Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-22

clearing was bordered on every side by tall
forests trees, seeming to defy by their males.
tic size the sturdy arms and glitter1ng steel
of the hardy pioneers, who were making them
selves homes in the wilderness
Hugh Archer stout of heart and strong OF
limb. had come into this almost trackless will
derness three or four years before and taken
lot of land covered by splendid growth OF
hard d-rock-maple, birch, beech and
ash. The next settler was nearly mile
away; but this was matter OF little moment
to him.
A portion of ground was cleared, log
cabin built and then he brought his wife,
slight, rather delicate woman, and two boys,
to their primitive home
At first the novelty of the rude surround
ings pleased the boys, and they did all they
could, in their youthful way, to help their
father in his struggles for home OF his
own.
The mother kept the little living-room, at
once parlor, dining-room and kitchen, as neat
as wax, and cheered her broad-shouldered
husband with loving words and pleasant smiles
when came at mealtime, weary with ex-
cessive toll.
Three years passed away, and many q. giant
of the forest bent and toppled beneath the
vigorous blows of the woodsman's axe, their
stately tops surging through the aT as they
fell, with widespread limbs and resounding
crash, to the EARTH
But the eldest boy, Robert, or Rob, was
of delicate build, like his mother, and stout
Hugh Archer could not but see that the toll
some life of backwoodsman was wholly un-
fitted for his slight frame, while Henry, two
years younger, was the exact counterpart OF
his father.
One day in the fall, after the crops were
all harvested, as Mr.. Archer was chopping
a towering maple tree, the wind carried it
back contrary to the way in which it was in
tended to fall, lodging it in another tree that
stood close by.
In attempting to dislodge it the trunk slip
ped from the stump, sliding backward with
great velocity: and before Hugh Archer could
ioned beneath its immense weight, one leg
crushed and mangled as he writhed in agony
upon the ground.
Rob and Henry were close at hand, and
while Rob. ran, with bianched cheeks and
horror-stricken eyes, to tell his mother of
the terrible accident, Henry set to work with
his strong young arms to hberate his suffer
ing father.
Henry was only twelve years old but he
piled the ak with such vigor that when the
frightened woman and her trembling son
reached the spot, the tree was severed and
the weight removed from the injured man
How the feat was accomplished she could
hardly tell: but in some way Mrs. Archer,
with the aid of her boys, managed to get the
helpless man to the house, where he was des
tined to lie inactive for man. weary weeks
and months.
While Robert Archer looked from one win
dow of the log house, Hugh Archer gazed
from another window out into the little
field his hands had cleared, and through which
the bleak November wind was now blowing
TITS dreadful diseouraging, Maggie" the
invalid said, YEARLY, as he lay bolstered up
on rude couch, where the afternoon sun
shine could fall upon him.
"Never mind" replied the little woman.
patient smile lighting up her pale face eve
have enough to keep us through the winter,
and the bows can do the chores. The doctor
says you will be as well as ever in the spring.
but that you mustn't do any work this win
"Where is Henry?" asked the father.
"He is chopping wood for winter He's
brave little worker, and has big pile cut
already"
A look of pride lighted up the sick mans
face.
"Henry is treasure" he said And then
he asked: Where is Robbie? Why isn't he
helping Henry?"
"He isn't well today" replied the mother,
pityingly, while the slender youth at the win
dow shifted uneasiy in his chair.
Hugh Archer was silent for a moment, then
he said:
'fLet's see-Robbie is fourteen years old.
When was his age I worked in the woods
and swamps and roads, for team. / could do
a mans, work. I'm afraid Rob neverrl amount
to much-he's so puny."
Again the boy moved in his chair, while
Mrs. Archer whispered admonishingly:
Hell hear you, Hugh. You know how
sensitive he is"
An impatient look swept over the face of
Hugh Archer. To him constituencies was a
thing unknown.
You baby him too much, Maggie" he
said "Humor boy, and you'll spoil him
sure. See how different Henry is. He'll
amount to something