The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-02-15
From the augusta Mirror.
OF A SABBATH BREAKER

From the augusta Mirror.
ADVENTURE OF A SABBATH BREAKER
BY ". TT.
1t was a beautiful Sabbath afternoon in
the month of September, that Mr.. Angus
tus Eugenius Vanscoick issued forth from
the door of his boarding house, and walk
ed sprucely " along the main street of
A., until he reached the common,
where he was joined by little negro
whom he had employed to convey his
gun, game bag, &C., out of town. 1t
was bright, beautiful evening, as we
have before stated the faint sound Of
the distant church bell mingled with the
Joyous chirp of the :sathered sone~:ers as
they leaped from spray to spray, in the
enjoyment of the cheering rays of the au-
tumnal sun. Mr.. Augustus Eugenius did
not feel well at ease, when he remember
ed the fourth commandment, and reflect
ed that he was in the very act of viola
ting that sacred mandate; but he endca-
vored to silence the chidings of violated
conscience, as he charged his piece and
meditated death to all the wild fowl that
might chance to come within gun-shot of
him.
He had proceeded but little ways,
when he espied a mocking bird, perched
upon the branch of tree, caroling forth
its song in its widest strains of native me-
lody. "Stop," whispered Mr.. Augustus
to himself, " there's shot" Crawling up
to convenient distance, he raised his gun
and fired; away flew the bird exceedingly
terrified, but unframed, "Strange," said
he to himself, Ihad a good aim" Hav-
ing reloaded and looked around for an OBJ
ject at which to shoot. A robin next at
tracted his attention-he crept cautiously
up-he was about to pull the trigger when
away flew the robin. He saw it light al
short distance, and hastened in pursuit.
His second attempt however, was as un-
successful as the frst-he snapped two or
three times, and when his gun d,d 60 of,
the roSii9 went off too. "That's what |
oail h.d Lct% said he, as he reloaded his
gun. &C Once lr mefs- Se cast 2. his eyes about @
in search of game, BS BSel could see none. none:
His firing had disturbed the sssea.h 'llie' ;.
of the woods, and the alarmed lhee,.-
ants had disappeared. Mr.. Augustus Eu-
genius directed his steps into the open
wood which lay before him. As he ap-
preached a small thicket of ctinquaPln
bushes, he heard slight rustling among
the leaves. He advanced cautiously, peep
ed into the thicket, walked around to the
other side and looked closer. He was
about to abandon the search, when out
flew large red-headed woodcock, and
before he could raise his gun to his face
the saucy bird was far away, chuckling at
tremendous rate as if in derision of his
pursuer. This was too bad, and our
sportsman determined to be more cautious
in future. He had proceeded but small
distance, when in another clump of BUSH
es he heard something moving. "Pll not
be bamboozled this time," whispered Mr..
Augustus, as he brought his gun up and
approached with the utmost caution. He
had passed half round the thicket, and
with his hand upon the trigger, was squat"
ting low that he might the better see in,
when suddenly large black bear sprang
from the bushes directly towards himI
The gun dropped from his hands-there
was loud scream of terror, and the next
moment Mr.. Augustus Eugcnius Vans
coick and the bear were enjoying foot
race through the woods. He thought Of
the fable, but he had no faith in acting
'possum. He cast one ghastly look be-
hind-his grim pursuer was close upon
him-the next moment he had grasped
the trunk of sapling and was climbing
for life. He did not dare to look below.
until he had ascended some fifteen or
twenty feet; he then ventured to recon-
noitre his foe, when, greatly to his con-
sternation, he bcheld bruin hugging the
trunk of larger tree, which not till then
he discovered grew close by the side of
the one he was upon. He watched the
bear with increasing terror, and when he
saw him fast moving up towards him, and
observed his huge claws and frightful tusks,
he began to imagine himself torn to pieces
by the ferocious animal. Bruen had near