timber

(1977 May 22 or so)

I heard the door bell and here stood Delbert Whiteis and Mr. Schoonover, the tree cutter, wearing very long faces indeed, and all over taking down my old elm in back, re: my dear neighbor Mrs. Stibbe. She, too, had an old elm, which Mr. Schoonover took down for $80 - $200 job for her permission to go on her land to take down my tree, so no part of my dear old Butternut would have to be removed in order for the tree to fall properly toward the Pine River. However, the Stibbe tree did happen to fall in such a way as to mar her lawn - in the back and she at once took back her offer - called all the Wheels she knew in town, threatened this & that - and on the whole made a fool of herself - tho feared. So there was no way for them to take down my elm tree unless I gave permission for one limb on the river side of nut [tree] to come down. I would not be so ignoble and small as Mrs. S., so I at once said certainly, go ahead. I always quail when high winds rock that tree. If it did fall on the Stibbe garden building below, she would surely take me to Court. It is in tight places like this I miss Lorin L. But I know what I shall say hereafter if she asks my permission to gather nuts.