The Log Cabin 17 



When the settler had chosen the spot for his 

 new' home, he went out in the woods with his ax. 

 Selecting large, straight trees, he soon brought 

 them to the ground, trimmed off their limbs, and 

 cut the tree trunks into logs of convenient length. 

 With his oxen or horses, he dragged them to the 

 place where they were needed. There the ends 

 were hewed flat and notched, and all was made 

 ready for the "raising." 



A house raising was one of the noteworthy 

 events in the new country. There were few set- 

 tlers and, therefore, neighbors lived far apart 

 in those days. But, when a new home was to go 

 up in the forest, willing hands were never lacking 

 to help put the walls in place and raise the 

 rafters. At the raising, two logs, with one side of 

 each notched, and that side upward, were laid 

 parallel on the ground. They were as far apart 

 as the settler wished the width of his house. 

 Other logs were placed across the ends of these, 

 so that their notched ends fitted neatly together. 

 This was done many times, until the house was 

 as high as its owner desired. Gables were added 

 at the ends. They, too, were only rough logs, 

 each cut shorter than the one under it. The gable 



STORY OF THE FOREST - 2 



