The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-04-30

farmer, always ready to assist every
one about him. He would put off his
own work, even necessary work, at
any time to help us.
1t was much the same with his
wife, Aunt Anna" as we called her,
a rosy, CHEEKY soul, who in one way
or another was constantly doing
grandmother and our girls a good
turn. And as for Kate and Tom,
the children, they were well-nigh as
near and dear to us as members of
our own family. We attended school
together, and nearly all our play
days and good times were shared
with them.
But although they worked hard,
were economical, and appeared to
plan pretty well, the Edwardses did
not get on well in the world. There
was a mortgage on their farm which
constantly worried them all. Every
year they planned zealously to lift
that mortgage, but for more than
twenty years never succeeded in pay
ing more than the interest money,
and about every second year they
missed doing that on time.
One of the plans for raising money
during the season of 1865, was for
them to do less farming and embark
In numbering up on Wild Brook, in
what we knew as the great woods"
about forty-five miles to the north
OF the farm. Throughout the ensu-
ing fall and winter they gave all
their energies to this scheme.
AS result, they got nearly seven
hundred thousand feet of spruce and
pine lumber into Wild Brook, to be
foated down to the Androscoggin
River, and SO on, to mill and market,
With the spring freshet.
But here, as in many other things,
Ill fortune followed them. There was
'1ss snow than usual that winter. and
less water in the brook. They got
their entire drive" of lumber hung
up in a bad jam" at a tortuous,
ledgy place in the channel of the
stream, and failed to get it out.
There 1t remained all the following
summer A vast mass of logs, piled
helter-skelter, was jammed among
rocks in the bed of the now nearly
dry brook.
At Edwards solicitation, the old
squire, who had much experience in
such matters, went up to view the
situation, and advised his neighbor
TO blast out the obstructing rocks
and logs with gunpowder, and to do
1t during September, while the water
was low.
A keg of powder was secured ac-
cordingly, and six river-men were en-
gagged to assist in the. operations.
With the powder and crew, our hard
working neighbrr and his son re-
pared to the scene of their unsuccess-
lul venture, and set to work. The
task, however, proved difficult. They
nreo TOUR or five blasts, and, in fact,
used up all their powder, without ac-
complishing much. And after they
nau been up there nearly a week,
Tom came home in haste one night
10 procure more powder-three kegs
more, at least. Gunpowder was very
dear at that time; and in carrying
Forward his numbering operations the
season before, Mr.. Edwards had
strained his credit somewhat. At
the village hardware store, where
rom went to get the powder the next
uay' the storekeeper asked for cash
in payment.
In consequence of this demand
rom came home without the powder.
meanwhile he had somewhere been
exposed to the mumps, and that night
leii Ill of the disease, so very i'll. in
deed, that Aunt Anna was not a little
alarmed. He had taken cold, per-
haps. ~
ana there were Mr.. Edwards and
MS crew OF men up at Wild Brook
Iylng idle, waiting for the powder.
Nor could he be reached by letter or
'e'esrapn, and so apprised of the
cause OF the delay. Moreover-as
we surmised later-the family was
700 proud to apply to us for a loan.
OF even to let us know that credit
nad been refused them.
ny noon the next day Toms con-
uition had become SO serious that
aunt Anna was obliged to send Kate
70 tne village, seven miles distant.
" summon a doctor. She hitched up
and set or alone.
Kate had also another errand IN
view Unknown to any one but her
motner' she had accumulated during
.ne iast two years a little deposit nj
sue village sayings-bank-t
uoiiars In all. For various reasons
sne two had kept this secret. what
eser happened, they had not intend
eu 70 draw out this money. But
wnen Kate went for the doctor that
AFTERNOON she took her little bank
oook. and after seeing the physician
on MS way to attend Tom. she drew
~. ner thirty-six dollars, bought and
pasu ior the three kegs OF powder.
anu drove home with them. She had
esoived to get the powder through
!" ner father, and do 1t herself.
:. when she came home it was too
.a.e 70 start for the lumber-camp that
n'snt; but four o'clock the next
,',. v,n'ng saw her on her way there
"''n TIE horse and buckboar and
~e .nree twenty-fve-pound kegs or
powder in the box under the seat.