OLD HOMESTEAD 



slab-wood from the mill and used it in connection with the hard- 

 wood, not to save wood, but because it made a quicker, better 

 fire. 



The big '' fore-sticks," which were logs eighteen inches to 

 two feet in diameter and three and one-half feet long, were used 

 green and were rolled up to the front of the arch, and made a 

 support for the ends of the long wood while burning under the 

 pan. A draft space was kept clear under these logs, and they 

 added to the intensity and durability of the fire. The shoveling 

 out of the hot and rapidly accumulating coals which closed the 

 flue under the pans, and the getting into position of these great 

 fore-sticks, was a problem for the small boy or the large girl 

 v/hen left alone to boil; but they managed to do it somehow, 

 and thereby acquired engineering skill and confidence and ability 

 to overcome worse difficulties. 



The family usually did the work, but when the sawmill was 

 running sometimes a man was hired to help a few days, and 

 even at times the mill was shut down for a day or two to take 

 care of an extra rush of sap. 



When father, my brother and myself were all working in the 

 bush, the routine was this: At daylight mother came to the 

 foot of the stairs and called to us, " Come! boys, time to get up. 

 It looks like a good sap day. Come! Come! Here are your 

 dry pants," at the same time giving them a toss onto the land- 

 ing or turn of the stairs; and a few minutes later, ''Henry, 

 your breakfast is ready. Come right along." And, yawning, 

 stretching and sore, I got into the partially dried pants which 

 were left under the old elevated-oven stove in the kitchen 

 over night, and came down. Putting my feet into the half-dried, 

 water-soaked cowhide boots, I kicked and kicked against the 

 mopboard until I jarred the old black Bible off the window-sill 



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