PROPEKTIES OP WOOD. 55 



are hickory, rock elm and ash. They can be pounded, pulled, com- 

 pressed and sheared. It is because of this quality that hickory is 

 used for wheel spokes and for handles, elm for hubs, etc. 



In the selection of wood for particular purposes, it is sometimes 

 one, sometimes another, and more often still, a combination of quali- 

 ties that makes it fit for use. 10 



It will be remembered that it was knowledge of the special values 

 of different woods that made "the one horse shay/' "The Deacon's 

 Masterpiece." 



"So the Deacon inquired of the village folk 

 Where he could find the strongest oak, 

 That couldn't be split nor bent nor broke, 

 That was for spokes and floor and sills; 

 He sent for lancewood to make the thills; 

 The cross bars were ash, from the straightest trees, 

 The panels of whitewood, that cuts like cheese, 

 But lasts like iron for things like these. 

 The hubs of logs from the "Settler's Ellum," 

 Last of its timber, they couldn't sell 'em. 

 Never an ax had seen their chips, 

 And the wedges flew from between their lips, 

 Their blunt ends frizzled like celery tips; 

 Step and prop-iron, bolt and screw, 

 Spring, tire, axle and linch pin too, 

 Steel of the finest, bright and blue; 

 Thorough brace, bison skin, thick and wide; 

 Boot, top dasher from tough old hide, 

 Found in the pit when the tanner died. 

 That was the way to "put her through." 

 'There!' said the Deacon, 'naow she'll dew!'" 



10 For detailed characteristics of different woods see Chapter III. 



