Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-10
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CANE

my life, and rested perchance against
the very tree 1 used to uphold
What l endured at first seemed very
cruel L was skinned, skinned alive,
if you please, then L was plunged
into water and soaked. / had known
before what cold water meant, but 1t
was quite a different treatment now
The gentle drops from heaven, which
cooled and refreshed me, were life
giving, but to be given a plunge bath
in addition to losing my outside COW
ering was not so nice. After my cap
tor had soaked me to his satisfaction
he bound me head and foot till l
thought my neck and back would
began to feel alarmed for my safety,
but at last I was declared to be quite
the correct shape, and the admiration
l heard expressed somewhat recon
ciled me to the torture l had endured.
I've since learned that the women
and young girls voluntarily undergo
a similar treatment that they may
acquire a graceful figure. What sim
pie trees they must be!
When 1 was Strengthened and
formed correctly, was ready to be
clothed. Now they rubbed me with
sand paper till l was quite smooth,
then oil and stain were applied; coats
they were called. My captors were
also dressed in what they termed
coats for outside garments. L was told
that my veins were showing finely,
and 1 thought it quite reasonable that
they should after all the scrubbing
and rubbing, and small nail was
driven into my foot to give me
greater confidence in walking and l
was pronounced ready for use. / felt
quite proud of myself. as l heard the
praise laVished upon me. Such a
, handsome cane was seldom seen, peo-
pie said. and 1 quite agreed with
them. No dandy of the time was
vainer than /, and 1 am sure my good
looks have lasted all these years,
| which l feel assured is more than the
human Beau Brummels are able to
claim.
/ was presented to an old gray
haired man the father-in-law of him
who had made me, and now my life
of service began. In company with
the old gentleman, l went TO the
church, to the village store, to many
| a house whittier his friendly motives
! led him. With him | explored the
neighboring forests, and rested beside
| the trout brooks of the vicinity. Not
| so often this last, however, for my
! owner was less a fisherman than q
| hunter. Aged man though he was
! he was still an accurate shot, and
/ many-younger men then he envieo
| him his skill Often we carried home
| game. when others returned from the
| same localities empty handed
One place we never visited. Thai
| was the SchOOlhOuSe down under the
| hill. My owner was very fond of chill
! dren With whom he was a great fav-
| orite, but he never wanted to see then
! at work in school. Perhaps he knew
| his presence there would be no favor
! to the teacher, and would create dis
/ order and confusion. Out of schoo
/ they all claimed grandpa for theil
| own, for he was called such by al
] the children in the village.
! What fun they had with him, a:
! they crowded about him, seated OF
| the bench outside his door on sunny
days, or at his work bench when in
clement weather forced them insid,
for shelter. My crook neck cam,
| often into use, as he drew some child
| into his reach by neck, arm, ankle o.
clothing, whichever could most easil!
| be reached. With what sQueals o.
| delight the little ones responded t,
| his touch, and the frolic became mer
rier than ever. How they loved Il
| listen to his stories, and receive thu
| toys his jack-knife carved for them
| He made them little canes sometimes
! l noticed, taking me for a model.
But all these things happened loni
ago. Grandpa was Iong-Iived, but
outlasted him. Strange isn't it, tina
the work of mems hands often out
lives the maker? My fate led me
long journey from New Hampshire t