240 Next to the Ground 



boast that " ef them other fellers did put up 

 the mostest logs at er rollin', them fellers o' 

 his'n put theirn up bestest, though they picked 

 an' choosed the wustest ones ter tote. Fur- 

 dermore" — thus the old man — "them thar 

 piles stayed put up, — ye didn't never have 

 ter go an' waste yer breath an' strenth, a- 

 chunkin' 'em up, an' a-chunkin' 'em up. Ef 

 hit wa'n't that he jest natchully hated ter seem 

 like he gredged lab'rin' men er little frolic, 

 he 'd take the Majer's log-rollin' by contrac' 

 — but thar ! workin' folks had little 'nough 

 fun." 



They had fun at Major Baker's log-rolling, 

 in spite of the hard work. They feasted too, 

 in a manner befitting even their noble appetites. 

 Good feeding was a cardinal article of faith at 

 White Oaks, whether it had to do' with men, 

 horses, cattle, dogs, or land. 



