. And then saving wood is nice,
clean work, and will be splendid ex-
| ercise."
The dear girl saw the point at once,
and approved my decision heartily.
She even tore up two of her flower beds
| to make room for me to work in near
| the house.
When informed of the state of affairs
the author OF the monograph remarked
that ''it would give me an awful appe-
tie" and looked despairingly at the
cook book.
"Feed me on bacon,' said, encourag-
ingly. ''They say it's splendid for
workingmen, and, besides, can use the
rind on the saw"
Aunt Alice looked at it from diff
ferent point of view. She declared that
II wasn't strong enough for such work,
| and that it was a shame for Laura to
permit me to do it," At this Laura
looked so blank that l fastened to
assure her that / was quite strong
enough for the work; in fact, that it
would be only mild exercise for me,
such as 1 was accustomed to at col
lege and before.
Alex merely looked at me with
amusement when l told him, with an
air of quizzical condescension, as it
were.
But Jane slapped me on the back and
whispered in my ear:
"Good for you! and stick to it, if it
breaks your back
had not thought of my back before
in the matter Her remark worried me
just a trifie on that account. But
otherwise the speech was full of en-
couragement and worthy of the sis
ter of my Laura.
The next morning went to work.
do not like to receive visitors when
/ am engaged in my professional duties
1t will be seen that l regard wood
saving as profession. 1t is. 1t 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 at 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 foun6
that had no breath to waste on words
Aunt Alice came over, had chail
brought, produced her knitting, and
told me how men used to saw woot
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 saving party
I wish I could have made it progres
sive wood-sawing party. Perhaps Ale.
and Mr.. Dickson would not hav'
, grinned so much. They would have ha,
: to take their turn.
, But there were others. The neigh
+ bors strolled over to see the sport. an.
leaned ON the front fence, while thei
> children took turns in parties of 81,
swinging on the gate.
, 1t takes but little to draw crowd.
I BY noon half of the town was watch
l ing the strange sight of man saw
, iag wood. They were an orderly crowd
= and stood there in breathless silence
A They did not attempt to guy me, as
| expected they would. They seemed +
e BE- merely dazsd at the unusual sigh,
e AS time wore on, and they grew tire,
I Of standing, more and more of then
t leaned upon the fence, until at last j
: went down, carrying the gate and al
! souls aboard with it. The wreck wa
r complete, but there was no loss of life