The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-03-12
The Redemption
Of David Corson
BY CHARLES FREDERIC aoss
Copyright By The

NOtnln8 cOulQ nave Deen uOrO
charming than the immense efforts
that she put forth with such grace. to
lift with all her might some branch
that her loved had tossed aside with
| single handl The attitudes into which
these efforts threw her body were as
graceful as those into which the water
threw the crosses by it's ceaseless flow,
or the wind bent the tree tops by its
ftful gusts.
Steven was frantic with delight at
the free, open life of the woods. He
chased the squirrels and rabbits. he
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 a chastened and re-
strained delight, for he could never
forget that he was an exile and 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 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, filled the clearing.
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 a rude log cabin they built-with
a great. wide opening through the mid
die. a room on either side, and pic
turesque chimney at either end; but II
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,
at the close Of the long and genial
a,tp,ynar x,hap tho N, GO 30 ttv,,~ar N =, a
brushwood had been thoroughly sea-
soned by the hot suns he set his
torches to the carefully constructed
piles.
Steven and Pepeeta were to share
with him in the excitement of this con-
fiagration. and David had postponed It
until dusk. in order that they might
enjoy its entire sublimity. He had
taken the precaution to plow many fur
rows around the cabin and also around
the edge OF the clearing. so the flames
could neither destroy his house nor
devastate the forest.
Such precautions were necessary. for
nothing can exceed the ferocity of fire
In the debris which the woodsmen
scatter about them. When the dusk
had settled down on this woodland
world and long shadows had crept
across the clearing, wrapping them
selves round the trees at its edge and
scattering themselves among the thick
branches till they were almost hid
from view, David lighted a pine torch
and gave 1t into the hands of the ca
ger boy, who seized 1t and like a young
Prometheus started forth A single
touch to the dry tinder was enough
With dull explosion, the mass burst
into flame. Shouting in his exultation
the little torch bearer rushed on. ig-
hitting pile after pile, and leaving be-
hind him almost at every step a mighty
confagration. At each new instant as
the night advanced until ten, twenty
fifty great heaps were roaring and
seething with flames! Great tets
spouted up into the midnight heavens
as II about to kiss the very stars, and
suddenly expired in the illimitable
space above them. Immense sparks
, shot out from these bonfires as from
| the craters Of volcanoes. went sailtna
into the void around them and fell
kissing into the water OF the brooks O,
silently into the new-plowed furrows
The clouds above the heads of the
/ subdued and almost terrified beholders
. for no one Is ever altogether prepared
for the absolute awfulness of such q
spectacle. were glowing with the fierce
, light which the fires threw upon them
Weird illuminations played fantastic
tricks In the foliage from which the
startled shadows had vanished. The
, roar Of the ever-increasing fires be.
came louder and louder. until In yer,
terror Pepeeta crept into David's arms
for protection. while the child who hat
feariessly produced this scene of awfu
, grandeur and destruction shouted with
triumph at his play.
"Thee's q reckless little fire. -eaterl'
! said David. watching his figure as 4
appeared and disappeared How
youth trifies with forces whose power.
1t can neither measure nor controll Il
was well that drew q furrow AROUND
: our cabin or 1t would have been burn.
, ed
J His gaze was fixed on the little cab.
In which seemed to dance and oscillat,
, In the palpitating light: and touched
) by the analogies and symbols which
: his penetrating eye discovered In tn,
simple scenes Of daily life, he contin.
ued to soliloouize. saying. Il shout.