Part 26 (1/2)
”You can use pus!”
”You have enough to reach fro all about you”
”Trees!” said Wad ”They are not puh,” replied Jack ”They only need cutting, boring, and jointing All pus were once trees These s for the purpose; you have acres of the out You can use the straight stems for your aqueduct, and the limbs and branches for firewood”
”That's an idea!” said Rufe, rubbing his forehead and walking quickly about ”But how are we going to turn our tree-trunks into pu”
”No, and it would cost a good deal to get theh to bore half-way through your longest log; then a bit,--an inch bore would be large enough, but I suppose it would be just as easy, perhaps easier, to ged and cramped in a smaller hole; then a reamer and a circular joint-plane, tois to be fitted into the bore of the next, you know You will also need so the rod, so that you sha'n't bore out, but make your holes meet in the middle, when you bore from both ends; and I don't knohat else I've watched s, but I don't remember all the particulars about it”
”You seeood deal,” said Wad ”And I like the idea of a strea in our back-room,--think of it, Rufe!
But it _can't be did_,--as the elephant said when he tried to climb a tree No tools, no money to buy or hire 'eood deal of the work yourselves,” said Jack ”You can cut the logs, and get theet the pump-maker at the Mills to come over with his tools and help you bore thes to him, and have them bored by machinery,--he has a tread-mill, and a horse to turn it In either case, I've no doubt you could pay for his labor by furnishi+ng logs for his pumps”
”I believe we can!” said Rufe, by this ti the logs? They have to be put pretty deep into the ground, don't they?”
”Deep enough so that the water in them won't freeze A trench four feet deep will answer”
”Hoide?”
”Just wide enough for a ether And, by the way, you'd better be sure that there are no leaks, and that the water cos”
”But there's work in digging such a trench as that!” said Wad, shaking his head
”So there is work in everything useful that is ever accoreater the satisfaction in the end But you boys have got it in you,--I see that; and, let me tell you,” said Jack, ”if I were you, I would take hold of things on this place in downright earnest, and et in love ork,” replied Wad ”I'ht of that trenchjob as you suppose You've only to take one stroke with a pick or shovel at a time And as for that constitutional weariness you coet rid of it,--to work it out of your blood,--and lay the foundations of your manhood”
”I must say, you preach pretty well!” observed Wad
”I'm nota good deal, and saying just a word, when I see young fellows like you neglecting your opportunities”
”If father and Rad would take hold with us, ould just straighten things,” said Rufe
”Don't wait for your father to set you an exah I've heard you speak of him”
”Our cousin, Radcliff,” said Rufe ”He's a smart fellow, in his way, but he don't like work any better than we do, and he's off playing the gentle the loafer,” said Wad
”Let hientlemen loafers around”
”Did _you_ ever do much hard work?” Wad asked