Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-02-24

lift with all her might some branc
| that her loved had tossed aside with
single handl The attitudes into whicl
these efforts threw her body were a
graceful as those into which the waite
threw the crosses by its ceaseless flow
or the wind bent the tree tops by it
ftful gusts.
Steven was frantic with delight q
the free, open life of the woods. HI
chased the squirrels and rabbits. hi
climbed the trees to gaze into the nests
of the birds, and caught the butter
flies in his hat
David entered into all their pleas
ures, but with chastened and re-
strained delight, for he could never
forget that he was an exile and q pen
itent.
There were two days in the season
when the regular routine Of the woods
mans work was interrupted by func-
tions which possess a romantic charm.
One was when the Friends and neigh
bors from wide region assembled to
help him raise" the walls Of his cab
| In.
From all sides they appeared, in
| their picturesque costumes of home
spun or fur. Suddenly, through the
ever-open gates of the Forest, teams Of
horses crashed, drawing after them
clanking log chains, and driven Ly men
who carried saws and cant hooks" on
their broad shoulders Loud halloos Of
greeting, cheerful words Of encourage
ment, an eager and agreeable hustle of
business d11ad ho olo yfpr
Log by log the walls rose, as the
horses rolled them into place with the
aid of the great chains which the pio-
neers wrapped around them. 1t was
only rude log cabin they built-with
a great, wide opening through the mid
die, room on either side, and a pic
turesque chimney at either end; but IL
was not to be despised even for grace,
and when warmth and comfort and
adaptability to needs and opportuni-
ties are considered. there have been
few buildings erected by the genius of
man more justly entitled to admira-
ton.
When this single days work was
ended there remained nothing for Da-
vid to do but think and daub the walls
with mud. cover the rude rafters of
the roof with his shakes, build the
chimneys out Of short sticks, cob-house
fashion, and cement them on the in
side with clay to protect them from
the flames.
The other day was the one on which, |
1t the close Of the long and genial |
when the mass Of timber and |
orushwood had been thoroughly sea
'oned by the hot suns, he set his
.orches to the carefully constructed |
piles.
Steven and Pepeeta were to share
With him In the excitement OF this con-
lagration, and David had postponed 1t
Until dusk, In order that they might
'njoy its entire sublimity. He had
AIKEN the precaution to plow many fur
ows around the cabin and also around
he edge of the clearing. so the flames
Ould neither destroy his house nor
levastate the forest
Such precautions were necessary, for
Iothlng can exceed the ferocity of fire
n the debris which the woodsmen
cater about them. When the dusk
ad settled down on this woodland
World and long shadows had crept
cross the clearing. wrapping them
elves round the trees at its edge and
themselves among the thick
raRehes till they were almost hid
rom view, David lighted a pine torch
nd gave it into the hands of the ca
er boy. who seized it and like a young
started forth. A single
ouch to the dry tinder was enough.
With dull explosion, the mass burst
ito flame. Shouting in his exultation.
ne little torch bearer rushed on. ig-
iting pile after pile, and leaving be-
ind him almost at every step a mighty
onfagratIon. At each new instant, as
le night advanced. until ten, twenty,
fly great heaps were roaring and ,
with flames! Great fets ,
Douted up into the midnight heavens
8 IL about to kiss the very stars, and
expired in the illimitable
pace above them Immense sparks. [
not out from these bonfres as from
le craters of volcanoes, went sailing 2
ito the void around them and fell !
lssing into the water of the brooks or
lently into the new-plowed burrows
The clouds above the heads of the {
Ibdued and almost terrified behoIders. I
II no one is ever altogether prepared I
II the absolute awfulness OF such a 7
were glowing with the fierce ;
ght which the fires threw upon them.
Teird Nominations played fantastic
icks in the foliage from which the
artled shadows had vanished. The I
'ar Of the ever-increasing fires be- 0
Ime louder and louder, until in very
rror Pepeeta crept into David's arms
r protection. while the child who had
arlessly produced this scene Of awful n
'andeur and destruction shouted with
iumph at his play.
'Thee's a reckless little e-eaterl"
I'd David. watching his figure as 1t
'peared and disappeared. How {
'uth trifles with forces whose powers o
can neither measure nor control, It V
as well that 1 drew a furrow around
IT cabin or 1t would have been burn
!"
His gaze was fixed on the little cab y
which seemed to dance and oscfllate
the palpitating light; and touched 8,
the analogies and symbols which !,
s penetrating eye discovered in the :
nple scenes Of daily life, he contln- .
d to soliloquize. saying, I should
We drawn burrows around my life.
fore played with hrei" a
Nay, David" replied Pepeeta, I'VE a
ould never have played with IRE 1t v
- a