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MICHIGAN FOOD & BEES BY A. D. P. VAN BUREN
Then some adventurous settler climbed to the top of the building taking a bottle of whisky from his pocket, took a good "swig, " swung the the bottle around his head three times, threw it to the ground and named the building. Three cheers were given by the party and the raising was over. The old brown jug of whisky was passed about freely at the raisings and the bees, to all who wished to drink. Much care was necessary in regard to offering whisky to the Indians; they were inclined to drink too much. I saw old "Sam-o-kay, " at a logging bee, drink until he became dead drunk before he stopped.
Sidney Sweet was the first man in our settlement who attempted to raise a building without the aid of whisky. He made two trials and failed. Some of the jolly settlers had declared he should not raise his barn without whisky. But he gave an extended invitation the third time, and appealed to the lovers of temperance throughout the entire region, including all Climax. It was the largest gathering I ever attended of the kind; the best men on Climax and the district east of it were there. The building went up with a will. Mr. Sweet treated his help each time to hot coffee, biscuit, and doughnuts. This was a victory over the bad habit of having whisky at raisings, and Sidney Sweet deserves praise for this first move in the cause of temperance among the early settlers. It gave encouragement to others, and soon it was as easy to raise a building without whisky, as it had been with it.
LOGGING-BEES.
What an incalculable amount of valuable timber in this country has been cut down, logged up and burned to ashes! There appeared to be no help for it. It must be cleared off and room made for the plow.
Michigan
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