Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-03-23
CHAPTER Y.

Early In the summer preceding the hap
penings here narrated, n good, d0uce,
middlc-agcd Scot, on his way from Edin-
bro to Ohio-whcrc he expected to pur-
chase land--stopped for a visit among the
Camcrons OF Elder township. TO whom
he claimed some distant relationship. The
beauty and fertility of the country. In the
Raccoon Creek Valley particularly. and
the presence here of numbers who at
least "kncw his forbcars." and were pre-
sumably kin to him, brought about Il
change In his plans and instead OF going
Oh to "the Western Reserve" us he had
intended, Roger McFarlane bought Il
half.section OF good. though unimprovcd,
farming lnnd from the widow Cameron
Johns mother-and settled down. He
was bachelor, upon the verge OF being
classed as an "old" one, and arranged TO
live ut the widow Cameron's until such
time as he could build home for him.
self on his own acres, an achievement
that he feared would be far enough of to
give him more than ample time to find
a mistress for that home among the bux.
ON lassies Astounding In the neighbor.
hood.
Acquainted only with the hard individ.
ual struggle and sharp competitive strife
Of existence In the old world, Mr.. Nc.
Farlane had no idea Of the common help
fulness by which our early settlers
brought their cooperative forces to bear
for the accomplishment Of their heaviest
tolls, such as would have been beyond the
strength and means of individuals. Hence
he arrived, by careful calculation, at the
conclusion that 1t would take him about
two years Of hard, unremitting toll to
erect a suitable house and barn and to
clear a couple Of tillable fields. OF
course, that time might be considerable
shortened, II he could make up his mind
to hire help, but he was 10th to mar,
with the 'siller" In hand and brayely
made up his mind to do himself all tina,
was possible for him, employing assist.
ance only In the absolutely needful work
of raising the heavy logs Of which the
buildings would be constructed, Job
necessarily fur in the future.
John Cameron, seeing chance for such
a surprise party as does not occur twice
in mans lifetime, took care not TO en-
courage Roger to any different hope, and
readily won the cooperation of all who
came TO know and consequently to like
Scot, in keeping him from even suspi
cion of what was in store for him. Ant
all through the summer and fall Roger
worked steadily on, under Johns con
slant advice, Upon so much of his Lane
as he proposed to clear, he cut down tn,
trees, trimmed them, burned the brusl
and chopped the logs according to thei
adaptability for building, fencing or fire
wood. lie even "r0ugh-sQuarcd" thos,
intended for the house, John having ad
vised him to do so in order that the.
might be better seasoned when he cam,
to build. And he chose the site for hi
new home, which John approved.
One cold and brilliantly clear Decembe
morning Roger McFarlane was ineXpres
sibly astOnshed. He had just commenc
ed telling huge white oak tree, whel
half a dozen neighbors gathered abou
him. Hardly had he exchanged greeting
with them when several more joined tn
group, aud before he could express hi
surprise more came trOOping In from al
directions, until he saw around him som
forty stalwart men, provided with axes
cant-hooks, handspikes, horses, bob-sleds
log-chains and other tools and appliance
tor clearing and building. With them, Q