210 BEACH GRASS 



There were no towering forest trees to be cut 

 down in my youthful forest, and, with the excep- 

 tion of a few old wild cherry trees on my bound- 

 ary walls that I cut down to make room for other 

 trees, I guarded my old trees most zealously. 

 Wind and storm, however, played havoc with a 

 few of these veterans and gave me opportunities 

 to cut up the large boles with the help of a friend 

 and a two handled saw, and to split the pieces 

 with iron wedges and a sledge hammer. Sawing 

 is monotonous work, and unless the trunk or 

 limb is too large the axe is to be preferred even 

 if it take longer and be more wasteful. The 

 saw requires no skill in its use, each drawing back 

 and forth is the same as the one preceding. Each 

 stroke of the axe, on the other hand, must be in- 

 telligently placed to get the best results. Two 

 in succession are rarely the same. One stroke 

 cuts diagonally, another cuts straight across the 

 grain; the fragrant white chips fly the steel rings 

 out. Swinging a heavy sledge hammer is also 

 splendid exercise. A splitting and tearing of the 

 wood occurs, clean fresh surfaces open up and 

 a sweet smell issues forth. During the Great 



