Log Rolling

From "Lexington" by Mary Wilson and Sharon Y. Asher, published sometime after 1975.

LOG ROLLING

Log rolling was practically an art among folks a century ago. The hands gathered early for it was usually a long, hard day. The number varied with the size of the clearing. Since each hand meant a days work in return, there was no sense in having too many, but a man was considered mighty stingy who had too few. The hands were divided into squads of eight and the battle was on.

Skill and sense were both necessary in building log-heaps for a well-built heap would burn up with attention and a poorly built heap would have to be "chunked" from one to a dozen times. A sensible heap was one built of proper timber. Sycamore and gum wouldn't burn well so they had to be mixed with hickory, beech or dead timber.

Each squad had a captain who was chief architect of the heaps. A heap that wouldn't burn was called a "cropper" and two or three of these would ruin a captain's reputation as a roller.

A feature of the rolling was the dinner. When the hands were invited, the last word was, "Be sure now to bring the old woman with you." Some of the women were famous for their pies and cakes. Each one brought some articles of table service and all looked forward to a great dinner! And they were seldom disappointed. The young girls waited tables and washed dishes. There was wit and sensible conversation in abundance and big appetites!

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