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Show boxes a finer appearance. As time went by and ideas developed, he used black velvet to cover the outside of the box. His generosity extended to all, and people came from great distances for this type of needed help. Each autumn, he lifted the box from his wagon, made the running gears longer, and traveled to Ogden Canyon to obtain wood for the winter. Log chains were taken along to bind the return load securely onto the wagon. The trip usually took three to four days. Getting the logs home was only part of the task. They had to be cut into lengths and then split to fit the fire box. Rather frequently in the spring when the snow in the mountains thawed, the run-off into Mill Creek was too turbulent for the low bridges to stand its force, and they became washed out. When this happened, Sylvester was prepared with a boat of his own handiwork to be used not only for the convenience of his own family, but to help other people cross the floods. When flood season was over, the boat was used for sporting and "sparking" up and down the lazy, winding stream, where tree branches overhung the creek banks on both sides. His five daughters learned to row the boat with as much speed and skill as his two sons. They all had their turns at being "ducked" into the water when they weren't able to hold their equilibrium, if some member of the rowing party decided to rock them out. Many were the times when these brothers and sisters stayed out in the sunshine to dry their clothes before going to the house where they were certain to be reprimanded for "taking risks," as Nancy Ann often reminded them. Indians were frequent callers to their home, among them being one Chief known as "Old Soldier." The squaws liked to come during apple season harvest, and after much laughter and loud crunching of the fruit, filled their aprons with more apples, and said they would come again. When the Indians had more meat than they could carry with them, or could use at the time, they asked permission to hang it in Sylvester's granary, and then requested him to distribute it out to other members of their tribe as they came along in need of it. During the winter of 1887, the meat they left was not called for until the weather began to modulate, and Sylvester, fearing it would spoil, sent word for the Indians to come for their food. When they arrived for it, they said they hadn't worried, because they knew he would take good care of it. The two "buck" Indians who came each had a horse, but the two squaws with them shared only one horse. Still, it was the two squaws who made room on their horse between them for the meat; one sat as close to the horse's neck as she could, while the other slid back until she nearly ran out of horse. In this manner, the Indians rode away with their meat. Catching swarms of bees for himself and his neighbors was one of Sylvester's delights. He had a narrow strip of cloth sewn 231 |