The citizen., 1919-02-27
bolts and nuts ana screws ana wash


SO got my ax 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 se-
cured II with nails driven by the AK
head. Thus got a hold for my evener.
That done, I chopped and hewed an
arch to cross the middle Of the run
uers and hold them apart and used
all my nails to secure and brace II.
I 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 green stick
to hold the bolt Of the evcner just un-
der its head while ! heated its lower
end in the fire and kept its head cool
with snow. With this | burnt n hole
In the end of each board and fastened
them to the front brace with withes Of
mOosewoOd.
II 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 lashed them to
the rear brace with length of my
relns. 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.
hltched my team to the chain and set
out again, sitting on the bags.
II was pitch dark and the horses
wading TO their bellies and the snow
coming faster when we turned into
Rattleroad. Soon | heard n loud hal
loo and knew that IL 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 yer he
shouted. I'm blind and tired out and
! couldn't keep a lantern goin' to save
me. Are ye frczei"
"rm all right, but these herses are
awful tired. Had to let 'em rest every
few minutes"
told him about the wagop.-and
how It relieved me to hear him say;
"As long as you're all right. boy,
amt goln' TO worry bout the OIL wag-
on-not bit. Where'd ye git yer
jumperY"
"Made 1t with the ax and some
nails" answered.
After we got to the barn door at last
he went TO the house and lighted his
lantern and came back with IL wrapped
In blanket and Aunt Deel came with
him.
How proud II made me to hear him
say:
"Deel. oui 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. Bartl" she ex.
claimed in a moment. 81 thought ye
would freeze up solid-ayes-poor
boyi"
We carried the grist I'm 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
me- How / enjoyed the pudding and
, milk and bread and butter!
81 guess you've gone through the
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 Peabody's bed had
not been slept in. hurried down and
heard that our off 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 he shouted.
''You an amt goin' to be discouraged
II all the hosses die-be we. Bartf"
"Never." answered.
THAT'S the talk II Necessary Wen
hitch Prrvis up with t'other hoss an
git our haulin' done"
He and Purvis roared with laughter
and the strength Of the current swept
me along with them.
"We're the luckiest folks In the
world. anyway" Uncle Peabody went
on. "Bart's alive an there's three feet
o. snow on the level an more comm
an it's colder'n Greenland"
II was such a bitter day that we
worked only three hours and came
back to the house and played Old
Sledge by the fireside.
Rodney Barnes came over that after
noon and said that he would lend US
horse for the hauling.
We had good sleighing after that
and got our bark and salts TO marke,
and earned sos. But while we got our
pay In paper bank money" we had
TO pay our debts In wheat. salts or
corn, so that our earnings really
amounted to only S62.50. my uncle
said. We gave the balance and ten
bushels of wheat 10 Mr.. Grimshaw fol-
spawned horse. after which he
agreed TO give us at least years ex'
tension on the principal.
We felt easy then.