Homesteading 



Some were on railroad land and others on 

 homesteads not yet entered for ; but the new settler 

 needing logs is not particular in such cases, and 

 rightly so, as his requirements are urgent, and 

 there is danger of destruction by fire until the 

 country is more thickly settled. 



It is, however, cause for regret that so much 

 wood has had to be cleared, as it leaves the country 

 very bare, and even when the busy homesteaders 

 find time and means to start fresh plantations, 

 years must elapse before they mature. 



The trees I found were mostly white and black 

 poplar, from which I was able to cut logs twelve 

 to fourteen feet long and averaging eight inches 

 in diametet. 



Most settlers either can, or soon learn to, handle 

 an axe with more or less skill, but it needs much 

 experience and practice to acquire the dexterity 

 of the real lumber-Jack. 



We had been employed at our respective jobs 

 for some days, and were just entering the tent 

 for supper one evening, when a man appeared 

 carrying a small sack over his shoulder. He 

 spoke with a French accent, and said his name 

 was Pierre, that he had a homestead near, and 

 had dropped in to give us a call. We asked 

 him to join us at supper, and as Tom could talk 

 some French, the two were soon chattering away, 



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