cordwood

one of the first jobs grampa got when he came to canada was cutting firewood. he was paid $1 dollar per cord; a cord is 4ft x 4ft x 8ft of cut split and stacked wood. this was done with a hand saw and axe; i have done 1 cord in a day with a chainsaw and it is alot of work. it cost grampa about $1 dollar a day for lodging and food; he would cut 1.25 cords per day so he could have some money to spend on saturday night. he soon found work in the mines; here he was issued a shovel and sent to the bottom of the mine to "muck out the shafts". this was the only work they would give an irishman to start. hard, dirty, dangerous work; talk about start at the bottom! in just a few years grampa worked his way up to become a driller and blaster; this was a top job underground. his hard work ethic and good nature served him well all his life.