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HARDWOOD RECORD 



Then and NoW. 



THE SOLILOQUY OF /\IN IINDIAINM SAU//V\ILL IWfklS. 



BY VAN B. PERRINE. 



Out here in Indiana once the poplars grew so large 



According to the settlers one would nearly till a barge. 



The walnut trees grew big and tall — in tact, they were immense; 



The farmers split them into rails to build a common fence, 



Because there was no market-place for lumber close at hand, 



And all they cared for anyhow, was just to clear the land. 



The oaks they grew straight up so high the top you couldn't see, 



In fact 'twas hidden in the clouds, so tall was every tree. 



But now'days things are different, and every place you go 



To buy a bunch of timber — trees — don't — grow — so! 



If you believe the old men's yarns about the size of trees 



A common basswood in those days would stop a mighty breeze; 



And when you mention hickory, which now'days can't be found, 



It seems that many years ago they covered all the ground. 



Ash trees were large and lofty, reaching nearly out of sight — 



At least a settler said they were, in telling me tonight. 



The cherries in ye olden time reached such colossal size 



They could be seen a mile away by ordinary eyes! 



But now'days trees are different, and every place you go 



To buy a bunch of timber- — trees— don't — grow — sol 



If you believe the settlers' tales'about the sugar maple 



Each one woujd give a cask of sap, if tapped in March or April. 



The elms grew to a mighty size, their tops a=spreading out, 



Which made the buckeyes under them look dwarfed enough, no doubt. 



The beeches in those palmy days, though not so large and tall, 



Stretched out their branches in a way to make a barn look small. 



And when it came to sycamore and cottonwood, their size 



Was such that if you looked them o'er, 'twould fairly strain your eyes. 



But now'days trees are different, and every place you go 



To buy a bunch of timber- -trees — don't — grow — so! 



The honey=locust in those days— 'twas thus the settler spoke — 



Was not shipped out to masquerade behind the name "red oak"; 



But now he sees that hackberry, a wood once so despised, 



Is made into "ash" lumber and as such is highly prized. 



The butternut in those days (tho* they say "white walnut" now) 



Did not have worms or knots; but still you often wonder how 



Your Uncle Sam could get the notion e'en in wildest dreams — 



Of using wood from butternuts to trim his submarines! 



Well, now'days all the trees are changed, as we with sorrow know, 



And when we buy a bunch of them — they — don't — grow — so ! J j k f ^^ t .] 



If you believe these settlers' tales of many years ago, 



Whene'er you hauled your timber then, you had a lot of snow; 



And you could tote all winter at a very little cost, 



And bank upon the weather, and on old Jack Frost; 



So as it didn't cost so much to get the timber in 



There was a great big profit, as there really should have been 



But now you have a lot of rain, and then a lot of sleet, 



And have to figure mighty close to barely make ends meet! 



There was some money in the trade those long, long years ago, 



But figuring up now'days — it— don't — show — so! 



You've heard old timers telling— it is certain that you must — 

 How in those days you could saw-mill and never fear you'd bust; 

 You didn't have to figure on your sawdust and your waste. 

 For everything came right your way soon as your mill was placed. 

 All that you had to do was just to cut the timber down; 

 It didn't cost you anything except to clear the ground. 

 There was a ready market — you could always find a place, 

 Nor had to pay trade papers great big prices for their "space." 

 But now'days things are different, as all of you must know, 

 And milling in the Hoosier state — is— getting — mighty — slow! 



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