The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-02-05

pitch pine and soon had q IRE going
with my flint and finder. knew that
I could mount one Of the horses and
lead the other and reach home prob
ably. But there was the grist. We
needed that; I knew that We should
have to go hungry without the grist.
II would get wet from above and be-
low II tried TO carry II on the back
of a horse. i warmed myself BY the
fire and hitched my team near II 80 as
to thaw the frost ont Of their forelocks
and eyebrows. felt In my coat peck
cts and found a handful Of nails
everybody carried nails In one pocket
In those days-and l remember that
my uncle's pockets were q museum Of
bolts and nuts and screws and wash
ers.
The idea occurred to me that / would
make a kind of sled which was called
a jumper.
So / got my AZ out of the wagon
and soon found couple Of small trees
with the right crook for the forward
end of runner. and cut them and
hewed their bottoms as smoothly as
could Then / made notches In them
near the top OF their crooks and fitted
a stout stick into the notches and Sc
cured II with nails driven by the AK
head. Thus got hold for my evener
That done. l chopped and hewed an
arch to cross the middle OF the run
ners and hold them apart and used
all my nails to secure and brace It,
/ got the two boards which were fas-
tened together and constituted my
wagon seat and laid them over the
arch and front brace. How to make
them fast was my worst problem. /
succeeded in splitting a green stick
to hold the bolt Of the evener just un-
der its head while / heated its lower
end In the IRE and kept its head cool
with snow. With this i burnt q hole
In the end Of each board and fastened
them to the front brace with withes Of
moosewood.
1t was late in the day and there was
no time for the slow process OF burn
ing more holes, so notched the other
ends of the boards and dashed them to
the rear brace with "a length Of my
reins. Then / retempered my bolt and
brought up the grist and chain and
fastened the latter between the boards
In the middle of the front brace,
hitched my team to the chain and set
out again, sitting on the bags.
1t was pitch dark and the horses
wading to their bellies and the snow
coming faster when we turned into
Rattleroad. Soon l heard loud hal
loo and knew that II was the voice Of
Uncle Peabody. He had started out
to meet me In the storm and Shep was
with him.
THANK God I've found ye!" he
shouted. I'm blind and tired out and
| couldn't keep lantern goin' to save
me. Are We froze7"
SIN all right, but these horses are
awful tired. Had to let 'em rest every
few minutes"
l told him about the wagon-and
how Ii relieved me to hear him say:
@As long as you're all right, boy,
amt goin' to worry bout the Oh wag-
on-not a bit. Where'd ys git yer
Iumper7"
"Made 1t with the az and some
lails." / answered.
After we got to the barn door at Last
he went to the house and lighted hts
lantern and came back with II wrapped
in a blanket and Aunt Deel came with
him.
How proud II made me to hear him
say:
"Deel, our boy Is a man now-made
this jumper all lone by himself an
has got through all right"
She came and held the lantern up
to my face and looked at my hands.
well. my stars, Bartw she ex-
claimed In a moment. II thought ye
would freeze up solid-ayes-poo
boyl"
We carried the grist in and Aunt
Deel made some pudding. How good
ii was to feel the warmth Of the fire
and OF the hearts of those who loved
mel How / enjoyed the pudding and
milk and bread and butter
BucSS you VIC 6OhC thVubh Nhc
second peril that OIL Kate spoke Of"
said Aunt Deel as went upstairs.
Uncle Peabody went out to look at
the horses.
When / awoke In the morning OBJ
served that Uncle Pea6ody's bed had
not been slept In. hurried down and
heard that our on horse had died In
the night Of collie. Aunt Deel was cry
ing. As he saw me Uncle Peabody
began to dance a Jig in the middle
Of the floor.
balance yer partners I" he shouted.
"You an amt goin' to be discouraged
II all the bosses die-be we. BartT
Never" I answered.
That's the talki II Necessary well
hitch Purvis up with t'other boss an
git our haulin' DONE"
He and Purvis roared with laughter
and the strength of the current swept
me along with them.