Lumber Lyrics

In Short

This collection of prose poems, originally published in a trade journal, offers a lighthearted yet practical philosophy for the retail lumber dealer. Through rhythmic, conversational verse, the author champions the virtues of optimism, informed salesmanship, and community engagement. By framing the humble joist, sash, and door as the essential building blocks of civilization, the book elevates the hardware merchant from a mere clerk to a foundational architect of community life. It remains a charming artifact of early twentieth-century American commercial optimism and small-town pragmatism.

The Story

The narrative arc of this collection moves from the seasonal cycle of the lumber business to the deeper, almost spiritual, importance of the trade. It begins in the depth of winter, urging the weary dealer to set aside the "lath and plaster" to find joy in the holidays, reminding them that their labor—providing the very wood for the world’s shelters—is fundamentally tied to the warmth of the home. As the cycle shifts to spring, the tone becomes more industrious, contrasting the "mossback" who sits in the shade with the hustling dealer who recognizes that "balmy spring" is the time to build and grow.

The author then pivots to the "Knowledge is Power" philosophy, recounting his own habit of pestering merchants with questions. He uses these anecdotes to argue that a dealer must know his stock intimately to truly serve his customers. This leads to a series of vignettes about the "pioneers" who built with crude axes, contrasting their hardships with the modern convenience of a well-stocked lumber yard. The argument deepens: a home is more than wood; it is a monument to family life. The author’s persona, a man who has never sold a board but has bought many, serves as a bridge between the dealer and the public, suggesting that successful business depends on sincerity and personality.

The journey continues through the seasons—from the "nipping, eager air" of October, when farmers talk of building, to the wet, difficult springs that test a dealer’s resolve. The author insists that rain is merely a harbinger of future crops and, consequently, future sales. As the book progresses, the focus shifts to the "mixer"—the lumber man who involves himself in community affairs, from parades to the fair treatment of laborers. The conclusion emphasizes that a house is an act of faith and that the dealer, by selling honest, seasoned lumber, is essentially "building trackage toward the better times." The final pages serve as a New Year’s resolution for the trade, asserting that prosperity is not a gift from the gods but the result of "vim and snap" and the refusal to be a "shiftless chap."

How It Unfolds

The holiday reprieve The author demands that the lumber dealer close his ledger to celebrate Christmas, reminding him that even the hardest-toiling man deserves to shed his burdens and act as young as the children watching for reindeer.

The call to spring action As the frost melts, the prose turns toward the rhythmic pulse of construction, urging the reader to abandon the gloom of winter and prepare for the inevitable rush of customers looking to build cribs, barns, and houses.

The lesson of the curious buyer Through a series of humorous encounters, the author demonstrates that a dealer who cannot answer questions about his own products is failing both himself and his patrons.

The anatomy of a sale The author explores the art of "suggestion," showing how a dealer who listens and offers helpful advice turns a minor purchase of shingles into a full-scale order for a barn or a shed.

The test of the season Facing the frustrations of a rainy, stagnant spring, the dealer is coached to remain an optimist, viewing the mud as a promise of future abundance rather than a reason to despair.

The final assessment The collection closes with a reflection on the New Year, stripping away the superstition of luck and placing the responsibility for success squarely on the dealer’s own persistence and personality.

The People

The book is populated by archetypes who serve as object lessons for the reader. The author, who admits to being a "fat" and curious wanderer, acts as the primary voice, representing the customer who values a merchant with both knowledge and "charm." He contrasts this with the "mossback" dealer—a man who sits in the shade and refuses to advertise—and the "dumm" dealer, who either cannot or will not provide facts about his goods. Then there is the "mixer," the ideal merchant who takes an active, boisterous role in town life, proving that business is a social act. The farmer, such as "Hiram" or the concerned "Mr. Dabbs," represents the essential customer whose needs for barns and houses drive the trade. Finally, the "Curtis" brand functions as a character in itself—a standard of quality that ensures the wood won't warp or shrink, representing the reliability that allows a dealer to sleep soundly at night.

In Its Own Voice

"Christmas is the happy season! Though the weather may be freezin’, human hearts are thawed!"

The author begins the collection by urging merchants to set aside their business concerns and join in the universal spirit of the holidays.

"The dealer who is prone to talk until you hear him round a block, is worse than t’other kind of bird, who’s never known to spring a word."

The author offers a balanced view on the art of conversation, suggesting that a salesman must talk just enough to be helpful without being a nuisance.

"There’s nothing looks so dad-blamed punk as some cheap door that’s warped and shrunk."

In a characteristically plain-spoken moment, the author identifies the importance of quality, asserting that the physical state of a product reflects the integrity of the merchant.

What It's Really About

At its core, this is a secular sermon on the dignity of labor and the vital role of the local merchant in the American social fabric. The author argues that commerce is not merely the exchange of coin, but a foundational act of community building. By emphasizing that a lumber yard is the bedrock of the home, he elevates the merchant’s daily chores to a noble service. The central theme is that optimism is a professional necessity; a dealer who focuses on the gloom of a rainy season or the difficulty of the market is destined to fail, while the dealer who views every board sold as a contribution to the "better times" will inevitably thrive.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the folksy, rhythmic cadence of early twentieth-century American prose will find this book a delight. It captures a specific moment in time when the retail trade was treated with a mix of high-minded idealism and down-to-earth humor. It is a quick, spirited read that feels like a conversation with an optimistic uncle who has seen many winters and remains convinced that the world is worth building.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes embedded in the text. The author’s casual, occasionally flippant mentions of lynching or his generalizations about "injuns" and other groups reflect the cultural limitations of the early 1900s. These remarks are jarring by contemporary standards and serve as a reminder of the era's lack of sensitivity. Furthermore, the dialect—peppered with slang like "plunk," "doodads," and "dadblamed"—can feel repetitive if read in one sitting. Yet, for those interested in the history of advertising, trade culture, or simply the evolution of the "self-help" genre, these lyrics offer a unique, if sometimes challenging, window into a bygone philosophy of commerce and character.