The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-12-30

"The Woif!-tbe gaunt and ferocous wolf =
How many tales Of wild horror associated wit
its name Tales Of the deserted battle ield-wher
the wolf and the vuture feast together-a horribl
and obscene banquet realizing the fearful descrip
tiop If Cornth, when
"On the edge of the gulf
There tapping WOLF
amds the cold and stiffenng corses of the slain; o
of the wild scandinavian forests, where peasan
sinks down exhausted and the drift of winter, an'
wild wolf howl sounds fearfuly in his deafening ear
and lean forms and evil eyes gather closer and clos
er around him, as impatient Tor the death oil tn
doomed victim.
The early settlers Of New England unfre
quently incommoded by the numbers and ferocity
of the wolves which prow around their rude settle
ments. The hunter easily oyerpowered them, anC
with one discharge of his musket scattered then
from about his dwelling. They fled even from Tho
timd child, in the broad glare of day-but in the
thick and solitary night far away from the dwelling
of men they were terrible from their fendish and
ferocions appetite for blood.
81 have heard fearful story of the wolf, from
the lips of some of the Oldest settlers OF Vermont
Perhaps may be best told in the language of one
of the witnesses of the scene.
"'Twas night of January, in the year l7.-We
had been to fine quilting frolc, about two miles
from our settlements of four, or five log houses
Twas rather late-about twelve o'clock / should
guess--when the party broke up. There was nc
moon--and dull gray shadow or haze hung al
around the horizon, while overhead a few pale and
sckly looking stars, gave us their dull hght-tlley
shone through dingy curtain. There were SIX o
us in company--IIarry Mason and myself, and foui
as pretty girls grew up this side OF the green
mountains. There were my two sisters and Har-
ry's sister and his sweetheart, the daughter of our
next door neghbor. She right down hand
some girl-that Caroline Allen. / never saw her
equal, though am not stranger to pretty faces
She was so pleasant and kind of heart-so gentle
and so sweet spoken, aud so intelligent besides that
every body loved her. She had eye as blno as
the hill violet and her lips like red rose Leaf
in June. No wonder than that Harry Mason loved
her-boy though he was-for we had neither of us
our seventeenth summer.
60 Our path lay through thick forest Of oak, with
here and there tall pine rising ITS dark full shad-
against the sky, with outline, rendered inds-
tnct by the darkness. The snow was deep-deep-
er a great deal than it falls of late years-bu the
surface was frozen strongly enough TO bear our
weight, and we hurried on over the white pathway
with rapid steps. We had not proceeded far before
a low, long howl come to We all knew
j, in momcnt and could feel a shudder thrill
ling the arms that were folded close to my own as
sudden cry burst from the lips of all of US the
woiyes--the wolves =
ssDd you ever sec wild wolf-not of your
Gagged, broken down, show animals, Which are ex-
HlDHeu lOIa slNpCHCc Slgut, cHluTcH uii pIiCC-
but fierce half starved ranger Of the wntcry forest,
bowling and hurrying over the barren snow, actual
ly mad with hunger = There is of Gods
creatures which has shcha friShtfuI, fendish look,
as this animal 1T has the form well as the spir
ii of demon.
"Another and another howl--and then we could
hear distinctly the quick of feet behind us.-We all
turned right about and looked III the direction of the
sound.
The devils are after us, said Mason pointing to
a line of dark gliding bodies. And in fact they
were--a whole troop oftbem-howling like as many
Indians in powwow. We had no weapons of any
kind; and we knew enough of the natures of the
vile creatures who followed us to feel that II would
be useless to contend with them. There was not
moment to osc--the savage beasts were close upon
ns. To attempt flight would hnve been a hopeless
alair.-'There was but one chance of escape and we
instantly seized upon it.
:" To the tree; let us climb this tree T" cried,
springing forward toward low boughod and gnarl
ell oak, which saw at glance might be easily
cimed into.
Harry Mason sprang lightly into the tree and
aided in placing the terrified girls in place of Sc
curity among the thick boughs. | was The last on
The ground, and the whole troop were yelling at my
heels before | reached the rest of the company.
There was one moment of hard breathing and wild
excIamations among us, and then feeling of calm
thankfuness for our escape The night was cold
aud we soon began to shlver and SHAKE like so
many sailors on the topmost of an Iceland whaler.
But there was no murmurs-no complaining among
us, for we could distinctly the gaunt aenua,ed
bodies of the wolves beneath u.s. and every now and
then could, see great, glowing eyes, and staring up
in the tree where we seated. And then their
yells--ihey long and lood aud devish
" | know not how long we had remained in this
situation for we had no means of ascertaining the
time--when heard the limb of the tree cracking,
ft,o e
us; and moment after, agonzing shrek went
through my ears like the piercing of knife. A
light form went plungng down through the naked
branches, and Iel with dull and heavy sound upon
the stiff snow.
"Oh, God! am gone ~
1t was the voice of Caroline Allen. The poor
girl never spoke again There was horrid dizzi-
mega aud coufitsion i'm my brain and I snolo ,ot-