The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-04-22

is no punishmentso great as a guilty
conscience, and the searings ofremorse,
which is ever killing, but never kills. ?
''''7 u From the Pittsburgh Saturday Visitor.
Our Panther Adventure. - 81, v, .
Quite number Of friends have call.
ed to ask us about this affair; and 10
crafty them we shall, as they request,
"tell all about it." Mr.. Swiss, once
when he came home from Arkansas,
broughtoa few pets--a panther, two
bears, and deer-which he called his
"Arkansas State Stock" We felt ter
rifed to see him handle them like span.
iels; but like all the rest Of the men,
our fright only made him more ven
turesome to show US there was no dam
ger. He kept them all chained in the
yard. Tom was fastened in his cage
at night, but in daytime it was left
open, to let him leap the length Of his
chain after pigs, poultry, dogs, cats, and
whatever else came in his way
There was no use pleading the value
of geese and turkeys. The amusement
of watching a panther spring was loo
fine, too much in accordance with mas
culine tastes to be given up lightly
Tom was very large, and savage to
strargers.o The sght.of child made
him furious. This filled US with the
idea that some day he would kill some-
body's child; but Mrs. justiaughsd at
US, and would insist upon our making
Toms acquaintance; SO we set about
studying his moods and lenses in good
earnest, thinking that any power we
could gain over him might be Of use
some day. '-.,.,' .''.,, 700 ~ g (:
One morning we -Mere. awakened BY
loud screaming in the yard. Tom kill
ing a child, was the one idea az we
sprang out Of bed and ran down stairs.
As we reached the middle of the stair
case, Tom himself dashed in at the hall
door, and we saw the two hired men
running for the barn. When the brute
saw us just before him he stopped and
crouched as though he would spring,
then turned and leapsd into the dining
room. Our first thought was of the
two children up stairs, and their mother
far away, who had no thought about
anything happening them with u.s.
Our next was to keep him in the room
until Mr.. S. should be found. We got
the reom,door shut, then flashed the
thought Of the windo ws; he would leap
out there, get off 10 the woods, and
there was not a chubby urchin in the
country that we did not see in his claw aws.
No use calling to the men; we had seen
them running. live shrieked the chill
dren would wake and be down--then
what9 As the thought occurred to run
out and stand guard at the windows to
deter him from getting out, James
came running with the chain and collar.
We were as glad 10 see him, as on
our wedding day. We went into the
70 ON with him, with an indefinite pur-
pose to d. something, and with our
brain filled with visions of murdered
children. We placed ourself at the
window, while he followed the fright
ened brute as he skulked round the
room unwilling 10 be taken. After
some time Of commanding and coaxing,
he got the collar on and made FAST
then we breathed more free: but now
Tom took a notion he would not move
an inch. Down he lay. There was
nothing to fasten the chain to, and
what was to be done? Again the
mangIed children came up to view. III
his cage was there he would run into it
but that weighed more than hundred
pounds. We took a good look al Tom
and saw that his eyes, were not green,
80 we knew he had mo notion to hurt
any one just then, SO with some per-
suasiofn we got James to trust the chain
and collar in our hand while he went
for The cage. After charging us to keep
our eyes on the animal's7-for a panther
will never, leap at you when you look |
him in the, eye--and standing to see,
eft quickly, for the cage; when he
reached it, it did not come readily, and
losing bis presence of mind. thinking
where he had left US ran back without
it, norl.would he go again, although |
Tomohad lain quiet in, our custody.--
He was pale with fright as he rushed
n and snatched athe nchain. This the |
saw, and taking advantage |
became unmanageable. He'now tried
3 eet '6s but OF The room, but We had |
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