Fewer Hands Are Required; And They
Are Generally Under The Control Of The Carpenter Who Puts Up The
Frame, And If They Get Drunk During The Raising They Are Liable To
Meet With Very Serious Accidents.
Thirty-two men, gentle and simple, were invited to our bee, and the
maid and I were engaged for two days preceding the important one,
in baking and cooking for the entertainment of our guests.
When I
looked at the quantity of food we had prepared, I thought it could
never be all eaten, even by thirty-two men. It was a burning hot day
towards the end of July, when our loggers began to come in, and the
"gee!" and "ha!" to encourage the oxen resounded on every side.
There was my brother S - -, with his frank English face, a host in
himself; Lieutenant - - in his blouse, wide white trousers, and red
sash, his broad straw hat shading a dark manly face that would have
been a splendid property for a bandit chief; the four gay, reckless,
idle sons of - -, famous at any spree, but incapable of the least
mental or physical exertion, who considered hunting and fishing as
the sole aim and object of life. These young men rendered very
little assistance themselves, and their example deterred others
who were inclined to work.
There were the two R - -s, who came to work and to make others work;
my good brother-in-law, who had volunteered to be the Grog Boss,
and a host of other settlers, among whom I recognised Moodie's old
acquaintance, Dan Simpson, with his lank red hair and freckled face;
the Youngs, the hunters, with their round, black, curly heads and
rich Irish brogue; poor C - - with his long, spare, consumptive
figure, and thin sickly face.
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