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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 24, 1936)
PATTERNS OF WOLFPEN Harlan HalcKer. jjtiL * l|[uHratiofy «•>OArxtinA4y*r*^ (WfU «v o ^ WMM. iftivrct ^ CHAPTER IX • —11— IT COULD not be gathered up, and there were the other men to be cared for now that the surveying was well under way. They made the table very large. There was York Burney whom Reuben had ac cepted and trained as ehainman, and there was Spur Darten who had come as ax-man. And there was red-haired and toothless Ezra Ferguson from above Horsepen. She knew how it would be but she did not dream of complaining or phrasing an inhospitable thought. She could hear his ax on the hill above the orchard clearing a sight through the trees for Reuben’s com pass, and then the voice of Reuben calling to Abral to move the rod a little to his left “I guess the corn and the sheep and the plums and Mother's pop ples can grow all right this spring without me looking after them. God can see after these things by Him self without much help from any body, but He leaves the kitchen and the beds to the womenfolk, and if they don't do them, they don't get done.” Then Shellenberger came again near the first of June, riding down Wolfpen on Nelson’s mule and bringing Mullens with him. Mul lens was a hard black man of forty, who had spent his years among the timber - lands of Pennsylvania as field manager and boss of the lum ber camps. Shellenherger had brought him in to supervise the whole process of getting out the i timber. ' “Good evening, Mrs. Pattern. Back again.” “Howdy, Mr. Shellenberger.” "This is IiUke Mullens, who man ages the woods for me." “You are right welcome," Julia said. Mullens looked out from under his deep black eyebrows and did not say anything. “Just sit down on the porch. The menfolks are still surveying. They ought to be in any minute now,” Julia said. Julia arranged the chairs a little closer together on each side and added two plates for the strangers. “Five extra menfolks makes the work heavier," Cynthia said. “It’s nothing for womenfolk to excite themselves over," Julia said. But the work was greater and harder, and its demands and the coming of the heat, the extra wash ing' and ironing, cooking and dish washing and tiie unusual excitement were tiring to Julia and Cynthia, and Julia was finding it hard to get time and strength to keep her gar den neat. Neither were the fields so frequently and carefully worked this spring. Never had a Wolfpen bottom gone without adequnte cul tivation. But the survey must come first, and one of the boys working each day could keep ahead of the weeds. Julia saw these things and Sparrel saw them. But they had guests and they were selling land. There was much talk among the menfolk in the yard after supper. “How is the survey getting on?" Shellenberger asked. “All right," Iteuben said. “Some days we run a great deal when it’s level, or not too grown up and the marks can be found. Other times we spend most of a day trying to get one straight line up and down a bill to a corner we can be certain of. But it gets on as well as common." “When will you get around it?” “I couldn’t say about that. These deeds give no course and only an approximate distance, so we have to feel our way along. Maybe two or three months, more or less.” Then be came into the kitchen, where Cynthia was washing dishes, to get his map to show Shellenberger. It was the first time since he came to Wolfpen that he had been alone with her. Cynthia was acute ly aware of his presence. “I guess I can show him better than I can tell him.” Reuben said, lifting the thumb-tacks with the blade of his knife. “I guess you'll have plenty of help tomorrow.” “Yes, I reckon. Are those men going to stay here, too?” ”1 guess Mother is fixing up an other bed iu your room for them. 1 don't reckou you mind them be ing there.” “Not at all. Only, I’m afraid we are making too much work for you. with all these extra people to cook for and look after. We don't want to overdo your hospitality." “It isn’t much more,” she mur mured simply. And then, when he i was gone out to the men: "lie's the f politest man that ever I saw in my life In his words. But that hard black man, I don't like him, and I’m glad Iteuben Warren Is one of the men, and not Just that Shellenber ger and his man who doesn’t say anything.” And she was less tired because of the gentle words of Reuben. “. . . and today we w’ent over this ridge which you crossed far ther north about there, and we ought to reach the watershed to morrow and turn northwest and parallel Gannon creek into the ter ritory you want to buy." Cynthia could see him in the last visible twilight, pointing with his pencil while Sparrel held the other end ot the brown paper und Shellenberger and the dark man looked on. “These are the creeks I have sketched In, just roughly Indicating how they radiate into Wolfpen." As Reuben pointed and explained. Shellenberger twirled his cigar and said, “I see ... I see.” “Rooks good to me, Mr. Pattern,” he said. “I’d like to go over the ground with my field man here and begin to get the lay-out planned a bit so we can get to work as soon ns possible. I suppose you can put us up for a few flays until we can see where we are? Of course i’ll pay you for lodging." People had come and gone In Wolfpen Bottoms through tlie cen tury. They hnd eaten at the Pat tern house, they had slept In Pat tern hods, and their mules had been stabled In tlie Pattern barn. But no man, not even a peddler or a drover, had ever paid lor a lodg ing, or given coin in exchange for a meal. Without hesitation, Spur rel spoke the only custom he knew for men to meet by. “Stay here and welcome, but there Isn’t any charge when a man conies to your house.” “Then suppose we just give the money to the women,” Shellenber ger said. Cynthia heard from the kitchen where she was hanging up tlie pan. The thought of pay for cooking tor menfolk had never occurred to her before. But when Shellenherger mentioned It, the thought grew less strange and remote, and as It stayed with her there in the kitch en, tiie thought of having money of her own for her work became at tractive. “It’s only because It’s no fun to mix bread and say to your self, ‘Tills is for that Shellenherger and his black eyed helper,’ so If they want to give money for it maybe they ought to give It. Only you don’t think about it when you make the bed or dip a spoonful of honey for Reuben. Money for cook ing for a man? 1 just reckon this spring everything is all twisted around till a body can’t recognize tlie way things are.’’ “. . . for we’ll be extra trouble, and I’d feel more like asking for what 1 want if I was paying for it," Shellenherger was saying. Spnrrel dropped it there. They sat on the porch listening while Shellenherger told of Ids return to Pittsburgh and of the business and the bustle of the great world be yond tlie hills. “We’re on the edge of great things in tlie Ohio valley," Shellen berger said. “I reckon It all defiends on just what a man wants in this world. Saul and Barton and Tlvis Pattern found building a place like this a great tiling. And It's been a good place to live." ^parrel said. “Sure," Shellenherger agreed. "But a thing can’t Just stay one way, you know. We have to go on with progress." Julia came quietly to the porch, saying, “The beds are ready, and I've tixed one for tlie two men in witli Jesse and Reuben." "I’m ready to turn in,” Sheilen berger said. York Burney and Spur Darten went up with Jasper and Abrnl. Reuben and Jesse slipped quietly into bed. Mullens stood in tlie mid dle of the Moor glancing at Sliellen berger,hut not removing his clothes. Shellenherger sat on (lie edge of the bed unlacing his hoots. Sparrel came to (lie door to make formal Inquiry of his guests and to say good nigtit. “Where’s this man to sleep?” Shellenberger asked. “He can sleep with you,” Sparrel said, simply and naturally as cus tom. "Oh, no. He doesn’t sleep with me. I sleep by myself." Sparrel had never known a man to object to sharing a bed in an other man's tiouse. He looked at Sbellenberger, and then at Mullens and then at Reuben. "I guess the beds are about all full now but yours,” Sparrel said. “He can sleep Just anywhere,” Sbellenberger said. “(Jive him u blanket or something ” But the black man bad got out of the room and dtd nor nnswer Sparrel’s calk Shell eioteiger v eat on with his undressing. lie turned back the bright tulip - patterned quilt Julia had spread with care over the bed. He saw that there was only one sheet on the bed. “And 1 want another sheet, please, to sleep under and a single small pillow if you have one.” Sparrel stood looking at him, hut Julia had heard him speak, and without revealing any of the hurt to her pride, she got them quietly from the linen closet and gave them to Sparrel. Reuben, lying on the bed und looking up at Sparrel, could feel him restraining speech before his sense of outraged hospitality. “That's much better,” Shellenber ger said, apparently unaware of the thing he had done. He lay down, drawing the cedar • scented sheet over him. “Good night, he said. Rut Sparrel did not answer until he hud reached the door; then he said without warmth, “Good night." And as if remembering Reuben and Jesse, "Rest to you, boys.” Cynthia, in her room uext door, lying still and hearing the night blot out the voices: “t reckon I'll be right glad when it’s done and we live again like we ulways have, without a man Jike Shellenberger wanting to pay for his keep and tli. n doing a tiling like that. Re f or is he came we were weaving and planting and making garden und it was like the other springs. Every thing lias been in u whirl from the minute he rode into the bottom. ... Only . . . Reuben is a gen tlemun as much as Shellenberger but he sees liner into people's ways and feelings . . . and he wouldn’t come here if that man hadn’t.’’ In the morning Mullens came up to the wash rock brushing the straw from his hair ami trousers. “Where have you beeut" Ahral asked. "The barn,” he said, with a squint about his eyes. Sparrel only said, “Morning." When breakfast was over, Shel lenberger spoke to turn for tlie first time. “We'll go with the party this morning and see the lay-out. Then we’ll go on across to Gannon and figure on an opening.” There was always a magic about Wolfpen in the first hour after breakfast when the cool mist began to rise from the valley, and tlie hills and trees took form in the in creasing light. The men went up Wolfpen to the tiftb htniow on tlte ‘‘Oh, No. He Doesn't Sleep With Me. I Sleep by Myself.’’ left, turned Into it and climbed along the thin channel of Turkey creek to Its source, and then up the steep final slopes to the ridge where the line had ended the night before in a mass of underbrush. There Iteuben set up the com pass near the last corner tree, and established a course for the new departure. Ezra and Spur plunged into the thick brush, hacking it down with ax and corn knife. Abral went along behind them to keep them on the Hue, Sparrel went ahead to hunt the marked trees, and Jasper, grown skilful as head cliaiu inan, followed witli tlie measuring chain. Sparrel would i.nd the next corner tree, Iteuben would lake the bearing of the line and re-establish the corner, the ax-uian would move into the brush on the new course, and rod by rod they advuuced with the survey. All morning they toiled, crawling over fallen logs, through clumps of berry vines and greenbriers that hit through corduroy, out suddenly onto rock cliffs covered with moss and edged with pine trees where they must deiity tiie line and tind a way, around, down into sharp steel gul lies unseen since Saul Pattern tramped over them, up agin ou tlie other side, always holding to the line which Reuben set with thecoiu pass and Sparrel verilied by ttie trees. At noon they were on a ledge of rock at the very head of Wolf pen. Sparrel pointed over (lie expanse of virgin timber with his right hand. "1 reckon that will he the sectiou you get, Mr. Shelienberger.” "It looks like we could get a few poplars out of it,’’ Shelleuberger said. “Mullens and I will just go back through Lius section this aft ernoon." "We had better eat here, ‘ Reu ben said. They all went down under the deep overhanging rock clilt. it was covered with heavy moss und bor dered at its base with ferns and laurel and pine trees. It was cool and picturesque. "This is Wildcat Cave,” Sparrel said, and he told some of his hunt ing stories while they ate from the baskets Julia and Cynthia had pre pared for theta. They rested and talked, and then Reuben said it was time to go. “That ridge over there leads around to the Pinnacle above the mill,” Sparrel said to Shellenber ger. “You get nil that north slope and beyond. Bear that lu uiind and you won’t lose your way." “We'll see you at the house this (vening," Shellenberger said. , Mullens took the corn knife and Shellenberger followed him, climb ing around the cliff to the back of the ridge and then plunging again Into the woods. Mullens was a dif ferent man auiorfi; the trees. He picked the way through the giant poplars, pine, white oak, chestnut, ush, hickory, easily with the com plete surety of long experience. Shellenberger followed. Wild game started up from their approach and slipped deeper Into the timber. Slowly they went on through the forest, examining the stand of the timber, the distribution of the spe cies, the adaptability of the hol lows for skidding or driving the logs Into (iannon creek, and noting ttie best method of uttack. When, toward late afternoon, they finally came out on the ridge in sight of tile Pinnacle, Mullens said to Shel lenberger: “About ton thousand feet of long leaf pine to the acre, uud maybe two thousand to three thousand short-leaf in that second hollow." “How much poplar?" “Maybe average two thousand feet." "And the other stunr “About the same for white onk, chestnut anil ash. Maybe five hun dred feet of pignut und shellbark hickory." "What do yon think of It?" Shel lenberger asked. “Never saw a finer lot of stump nge for a loggln’ camp In my life. Just made right for cuttln’.” Shellenherger sat down and be gun to sketch In a drawing on the back of an envelope. “You’ll have to build a camp In the hollow down there below that rock. They call It Dry creek. This man has a steam-mill and he Is get ting a circular saw, so that will be easy. You cun clear out that flat there at the mouth of the creek for a collecting point. You c.’.n look at It ngaln tomorrow. 1 don't think we'll need a dam In Gannon. Maybe one In the smaller creek.” “Have you been all along Gan non creek?’ "Yes. Clear down to the Big Sandy. It’s just about right You can take forty-foot logs down It in the spring.” “What about men?" "We’ll try the natives. They’ll be cheap, and a lot of them enn hoard at home. We'll get Pattern to draw up a list of good men, and I’ve ordered In tooTh. We Just ns well get to work. He says go right ahead, and I’ll fix up money mat ters later on.” They took the path that led down the hill from the Pinnacle to the house as the day began to with draw from the western slopes. CHAPTER X THE days were easier at tlie house when the men carried their lunch with them to the hills. The rush of the breakfast hour passed, and the middle of the day was left in some peace and without hurry to Julia and Cynthia. They could have a simple dinner alone with Jesse, Cynthia brought in tlie milk cold from tlie spring-house. Julia made the corn bread and gath ered a dishpnn of lettuce from her garden to wilt In hot bactn grease and flavor with new onions because Jesse liked it that way. "How is the corn up in Barn Branch?” Julia asked. "I believe it's about the best on the place tills year.” "Will you get it finished up to day?” “I’ll be done with it about three o’clock.” “The sweet-potato patch Is ruin ing for tlie plow,” Julia said. “I plan on getting to them yet today.” Cynthia saw him slip the Cooley’s Blackstone into his shirt ns lie went out. “I guess Jesse likes to be by hini3elf to think about tlie luw that lie’s so wrapped up in. It seems such u long time ago that we set out the sweet potato plants and lie spoke about It. Maybe 1 can get time to go up to tlie patch and lay some of tlie vines up on tlie ridges for Idm.” She took time and in tlie mid afternoon, when tin- work that w’as never done was almost done, site started up to tlie House Field. Jesse had not come. She waited, looking down upon the matted vines. When lie did not come, she went on up to Barn Hollow by the cowpatb over tlie ridge against tlie line of trees. The corn was plowed, but Jesse was not in sight. She wondered where lie could tie, thinking she had missed him by going up over tlie ridge. do 1:1; <o\n!wi:u) Aided Univenalism Flosea Ballou, one of the founders of Uni versa I Ism, was born in New Hampshire in 1771. He was self-ed ucated and was expelled from his father’s church on declaring his belief In the final salvation of all men. He began to preach at twenty one and became minister of the Sec ond Universallst church In Boston in which he preached 35 years. It Is said that he preached over 10,000 sermons, none of which was writ ten before delivery. He died lo 1852. Wrap-Around Apron Frock 1961-11. Here’s the style of apron-frock you’ve been wanting, a wrap around that affords unhampered freedom of movement whether you’re scrubbing the floor, or hanging drapes. 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