Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-08-11
How Salem Todd Went To The Barn
Raising.

who sagged back in whole-hearted re-
sistance. Caleb Peaslee and Deacon
Hyne watched the struggle from Cal,
eos dooryard.
"He don't lead overly WELL" OBJ
served the deacon critically, "but he's
goin' along none the less. il I'm any
Judge OF Lorena Piperw
"He's goin'," agreed Caleb, "about
as unwilling as Salem Todd went to
Elijah Nudd's barn raisin'."
"Barn raisin' where?" demanded
the deacon.
"The barn was built sixty years ago."
replied Caleb composedly.
The deacon lost interest promptly.
81 thought it was some barn they'd put
up lately"
Caleb shook his head soberly
"They don't do that way now. Nova
days il man wants barn or a house
he goes to some contractor and lets
the whole thing right out to him. But
il want so in the old times when
was too little to make hand at haydn
Them days when man built barn he
hewed out the frame himself and cut
the mortises and lemons, and then his
wife baked up pies and cake enough to
victual trainband muster and baked
half bushel of beans in the ground,
and they tapped a new barrel of cider
and sent out word there'd he raisin'
certain day; and then everybody that
want crippled, or blind, or sick in bed,
or too mean to be decently neighborly
turned out boss and afoot and helped
him raise the frame. And then they'd
all set down to plank tables and eat
enough for two square meals apiece
and go home, leavin' the barn owner
to board in the frame.
"That was the way when 'Lijah Nudd
raised his barn. This Salem Dodd was
master hand at a raisin', quick and
smart and venturesome about going
aloft on frame Folks counted a lot
on his bein' on hand when a buildin'
went up.
"But on this occasion there want
much likelihood that Salem would be
there. Salem and 'Lijah'd had quarrel
over politics,-feelin' run high jest'fore
the Civil War,-and, though they was
parted fore they really come to blows,
the final thing Iijah said to Salem was
to warn him never to speak to him nor
to come onto his land again.
" And for my part Salem says to
him, I'll engage never to set foot onto
land Of yourn in my life again unless
Pm dragged on
"The day Of 'Lijah's barn raisn' Sa-
lem, feelin' like fish out Of water at
not bein' at the raisin', sot out to do
somethin' to take UP his mind. He'd
bought yearling steer off'n a man
half mile beyond 'Lijah's place, but
hadn't got him home yet; so he took
a coil of rope and went off to lead the
critter home
"You know, Hyne, even six-week
calf'll give man all he wants to ham
die il he's a mite unruly; we'll, this
steer was near full grown and as wild
and spry as a squirrel. Before they'd
gone ten rods he all but got away; so
Salem, to make sartin of stayin' with
him, made the rope fast about his waist.
whether it was count Of there be-
in more noise than common when
they'd got most abreast of 'Liiah's place
can't say but the steer took it into his
head to do the leadin' himself; and
the rope bein' made fast, Salem had ia
go along too. The steer throwed up
his head and made Jump that took him
over stone wall into 'Lijah's barn lot,
with Salem snatchin' along behind him
as il he wasn't more'n a baitin' of hay
in bag! And right straight up into
that crowd Of men Salem and the steer
went, and then ten or a dozen Of 'em
grabbed the rope and hove the steer to-
And not any too soon, neither, for Sa-
lem was all but cut in two with the
rope round his waist. When they took
it off'n him he went fiat on the ground,
too hurt and weak to stand UP.
"Then 'Lijah done kindly thing, as
I've always thought
We'll, Salem,' says he, q see you've
kept your promise. | never knew you
to break your word yet. You said you
never'd come here till you was dragged
here, and you didn'tr
But 'Liiah says, we've missed
you, and we're glad to see you even if
you was dragged here; and now you're