Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-03-10
A NIGHT AHONa THE WOLVES.
ny J. G. WHITTIER.

Nv buuht VOL,
Seeming the place of Slaughter with his long,
And mos, offensive howl, did ask for blood.
The wolf!..-,he gauut and fcrocous Wolff
How many tales OF wild horror arc associated
with the name! Tales of the deserted battle
horrible and obscene banquet, realizing the
fearful description of the siege Of Corin,h, when
''On the edge Of the gulf,
Therelsat \ fasen Ga,aing wol[''
amidst the cold and s,i.lrning corpse Of the
slain---or Of the wild Scandinavian forests,
where the peasant sinks down exhausted amid
the drift OF winter, and the wild VOLTS howl
sounds feariuily in his dcaenng ear, and lean
forms and e,ilryes gather closer aud closer a.
round him, as II impatient for the death Of the
doomed victim.
The earlier settlers Of New England were
not unfrequently incommoded by the numbers
and ierncity OF tho wolves. which arowled a.
round their rude settlements. The hunter ca
silly overpowcred them and with one discharge
Of his musket scattered them from about his
dwelling. They fled even from the llmid 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 liendish and
ferocions appetite Tor blood.
] have heard fearful story Of the wolf,
from the lips Of some of the old settlers OF Yer
mont. Perhaps il may he best told in the Ian
guage Of one Ct the witnesses of the scene.
Twas a night OF January. in the year IT,.
We had been TO a fine quilting frolic, about
two miles from our settlement of four or five
log houses. twas rather aie--.here was no
moon-.-and a dull cray shadow or haze hung
all around the horizon, while overhead few
pale and sickIy locking stars gave us dull
light as they shone through dingy curtain.
There were SIX Of us in company Harry Ma
son and myself. and four as pretty girls as cv-
er grew up this side Of the Green Mountains.
There were 2y two sisters, and Iiarry's SIS
ter, and his sweetheart the daughter OF our
next door neighbor. She was Il right down
handsome girl---,hat Caroline Allen. never
saw her equal, though | am no stranger to
pretty faces. She was so pleasant and kind
Of heari-.-so gentle aud sweet spoken, aud SO
intelligent besides. that every body loved her.
She had an eye as blue as the hill violet, and
her lips were like red rose leaf in June. No
wonder then, that Harry Mason loved her.
hoy though he was---for VIC had neither Of US
seen our seventeenth summer.
Our path lay through a thick forest Of oak,
with here and there a tall pine rising its dark
full shadow agains, the sky, with an outline
rendered indislinctly by tho darkness. The
snow was deep---dceper great deal than it
ever falls of late years.--but 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 long howl came to our ears. We all
knew II In q moment; and | could feel shud-
der thrilling the arms that were folded close
to my owu---a sudden cry burst from the lips
of all OF ,is--."tle wolves!---the wolves!"
Did you ever sec wild wolf---not one Of
your Gagged, broken down, show animals, which
are exhibited for sixpence sight, children half
price; but fierce, half starved ranger of the
wintry forest, bowling and hurrying over the
barren snow, actually mad with lunger?--.
There is no one of Gods creatures wlIcl, has
sucl, frighlfuI, fendish look as this animal.
1t has the form as well as the spirit Of demon.
Another and another howl---a.id then we
could hear distinctly the quick pat,er of feet
behind Us. We all turned night about, and
looked in the direction of the sound.
The devils are after ,s, said Mason, point
ing 10 line Of dark gliding bodies. And SO
in fact they were---a whole troop of then-
bowling like as many Indians in poww0w.
We had no weapons Of any kind; and we
knew enough Of the nature Of the vile crea-
lures who followed Ms 10 feel that it would be
useless to contend without them. There was
not moment to lose---the savage beasts were
close upon Us. To attempt flight would have
been hopeless affair. There was but one
chance Of escape, and VIC instantly seized up
il.
ITO the tree! let Us climb this tree!" cri-
ed, springing forward to a low bcughed and
guarded oak, which saw at glance might
be easily climbed into.
Harry Mason spring lightly into the tree,
and aided in placed the terrified girls IN Plsce
ofcomparalive security among the thick bongls
was the last on the ground. and the whole
troop were yelling at my heels before ! reach-
ed the rest Of the company.---Ihere was one