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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE. 359 THE COOK OF EURISOO SAWMILL. A WAY up among the Sierra Nevada Mountains, alxmt il five miles from the town of T , there stood, in the spring of '71, a large sawmill owned by the Carlyle Brothers. They had agreed to furnish a largo amount of timber to a certain company who were to build an immense flume during the summer, and the mill was got in running order as soon as possible. The mill was five miles from any habitation, and stood in a lovely glen, with huge mountains rising on throe sides of it; a lonely place, it must be admitted, but soon to be mado lively by tho buzzing of saws, shouting of teamsters and shrieking of the whistle. The mill, with its surrounding buildings, formed quite a little village. There was the large barn, with its corral for the tired oxen to repose in on Sundays; two or throe cabins scattered around, for the accommodation of the men, and the dwelling house, which stood noar tho mill, and consisted chiefly of a largo dining room, whore tho hungry "boys" were wont to rush in to their moals im mediately after the whistle blew. But this spring, just before the opening of our Btory, George Carlyle, the elder brother, had a wing containing parlor and bedrooms built on, and had moved his wife out there. She was a delicate little woman, who thought the change would do her good. The brothers also dotor mined that they would, if possible, get a white woman to do the cooking for the mill crew, as they had borne the infliction of Chinese cookery long enough. But whore to get one was the question. A woman who would go to that lonely place and cook for ton or fifteen men was not to be easily found. However, the younger brother, Dun (who was the head sawyer),9 was obligod to go down to Sacramento to get some new machinery, and he volun teered to find one. He reached Sacramento, ordered his machinory, and the day before he started back sot out to find a cook. Passing the store of an old acquaintance on J street, he entered, thinking that perhaps his friend could aid him in the search. A lady stood by the counter dressod in deep mourn ing. Her veil was down and he was unable to see her face. He greeted his friend warmly, and then Baid: "Mr. Bronson, I am in trouble, and I want you to help me out of it if you can. You see, the boys have got tired of Chinese cooking up at the mill; and, bb my brother has built on an addition to the house, and moved his wife out there for tho lionolit of her health, wo thought we would try and get a woman to do tho cooking this summer. I have rashly agreed to find one, Biid am Icrfectly at a loss where to look. Can you tell mo where I would be likely to succeed ? " The lady standing by tho couuter threw up her vnil and turned her face toward the shaker. It was the face of a woman of perhaua twenty-two, a very Utuutiful face, in spite of the shadow of sorrow in the brown eye "I beg your pardon," she said, while a flush rose to her cheek, "how far is it to the mill of which you nwik?" " Five miles from T ho resmled. " How many men to cxk for ?" site asked. " From ton to fifteen," was tho reply. " My fathor owned a sawmill oneo, and I cooked for the men," she said " I think I could satisfy you if you will lot me try. I assure you I am quite a good cook. Will youtako mo?" Dan tried to hide his BurpriBO. " Yes," ho said; " when can you como ? " " When tlm mill starts. When will that Ik ? " " A woek from Monday." " I will bo in T on Saturday," hIio said. "Very well," said he; "I shall meet you thoro and convey you and your baggage to the milL What name shall I inquire for ' " " Mrs. Winchester," she replied, and paused quickly out of the store. Mr. Bronson laughed. " Well, Dan, you don't hooiii to need a groat deal of help from mo in this matter." "Who is she, anyway ?" asked Dan. " She is a widow who has Issm in hero twice boforo looking for work; but I should certainly have hcsiUtoil before recommending a young and lovely woman like her to you, to go up thoro and oook for a sawmill crew. You must take good caro of her." "I'll try to," laughed Dan, and ho tho Htibject was droppud. Whon ho reached the mill the first thing his Bislor-in. law asked him was if he had got a cook. He Raid yes, and told her of his huccobh. On Saturday ho took the light express wagon and drove into town. Ho arrived thoro just as the Hbigo drove up. A lady in deep mourning and cloaely veiled alighted. Dan knew her anil approached. "This is Mrs. Winchester, 1 beliovo ?" "Yes." " Which is your trunk ? " When they reached their (Instillation Mrs. Carlyle camo out to welcomo tho new "cook," and hIiow her to her room. She saw at onco that she wan a lady, and wondered not a little at her accepting such a Nituation when she was ho manifestly well fitted to fill a much higher one. But she was still more surprised to tm how naturally she took hold of things in the big kitchen, and went to cooking as if she hail mn used to it all her life; and Saturday evening found Nuch a Mippor served up a only a thoroughly good cook can serve. On Sunday tho rest of the mill boy arrived with tlnir blankets and baggage, prepared for their summer'a cant, paign. The cook was, of course, talked about a great deal, and many were the curious and admiring glance at her as she quietly wailed on the table; but they were goutlemauly in their manner toward her, ami loud in their praises of her as a cook among themselves. On Monday moruing tho whistle blew at ail o'clock, and immediately afUr breakfast there was a loud noi of escaping Bteam to lie heard, and the white clouds wreathed round the roof of the milL A log wm rolled on the "carriage" ami "dged"; steam wa let mm; Dau graiqied tho lever; tho saw buzed; tho carriage