The St. Johns herald., 1900-08-04

air Of quizzical condescension, as ii
 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 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 10 work.
 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. The, were prepared to stay all day. l felt like asking them if they had brough their lunch with them, but soon founG that had no breath to waste on words
 Aunt Alice came over, had a chan brought. produced her knitting, ant told me how men used to saw wood when she was young.
 But there were others. The neigh bors stroIled over to see the sport, ano leaned on the front fence, while their children took turns in parties of six swinging on the gate.
 It takes but little to draw crowd.
 By noon half of the town was watch ing the strange sight of a man saw ing wood. They were an orderly crowd and stood there in breathless silepc. They did not attempt to guy me, as expected they would. They seemed be merely dazed at the unusual sigh; AS time wore on, and they grew tires of standing, more and more of theE leaned upon the fence, until at last went down, carrying the gate and al souls aboard with it. The wreck wa, complete, but there was 10 loss of life for which l was thankful. 1t was m tauit, ot course, being the owner C the renee, that it was not strong enoug. to support the weight of three huma. beings 10 the linear foot, and if anyon, had been seriously hurt would hay, been sued for damages.
 If you have never sawed wood. don't try. It is the hardest professional work in the world. As an exercise ii is to be commended, but as work, it is to be avoided, summed, cast off, given to the poor. There is no muscle that ii does not tire, no bone that it does DO, break. In half an hour was so weak 1 could have dropped.
 Stick to it." whispered Jane.
 Don't give it up,' said Laura.
 These two sisters were Spartans Tt incarnated-at least, for that day They did not know the torture to which they were subjecting me. It was aw fuI.
 "If could only do something eIse,' l thought, as bent my tired back over the saw and worked it with almost pal sled arms, just for little while ever, now and then, believe l could put through the day.
 l looked appealingly at Alex. H. merely glanced back with a sardoni, smile.
 The Spartan sisters noticed my ac. ton.
 "Stick to it," whispered Jane, again
 Don't give it up," repeated Laura.
 It was the author of the monograph i who saved my life that day. In somt 1 way or other she knew and understood ] Perhaps she had learned to saw wood Nassar. At any rate, just as was abo,E l 10 collapse, Cicely dropped wash ! basin from her kitchen window with u i little shriek.
 Don't go after it. Mfr. Wilson," she l cried, "l'll run downstairs and get it.
 But she did not start to run. On tn, she remained in the window | md winked most prodigiously. saw : he point, and started for the basin 
 "Never mind! I'll get it for you, an1 i bring it up-I know you're tired"
 But Alex jumped up also.
 "Let me get it." he said. springine i .oward the basin. I'm not as tired as ither of you. I'll take it up to her."
 "Oh. mo-" answered.; "I'll do it. Yos must be awfully tired from sitting or he grass in that awkward position"
 "Not at all" he answered. "I insist.
 ''So do l insist" replied.
 But you cant climb the stairs or ven work the elevator with that cramp n your back, and that dull. tired, stiff ceiling in your arms and lePs," he went n.
 "I am as fresh as daisy" replied
 By this time we were both graspine he pan and struggling for the posses. ion Of ii. He was bound to see his joke trough and make me stick at the Tood-sawing until dropped from sheer l was determined not to i've him that oportunity 10 use it. Ht tooG with the weight of his Dody rest lg on one foot and the other advanced arelessly. stepped in. caught the nkle of the leg which supported him in he crook of my opposite foot. and. with twist. threw him backward to the round.
 To my shame and regret. was more lccessful than expected to be. Alex's cad struck the stone border of our 'ng walk, and he was knocked sense. .ss. Perhaps it was fortunate that the ccident happened, for Circly confided ) me that she intended to set the house . fire if the dishpan trick of hers did ot work. As it was. Alex soon re- ovcred. and l got good rest for the Of the morniDg.-From "An experimental Wooing." E. R. Herrick
 American Soldiers Praised. The haba1,;or of 4bo A,,.o,;oo, ro1 |