Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-09-12

turned into little stream 10 explore its source. He
saws:
Fir and hemock OF century's growth met over
head and formed archway, radiant with frost work
All was dark within; bul was young and fearless
and as eered into unbroken forest that reared it.
self on the borders of the stream, laughed with very
Joyousness; my wild hurrah rang through The silent
woods. and stood listening TO the echo that reverbefI
aed again and again, until all was hushed.
Suddenly sound arose, it seemed 10 me to come
from beneath the ice; it sounded low and remulous
at first, until it ended in low, wild yell | was ap-
pal!ed. Never before had such noise met my ears
thought it more than mortal: so fierce. and amidst
such an unbroken solitude, il seemed though from
the tread OF some brute animals and the blood rushed
back to my forehead with bound that made my skin
burn and felt relieved that had to contend with
things earthly and not spiritual my energies returned,
and looked around me for some means of escape
as turned my head to the shore, could two dark
objects dashng through the underhrush at pace lear.
y double In speed 10 my own. By this rapdity, and
the short yells they occasionally gave, knew at once
that these were the much dreaded gray wolf.
had never met with these animals, but from the
description given of them, had very little pleasure III
making their acquaintance. Their untameable fierce
ness, and the unerring strength which seems part Of
their nature render them objects of dread to every be-
nghted traveller
There was time for thought; so I bent my head
and dashed mady forward Nature turned me to-
wards home. The light flashes OF snow spun from
the IRON on my skates. and was some distance from
my pursuers, whence their fierce howl told me | was
their fugitive. | did not look book did not feel
afraid or sorry. even glad thought of homes
OF the bright faces awaiting my return, OF their tears
if they should never again, and then
ergy OF body and mind was eXerled Tor escape | was
perfectly at home the ice. Many were the days
that | had spent on my good skates, never thlpking
that at time they would be my only means OF safe-
ty.
Every half minute alternate yelp from my fero-
cous followers told me too certain that they were in
otcc ardp fhoEy haof
their feet paering the ice still nearer, unt could
feel their breath and hear their snutfng scdt Ev-
cry nerve and muscle in my frame was STITCHED to
the utmost tension. The trees along the SHIRE
ed to dance in the uncertain light and my taln turn!
ed with my breahless speed yet they Fill SEEM
ed 10 hiss forth their breath with sound 1uly horri;
BILE, when an involuntary motion my Ehrt turned
me out OF my course The wolves, close fhind. unz
able to stop, and unable 10 turn the mooth ices
slipped and fell, still going far head; ir tongues
were olling out, their white tusks. garng from heIr
bloody mouths their dark shaggy breasts fere feeced
with foam, and they passed me their Ses glared,
and they howled with fury.
The thought flashed on my mind that b this means
could avoid them, viz by turning asle whenever
they near for they, by the for1aon of their
feet, unable TO the ice in a sthght line.
At time, by delaying my turning 100 long, my
sangulnary antagonists came so near thathey threw
the white foam my dress as they spring to seize
me, and their teeth clashed together like lie spring of
fox trap.
Had my skates failed for instant, hatI tripped
on stick, caught my foot in a tishure the ice.
the story am telling would never havebeen told.
l thought all the chances over; knew when they
would take hold of me if fell | thought low long
it would be before died and then there would be
search for the body that would already have It's tomb!
For oh how fast mans mind traces out all tie dread
coos of deaths picture, only those who have been SO
near the grim original can tell
But soon came opposite the house, and myhounds
II VOIceS-rOuSeu
ed furiousv from the kennels heard their chains
rattle how [ wished they wond break them! and
then would have protectors that wond be pee TO the
fercest deniZens of the forest. The wolves, taking
the hint convey ed by the dogs stopped IN their mad
career, and after moments consideration turned and
fled watched them until their dusky forms dlsap-
peared over a neighboring hill. Then taking OF my
skates, wended my way 10 the house, with feelings
which may be better imagined than described. But
even vet never see broad sheet of ice in the moon.
shine. without thinking of the snuffng breath, and
those fearful things that followed me closely down
the frozen Kennebec
MUSICAL FuRN1TURE-" No Mrs. Brown replied
Mr. Smith. 1--WE hare nit" q You are quite right VIC
have no piano in the house" Why, that's odd,
Mr. Smith, Perhaps SO, madam-but we cam
afford to have piano. Dear me!-is that the
reason Mr. Smith q "The money is not much,
madam--but there other considerations. In the
first place, madam, | am a nervous man, and hate
dscordant noises of every kind To be sure con-
trve to endure the crying of the baby because That
is inevitable and not conventional nuisance that
one can be rid of at will. But musical furniture to
be manipulated for disagreeable sounds, with malice
aforethought the lawyers say-thdt Is different
thing, and there is apology for: Besides,
madam there is another reason why we don't keep
| piano. Mrs Smith can't afford to compromise her
present standing among people OF true gentity oy
complying with vulgar customs and nothing IS
more thoroughly vulgar madam. than PTetence OF
music Cor Of any other accomplishment, indeed,J
when one has no gift that way. Ms Smith knows
| her deficiency, and does not seek to remedy 1t by
false pretences- which deceive nobody. 10 excel
in an ornamental art. is undoubtedly an accomplish
ment:' > to torture either the MUSES. or the Graces
with ignorance and inapttude is only to make our;
self subject for ridicue. Mrs Smith can't afford
it, Mrs Smith L concurred with the other branch,
and Mrs. Brown departed.
| DECIDEDLY CooL-A very cool answer from Il
sophomore is ndeliby recorded among the memories
of our college days.
| Professor - had a peculiarly red nose so
red. indeed that it usually deemed sign that
the interior of the temple dedicated to Bacchus
Upon this point the Professor was peculiarly senslS
tive. ....
One day chestnut propelled by some invisible
hand hurtled across the and came so Violent
" in contact with the learned gentleman's bald
pate that gancng off, it spun almost up to the cell
ing.
| :. Mr. F." thundered out the Professor, i" that
was you sir know it, sir; don t-deny it, sir, your
bushes betray you. sir"
do you think that blush, sir 7" modestly asked
the student.
g Blush :" retortcd the Professor. " Your face is
| as red as beet.'
Pardon me, SIR" replied F., /" 1 think it's on
IL of Ia cLol