The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-09-28
Misfortunes not Always Evils.
BY EMMA WHARTON.
CHAPTER I.

stud wing character IN its numerous varieties To
all Others, life assumes, more or less, u huly yday
attire, and every lace wears "A mask transparent
indeed. IN some cases. and easily penetrated, but
still serving to some extent, the purposes Of con
cealment But the physician, welcomed TO each
home as preserver aud a friend, and meeting
persons stripped of their masks, by anxiety or
suffering, reads character in the light Of truth ;
and II he be an intelligent Discerning man. noting
each case, lie soon acquires materials sufficient to
fill a volume, each page repe,e with interest and
value. Among the many Incidents occurring in
the course Of an extensive practice, none interes
ted me more deeply than the one am about to
relate.
In the autumn Of 1880, my health gave way
beheath the arduous duties OF my proiession for
with the headstrong fashness Of youth, which, ig
norant Of the burden Of responsibility ha-tens to
assume its yoke, had added to very consider
able private practice, the duties of an hospital
surgeon. My professional brethren advised me
to try the bracIng air Of the North, with entire
absence from mental effort, and plenty OF outdoor
exercise. Accordingly a few weeks saw me in
stalled in comfortable quarters AT pleasant town
ON the borders Of Lake Wnnipisiogee, whose In
dian name, Salmagund, shall retain, as more
euphonious than that given by the patriotic set
ted military leader, but partly, verify believe,
in remembrance Of their stern struggles with a
fierce animal, once aboundng in these regions
Here. every day found me either On the bridge,
fish hook in hand intent on seduciug any unwary
trout which might be indulging the luxury Of "a
quiet swim, TO nbble, preparatory to a forcible
abduction from his limpid home, Or pcrambulat
ing the woods in search of game. This was sufi-
GENTLY abundant Ia send me home at night with
n game bag well filed, q stomach prepared to
ENJOY and digest substantial supper, and with
limbs tired enough to welcome my landady S
downy couch, sure of sound sleep, very dfrr-
ent from the horrible nightmare which had been
for the last six monrhs my constant attendant the
moment | closed my eyes
| But even "misery loves companions" and be
gan to tire of the dull monutony of hunting and
/ fishing entirely alone The people Of the town
were constant workers" looking upon all sorts
/ uf diversions sinful dleness indeed ii would
| lbeeve. have been difficult TO find Young man,
regarding in the least degree his reputation, who
ever used hs gun fer any other purpose than
training aud popping the crows which nfcst.
ed their coru-fipIds. indeed, my clearly apparent
illness, could hardly in their eyes excuse my vag-
abond hatIts as they were pleased 10 consider my
wanderings
] q
loneliness to return and willie away the day in
my room ] was startled by the sharp report Of Il
rltie within ten feet If me Surprise for a mo.
ncui l.lu me moionpss and had an app.rltiou
from the other world ri-en suddenly hcloIe me, !
could hardly have J,en more a.tuuished, than
vlon. q lew mumtD', ni'er the think grGwth
i'.rtc-. Hu. .- Nlr t gun ,toui 81 ~ -ide.
% -.. s.. -n.ar. I-.-s Vas .lH' boz. On
ID. ls r.s p. ... -'r.r a., -'. ss'. r'o.
i.- ....r H,.' u"r. =. ..,.aa.. H.-. as .-n'..r
tg ... q. = .u.. .A.s, Ia-.gr' slI.A H-
.at r.--sl !.'" --r.y 9..i.. bad -u.y..1-s 's'r
..a.. u t.c m.Hy ,lu.- %. uI.- cte aui
Tuvscr-, the i"uyr ol which seemed mteud
i"r boy suG,e two OF three YEAR younger, fIr
dium- leg protrude below hem disclosing ptil
of red, bare feet, completely cSse.har leued by
exposure. His features were uunt-lectual, al
mort Wild, in their expression; while lis dark
gray eyes cleaned with the quick. restless
shrewd expression often noticed in persons who
possessing strong natural powers, are entirely
destitute Of cultivation, and frank, open smile
played round lis well formed mouth rendering
HIM, spt. of III, siugularty, rather proposing II
his appearance. a huge string of game hun.
from hi, r,,k L. which. with couple Of fox -kins
completed hi. grotesquc equipment lie hvsi
,at,d a moment only. and then addressed me
shooting and fishing about hcrsr
l replied Of course, IN the affirmative, and we
were soon upon the best Of terms My gun wa,
furnished with a percussion lock, which lie had
never seen before. lie examined it attentiyely
asked multitude Of questions which would Ger
tiinly never have occurred to \ "dunieI head
depressing the most ardent desire TO possess such
a treasure himself had fortunately brou.h,
another with me, which offered to lend linn fur
trial. He gladly accepted my offer, at the same
tine informing me that the money he had already
obtained for skins, added to the price uf those on
his arm, would pay for one, which he hoped
would procure for him l assen,ed, at the same
time inquirng how he had coniriyed to catch Sc
many foxes. lie explained the whole process
concluding with IL will tell you wha, it ia, doctor
YOU shall buy my gun, and will learn you all a.
bout it, and give YOU half the skins we get in the
bargain. Shouldn't YOU like that doctor I" anG
his eyes fairly twnkel with delight
Here was IN opening for an adventure, n digni
fed adventure, truly |. Adrian MerIden, NJ d.
nurursd On the very milk Of eXcusiyeness, boas
ting hosts Of arlstocratic relations entering into,
co partnership with bare footed, half clad demi
savage, for the purpose Of trapping foxes A
gentleman may h.h VI shoot Us much ~ lac pleas
es, without looSlng caste, or casting shade o
Suspicion upon Ills feHnCnltnt, IN Ue ntNcf'to
bc.questioned reason that fashion has stamped
them as amusemcnts becoming gentleman
But trapping foxes; horror Of horrursl But :,
: those who are disposed TO censure me, woul,
say that bud become heartily tired Of hunting
, aud fishing; reminding them at the same time
that hunting and fishing day after day, entirely
alone, is totally dlilercn, thing from nm occasion
al excursion with an agreeable party of "choic,
spirits that trapping foxes had, n, least the mer
it Of novelty: and moreover, | had become some
wha, Interested in, and very strongly dispose,
to make n study Of the character Of my new &c
quantance.
I BY the time we had concluded our agreemen,
we had emerged from the woods into u clearing
ot few acres, in the centre of which, stood lit
tle, old looking house which seemed perfectly a
dap,ed to the wants OF my partner in business
so precisely WIS it the counterpart of. him an,
his attire When. within few rods of the hous,
our path was obstructcdb by n little girl who cam
, bounding from the door, cxcaiming, 20, llarmonl
Il had forgotten to inform the reader, that hi
name was Harmon Shepton) Harmon whn
capital luck You have had today" but at this mo
mcnt perceiying the stranger, she suddenly stop
, ped, aud nesting close to her brothers side be
, gan strokipg the game TO hide her embarrass
, ment.
A loyier child, I certainly never beleld