The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-08-02
THR DoCTOR's nEAn-FIGmT.
nr JoIIn :. 9. IAcksoa, y. D.


] win make AZ quick work Of as possible.
had finished my medical education, aud had
diploma 10 that effect, together with suiIi-
ciepcy OF cash, clothing and letters Of intro
duotion in my saddle-bsg, when ] crosscd the
river, one morning, at Memphis, and rode
into the depths Of Arkansas. wns barely
tweny-thrcc, thin, pale, weakly but very en-
'tliusiOstie. Icxulted iT my profession, and
longed to bo sottlcd-and healing every body
OF every thing. Il was a long hot ride to the
scttlcment aimed TO make my home. For
three days rode on and oh,througl region
OF Ewamps, and ponds, and lakes, and gloomy
forests, and heavy darkness and slcnco--a
very valley of the Shadow OF Death was this
entrance OF mine into manhood. The whole
land was covered with swamps, and giant
cotton trees stranglcd and clothed with hoary
moss ponds covered with green scum, and a
road distinguished from the bogs and pools
among which it wound only by being bed
-,,g- -va.sd, ;---allsaAll pond and atmos-
phere, seemed dead and rottHg. Danto's
Inferno would have been thrice horrible had
Il been painted in such land. There is n
SPARKLE and kecnncss about the agony Of his
hell Of FIRE whirl, give It's victims at least the
10Y ofifc Hero. was living tirath--nn e.
tcrnal nighTnafc. if0wCvUr, tuugrc--- ita-
made iaw by which, believe these swamps
ore given 10 those who redeem them from the
river, aud fow years may see che whole re-
gion the richest and weAlthest agricultural
country in the South. ~
on the afternoon Of the third day, ] arriy-
ed within a few miles of tho ncighhorhood 20
which | was recommended. AIightinp,
stuck my pep-knife in a tree, hung a pocket
glass on Il, shaved, brushed my hair, and
then rode into said ncighborhood as frcsh hs
If just off th0 floor of the Lecture Room of
old Jefferson.
was received with true cordial hospitality
and in few days had been introduced to the
whole neighborhood. Every thing was ex-
ceedingly rough, but exceedingly honest and
cordial. Fortunately for me- their last doc
tor had left, just before arrived, for that ev-
erlasting California, and ] had the whole
fcld 10 myself But was young and in fec
bic health IL was necessary that should
become hearty, popular, whole-soulcd, whole.
Drained map, before could consider myself
fully established against any rival who might
come in. Now, the old Colonel, with whom
/ boarded had been a great bear hunter. The
whole population were OF the same way Of
tbinking--and- had rather iaunted me with
my extreme ignorance on the subject.
Itwould never do. would be considered
rttitf,,l a-faslittle- until
/ could bpast Of having been in a bear-Gght
"coloneL. said ], ono night rs, we arose
from the supper-table, "what do you say to a
,bearhunt p. The Colonel took a chew Of
tobacco and a chair. lyon know this is OK
actly the season; you are not pressed with
your cotton just nowi the dogs arc in fine
TRIM
The Colonel rested his feet on the mantle,
spit, and said nothing whatever
81 "Why5 you see"--said he, at last, very
,slowly, "l have not been out on hunt for
years. "Pm getting old--don't care much
about IT,"
Ivory well knew that the Colonel's indif
ference was from some otheprauso. l knew
no rather doubted my ability, in body or spir-
it, for such thing as bear-fght. ! was
rather pale, thin and STOPPING
"Col" said ], sis that the only reason you
don't care to go?"
spoke in sharp tone, and with a 1ush-
jng faoe.
"The fact is, doctor, you don't know what
bcar-hunting is We would have 10 ride
some miles off into the swamp. It's full of
logs and bayous and tangled thickcts, and
Sou could never keep up with us. You
would get lostr--gct torn all TO picees-gct
starved and eaten by wolves before you could
be found--if ever you were found. You see"
continued he, "whcn one fcaTs tho dogs tiIFy
forget ali politeness---cant stay behind with
youa III tell you what will do You want
10 take q hupt--yory we'll. I'll walk with
ydu over 20 the prairie tomorrow. We win
bc sure TO shoot q turkey, perhaps a buck
DE-, il you like, I'll help you to haul out the
longest cnt y0n ever saw, from the river"
"Colonnl, l wish 70 take a bcar-hunt to
morrow. / will bc glad OF youCc0mpaHy
. Hyou will not go, will ride over and get the
tiFahAnAsl'
twas sometime, however, before could