Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-03-13

larger tree, which, not till then, he dls-
covered grew close by the side OF the
one he was upon. He watched the
movements of the bear with increasing
terror, and when he saw him rapidly
descending, and observed his huge
claws and frightful tusks, he began to
Imagine himself torn TO pieces by the
ferocious animal. Bruin had nearly
reached him, when he consulted his
safety by moving higherup. He had
assembled until the sapling bent with
his weight, and he could go no higher.
He looked beneath, and the bear was
fast approaching! What was. to be
done? To descend was certain death
and to remain promised a no better
fate, the bear was soon opposite him,
and with an awful grin, that showed all
his teeth at once, he extended his paw
towards Mr.. Eugenius Augustus Van
Scoik, who, with a convulsive shudder,
drew himself into the smallest possible
compass, and chung close to the oppo-
site side ofthe tree, by which mears he
barely escaped the sharp claws Of the
animal. Rather than undergoth the ago
ny of such close encounter with his
grim antagonist, Mr.. Van Sock resolv-
ed upon a change of position, and, re-
taxing his grasp, descended few feet.
/! Bruin soon placed himself directly OPP
posite, and again renewed his doubtful
salutations. Up went Mr.. Van Sock,
and up went the bear. We will not at
tempt to describe the looks exchanged
between them, nor the peculiar sensa-
tons of our sportsman, under the cir
cumstances-as the saying is, "they
may be better imagined than describ-
ed" ~e-f .-e5s S'Ie.f
Thus the party remained, with occa-
sional slight variations of attitude, for
some time, until the bear, probably be-
coming fatigued, gradually descended
to the ground. Hope revived within
the bosom of Eugenius Augustus Van
Scoik. Now, thought he, if he will
only go away. But bruin was not to
be got rid of so easily-instead of ia
king his departure, he deliberately
stretched himself at the root ofthe sap.
ling, as if resolved upontaking his prey
by siege. sa e..-
1t had now grown late-the sun was
/ fast declining, and Mr.. Van Sock had
the melancholy prospect of a roost a.
mong the tree-tops for the night, pro-
vided he survived SO long. Alas, too
late he repented the sinful violation of
the Sabbath, which had led him into
the awful dilemma in which he found
himself. Too late he wished that he
had obeyed the summonso of the church.
bell, and gone to the house of worship,
where, if he prohted nothing, he would
at least have been out of harms way;
and as he cast his eyes down, and con-
templated the object of his terror, a
superstitious dread came over him
like that which ever haunts the guilty
that the bear was but an instrument
in the hands of Providence, and had
been specially commissioned to devour
him, as the same animal had once been
sent to destroy the scoffers Of Elijah
Such and similar thoughts passed
through his almost frenzied brain, and
he would have given all, the right, title
and interest he had, or ever expected
to have in this world, to have been re-
leased from his dreadful situation.
| AS the shades ofevening approached
despair had nearly taken possession of
| his faculties; when, for the first time
during his perilous adventure, the
sound of human voice broke upon his
ear. He listened ,andhis pulse throbb
ed with new life, as he heard uttered in
| a low monotonous strain,a well-known
negro chant
| One moonlight night, as hf
| walk'd along,
| hear dis masic
Close behind, 5@ ~ 9 sa3J43e
| s~ yQ+ g Never pay much 'tention--
eHello! -help!-help, here!" shou-
ted Mr.. Van Sock with all his might.
s 8a{ Never pay much 'tention-
Repeated the negro, not hearing the
call for help, as he went on with his
ditty, keeping time with the palms of
his hands against his thighs
\ looked around
| And what should it be
But a big ole bucky harel NR
| seae sef y A big ole buckley hare, 81
| 49, Yes Tassa,
| A Big ole buckley hare!
|. hitch'd 'cTAto my wagon, 1875
| s ass.Aa AMI he wouldn't work dar---.
/ s Ihitch'd 'em to my cart, $3.50
( And he wouldn't work iar-
mscn'd ZEN to my plough, ,ssis
I sasa 9gfa e Now didn't he rair ! ilaA bsg.
ftII.l11 IL -,