The Washington herald., 1909-03-21

stdnu on uptoe their brawny muscles
contracted 10 the utmost. Then comes A
crash, the boss cries 'Hurrahr' and tbav
alI know that every joist has slipped into
lie SocKet OF the beam lying on the
foundation wall There is A click % half
a dozen hammers. and twice as No.,
wooden pins are driven. and the f7-s+ real
job Is done.
A lo0-foot barn requires at least foDr
OF I'VE such operations. and the center
/ ones are even heavier than the others for
they contain the ladders. made Of heavy
Jolsts, where the farmers climb 70 -
third story. called BY them "overder ?.
As soon as all the sides are erected The
longer and heavier beams have % be
place along the length or the structure
and with farmers IN mIdair, with one
hahd nolding their balance and with the
other pulling with all their might al a
rope. while others below are pushJny
pushing. 0o-foot beams are put in mo-
sition as easily as If they were Iavine
them on the level
The work goes on until the sun stands
directly overhead, with only now and
then a minute or two Of rest. to tan the
appletack keg or pull the cork from tba
rye demijohn. There IS no overind1,Igarca
Of drinking. Barn-raising IN ze-o v,so+ha-
not only demands an appetizer. but a good
stimulant, and the men know lust how
much 10 drink and drink no mora tbs,
they feel they can carry and erect Their
neighoors > best building. II keeps them
warm ana II keeps them jolly. But then
comes the call for dinner Oh sucb a
dinneri II you would judge the at of
cookery at its best on a PenusvIvants
German farm you must simply drop in an
a crowd Of farmers at a barn-rais,ns-
Here is everything the good housewife
can think of. Her neighbOrs helm her
al the week, and, OF course. those rne1
who do not set sick from hanging IN
midair. or from the apple1ack, are cutie
lucky If they do not carry home over
loaded stOmachs.
They can't help themselves however
they just eat. There is the delicious t,r-
key. the beefsteak. the toothsome mince
pies. the smoked sausage. the ueber-
wurst, the ponhaus. tripe. and-it makes
fellow dizzy 20 mention all the other
things these farmers have to eat at such
an occasion.
After a good smoke from their corn
cob and clay pipes, the farmers and car
penters feel refreshed. and start To nut
In the remainder Of the afternoon in
completing the framework OF the good
fellows barn The hardest task IS stDl
TO be accomplished. The two long pieces
Of timber, firmly fitted together. have TO
be raised along each side OF the long
structure upon which the rafters must
rest. The farmer calls. Der dach stooIl"
and upon this the entire roof will resi-.
II Is the hardest task OF the entire ioh
and the farmers work ike sailor bows
until It is in place As il IS the longest
piece OF timber in the entire structure
II Is also one OF the heaviest. and be-
fore 1t IS in place every one on the
ground is in peTspiration. and there nearly
always happen minor accidents. The
long umbeTs are in place at last how
ever, and the rafters are quickly placed
upon the roof stools and the long beam.
ana before the sun sets the farmers
barn skeleton stands complete IN midair.
There IS no cost for the work OF erect
Ing a barn for a Pennsylvania German
farmer Every neighbOr does the work
willingly; but II there should be one mean
enough not to be present or send his |
farmland, why. be can rest assured that
the farmers viii have "a return compli- |
ment ready for him.