FOREST LIFE. 83 



A competent hand in this profession generally calculates to do 

 a good winter's hauling, and bring his team out in the spring in 

 quite as good flesh as when they commenced in the early part of 

 the season. But as in all other matters, so in this, there are 

 exceptions to the general rule. Some teamsters spoil their cat- 

 tle, and bring them out in the spring miserably poor, and nearly 

 strained to death. Such a practice, however, can not be regard- 

 ed as either merciful or economical. So far as true policy is con- 

 cerned, it is much better to keep a team well. "What may be 

 gained by hard pushing during the former part of the season will 

 be more than made up during the latter, when the teams are 

 moderately urged and well kept, and then you have a good team 

 still for future labor. 



Having completed our winter residences, next in order comes 

 the business of looking out and cutting the " main," and some of 

 the principal "branch roads." These roads, like the veins in the 

 human body, ramify the wilderness to all the principal " clumps" 

 and " groves of pine" embraced in the permit. 



We have here no " turnpikes" nor rail-ways, but what is often 

 more interesting. No pencilings can excel the graceful curves 

 found in a main road as it winds along through the forest, uni- 

 form in width of track, hard-beaten and glassy in its surface, 

 polished by the sled and logs which are so frequently drawn over 

 it. Each fall of snow, when well trodden, not unlike repeated 

 coats of paint on a rough surface, serves to cover up the uneven- 

 ness of the bottom, which in time becomes very smooth and even. 

 And besides, no street in all our cities is so beautifully studded 

 with trees, whose spreading branches affectionately interlace, 

 forming graceful archways above. Along this road side, on the 

 way to the landing, runs a serpentine pathway for the " knight 

 of the goad," whose deviations are marked now outside this tree, 

 then behind that " windfall," now again intercepting the main 

 road, skipping along like a dog at one's side. To pass along this 

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