The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-09-14

maintained that two cords would be
well within my capability. Grand
father finally said we could go up to
his woodlot the next morning. My
friend, George, could cut on the east
side OF the road, and l on the west.
lie would start us at exactly eight
O'Clock and would come back again
at TOUR in the afternoon. He would
give the woodlot to the boy who cut
and piled the largest amount of wood
in that time, provided it was in ex-
cess of two cords.
knew enough about land values
to realize that this woodlot had mar
ket value Of more than a thousand
dollars. 1t seemed as if providence
had come to my rescue, and provided
an opportunity for me to make good
in the affections of my girl friend
with unusual promptness. l presume
George looked upon the offer in about
the same spirit We were both SO
eager we would have been glad to
commence that night
The next morning George and |
were on hand bringing with us the
best axes we could find. Mine was
equipped with a specially made handle
by ar old man named Darius Bent.
/ This handle was made of hornbeam,
and like the material in Holmes
Wonderful One-Horse Shay at
couldn't be split. nor bent nor broke. =
We arrived at the woodlot just before
eight, and each boy having laid aside
his coat selected a favorable location.
axe in hand and waited for the word
go" My grandfather took out his
watch, and exactly at eight gave us
the word to start He watched us a
few minutes, and then drove back to
town. | cut wood as | never had be-
fore. | could hear the blows of the
axe from my rival across the road,
and hear and see the trees crashing.
It was not long before his activity
convinced me that he was way in the
lead | redoubled my energy, but |
felt he was winning out. lncessant
labor at this hot pace finally compell-
ed me to cease and about three o'clock
| stopped for breath. ! had felled
trees for two hours, cut, split and
piled for three hours. Reckoning up
at that time | found | had five cords
seem to be enough to satisfy any i'm
patient youth, but | could'look across
the road and see that my friend had
at least seven cords piled up, and was
still at it. Tired and discouraged |
went back to pick up my axe, which
Law not far from where | had cut the
first tree in the morning. Somewhat
to nv surprise | found | had a some
what worn and battered handle only.
Searching for the axe itself | found 1t
at the foot of that first tree. 1t then
daWned on me that it had become
loose in the first few strokes, and that
l had cut and split that five cords
with the handle. This shows that it
does not always pay to be too much
in haste. | recall noting that my
axe seemed mighty light directly after
my pitching in in the morning, but
| had then accounted for 1t on the
ground of my well trained muscles
and enthusiasm for the contest. Had
| stopped then to discover what the
trouble was / could have replaced the
axe on the handle and easily won out.
NV carelessness in this respect cost
me a good woodlot and enabled my
rival to supplant me in the affections
of my enamOrata. AS matters turned
out, however, his prize consisted OF
the woodlot only, for the girl ignored
George and his suddenly acquired
wealth and ultimately married an
other fellow. l consoled myself for
the loss in the knowledge that my
one day of cutting wood with an axe
handle had added a good story to the
gossip of the neighborhood, and that
few would lay claim to ability TO work
up as much wood under the same
circumstances.