“It is poor economy to have barely help enough to get along, providing the weather is just what you would wish. I shall plough less, and dress heavier than I have done; that will leave less ground to go over. I think we can get along till hay and wheat harvest, then I will hire George Kendrick; he can spread, rake, build the loads of hay, tie up grain, and reap a little; he’s but a boy, and won’t want much wages.”
Although they could not set to work upon their new land till autumn, the boys were teasing their father to go and measure it, and their grandfather said it was a pleasant day, and he would go with them.
When the boys came to see how large a piece of land was contained in a measure of two acres, and how near together the trees were, their courage cooled a little.
“If we are to cut all these trees,” said James, “snow will fly before we get half done.”
“You haven’t got to cut half of ‘em clear off. If I was twenty years younger I could fall the whole and lop off the large limbs, and burn and pile it in eight weeks.”
When the time came to clear their land, the old gentleman went with them, and spotted a great oak with long spreading limbs.
“That’s the driver; that’s not to be cut yet.”
He then spotted a great number of trees in a line before it, and in a space as wide as the branches of the great tree extended. He then directed the boys to cut the tree nearest the drive-tree nearly off, and the next ones less, and the next less still, till the outside ones received only a few blows.
While the boys were at work, the old gentleman began leisurely to chop into the great tree, sitting down to rest when he liked, till he had cut it as nearly off as was safe. This occupied him the greater part of the forenoon, and, seating himself in the sun, he slept till James shouted that they had cut all the spotted trees.
“Then come here, all of you.”