228 SIGNS AND SEASONS 



spends nearly all the late fall and winter days shut 

 in the barn, pounding doggedly upon the endless 

 sheaves of oats and rye. 



When the farmers made "bees," as they did a 

 generation or two ago much more than they do 

 now, a picturesque element was added. There was 

 the stone bee, the husking bee, the "raising," the 

 "moving," etc. When the carpenters had got the' 

 timbers of the house or barn ready, and the foun- 

 dation was prepared, then the neighbors for miles 

 about were invited to come to the "raisin'." The 

 afternoon was the time chosen. The forenoon was 

 occupied by the carpenter and farm hands in put- 

 ting the sills and "sleepers" in place ("sleepers," 

 what a good name for those rude hewn timbers that 

 lie under the floor in the darkness and silence!). 

 When the hands arrived, the great beams and posts 

 and joists and braces were carried to their place on 

 the platform, and the first "bent," as it was called, 

 was put together and pinned by oak pins that the 

 boys brought. Then pike poles are distributed, 

 the men, fifteen or twenty of them, arranged in a 

 line abreast of the bent; the boss carpenter steadies 

 and guides the corner post and gives the word of 

 command, — "Take holt, boys!" "Now, set her 

 up ! " " Up with her ! " " Up she goes ! " When 

 it gets shoulder high it becomes heavy, and there 

 is a pause. The pikes are brought into requisition; 

 every man gets a good hold and braces himself, and 

 waits for the words. " All together now ; " shouts 

 the captain, " Heave her up ! " " He-o-he ! " (heave- 



