New Walks in Old Ways 



These folk had little use for the open 

 country or outlying uplands. They 

 were woodsmen and loved flowing 

 water. "Log rollings," with a handy 

 torch to consume the noble oaks and 

 hickory, the walnut and the beech, 

 were in their eyes an economic neces- 

 sity. Then the "barn-raising" and the 

 "house-warming;" followed later by 

 the "husking-bees" where a kiss, by 

 fixed unwritten law, was passed with 

 each red ear uncovered! The family 

 grew in numbers, but progressed not 

 especially in worldly goods. And, sure 

 enough, the prairies of the Mississippi 

 soon began their mute appeal. Night 

 after night it was discussed. The 

 mother wept, but made no real com- 

 plaint. She came of a race of good 

 soldiers. One sad day the deed was 

 signed that set the father free again — 

 free to chase once more the western 

 horizon. 



Why dwell upon the toilsome strug- 

 gle over-land? I hope "the moon was 

 [190] 



