American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-11-12

s9l authentic .4necdote. related By II. Oldecop OF
st. Petersburg.
The return OF the victorious Russian army which
had conquered Finland under the command OF ge-
neral Buxhovden was attended with Circumstance
which is true, has at all times been usual ia the
grain Of large armies, but which naturally took place
10 much greater extent in these high northern la
;ludes, where the hand Of man has SO imperfectly
subdued the original savageness OF the soil Whole
droVes OF furnished bears and wolves followed the
xroaps their return to the south, to feed on the
chance prey afforded by the carcases Of the artillery
and baggage horses that dropped on the road. In
consequence oil this, the province Of Esthonia, 10
which several regiments directed their march, was
so overrun with these animals, as greatly to entan-
ger the safety q travellers. Hence in a single cir
ale OF the government, no less than forty persons of
different ages were enumerated, who had been de-
youred during the winter by these ravenous beasts
Z became hazardous t. venture alone and unarmed
.ato the uninbabed parts Of the country, neverthe-
less an Esthunian country woman boldly undertook
journey to a distant relation, not only without any
male companion but with three children, the young
est OF which was still at the breast. A light sedge
drawn by one horse, received the little party: the
way was narrow but we'll beaten, the snow on each
side deep and impossible, and TO turn back. without
danger Of sticking fast, not TO be thought or
The first half OF the journey was passed without
dLSlUCtts HS ESIu NOW ran along the skirts OF q
pine forest, when the traveller suddenly pei ceved a
suspicious noise behind her. Casting back look
al alarm, she saw troop Of wolves trotiing a!on
ihe road, the number Of which her fears hlndeieG
her from estimating. To escn by Right is her
first thought; and with upsparing whip she urges
into gallop the horse, which itself snufs the dan
ger Soon couple OF the strongest and most hun
cry OF the beasts appear at her side and seem dis
posed 10 stop the way.--Though their intention
GpPp1 70 ha opIv To ~. IL.
both OF the mother and of the children depends on
the eserYation Of the animal. The danger raises
ls value; il seems entitled to claim for lis preser
Vatio1 an extraordinary sacrlhce AS the mariner
throws overheard his richest treasures 70 appease
she raging waves, SO here has necessity reached
height at which the emotions Of the heart are dumb
before the dark commands Of instinct; the att. r
alone suffers the unhappy woman to act in this dis
tress. She seizes her second child. whose bodily
nhrmilies have often made it an object oil anxious
care, whose cry even now oHsnd3 her ear and threa
yens TO whet the appetite of the blood sty mon
slsrs-she seiZes II with an involuntary motion and
before the mother is conscious of what she rs doing
i is cast out, and--enough Of the horid tale. The
last cry ofthe victim still sounded in her ear. when
she discovered that the troop, which had remained
some minutes behind, again closely pressed on the
sledge. The anguish Of her soul increases Tor again
the understanding forms are at her side Press
look on her boy, four years old, who crowds closer
and closer to her knees " But, dear mother, ! am
good, am not You will not throw me into the
snow, like the bawler?'-" And yeti and ye,!'' cri
ed The wretched woman, in the wild tumult of des
pair" Thou art good but God is rnerciful!-
Away" he dreadful deed was done. To escape
he iuries that ragged within her, the woman exert
I'd herself with powerless lash, to accelerate he
gallop Of the exhausted horse. With the thick and
gloomy forest before and behind her, and the nearer
end nearer irampline of her ravenous pursuers she
smost sinks under her anguish; only the recoJlec
lion Of the infant hat she holds in her arns-onlv
the desire to save it, occupies her heart, and with
jilculty enables it to bear up. She did not venture
% look behind her All at once, two rough paws
ate laid on hes shoulders and the wide open bloody
Jaws of an enormous wolf hung over her head. 1t
IS the most rayenous beast of the troop which hav-
iag patty missed Its leap at the sedee, is dragged
long With it, in win seeking wish its hinder legs