It took effort to dispel the desire to think, to wonder.
Upon his return to the house, he went around on the valley side, so as to see the place by light of day.

His father had built for permanence; and evidently there had been three constructive periods in the history of that long, substantial, picturesque log house.

But few nails and little sawed lumber and no glass had been used.

Strong and skillful hands, axes and a crosscut saw, had been the prime factors in erecting this habitation of the Isbels.
"Good mawnin', son," called a cheery voice from the porch.

"Shore we-all heard you shoot; an' the crack of that forty-four was as welcome as May flowers." Bill Isbel looked up from a task over a saddle girth and inquired pleasantly if Jean ever slept of nights.