The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-12-04

anu Ddnlel nlauc tnelr rtcOTuS, their histories
are verified by the peaceful movements of the
nations of our day.-Boston Chronicle
SCENE IN THE BACKWOODS.
FROM 'ROUGHING IT IN THE BUsH' BY MRS NOODLE
Still, with all these misfortuncs, Providence
watched over us in a signal manner We
were never left entirely without food. Like
the widows cruise of oil, our means, though
small. were never suffered to cease entirely
We had been for some DAYS without meat,
when Noodle came running in for his gum
A great she-bear was in the wheat-feld at
the edge of the wood, very busil " employed in
helping to harvest the crop There was but
one bullet, and charge or two of buck-shot.
in the house; but Noodle started to the wood
with the single bullet in his gum followed bv
little terrier dog that belonged to John
E. Old Jenny was busy at the wash
tub, but the moment she saw her master run
ming up the clearing. and knew the cause she
left her work, and snatching up the carving
knife, ran after him, that in case the bear
should have the best of the fight. she would
be there to hel lp ''thc masthcr" Finding her
shoes incommodcd her, she flung them off. in
order to run faster 4 few minutes after
came the report of the gun and heard Moo
die hallOO to r, who was cuttiuc stakes
for fence in the wood. hardly thought it
possible that he could have killed the bear
but | ran to the door tolistcn. The children
were all excitement, which the sight of the
black monster, borne down the clearing upon
two poles. increased to the widest demonstra-
tions otioy. Noodle and John were carving
the prize, and old Jenny. brandishinC her
carving knife, followed in the rear.
/ The rest of the evening was spent in skin
ming and cutting up and sailing the ugly crea
tnre, whose flesh filled barrel with excellent
meat, in flavor resembling beef. while the
short grain and juicy nature of the flesh gave
to it the tenderness of mutton. This was
quite a GodScnd. and lasted us until we were
able to kill two large. fat hogs. in the fall.
A few nights after. Noodle and I cncoun-
tered the mate of Mrs Bruin while rcturnino
from visit to Emilia, in the depth of the
wood.
We had been invited 80 meet onr friends
father an! mother, who hal come nm nm :,
short visit to the woods and the evening
passed away so pleasantly that i was near
midnight before the little party Of friends
separated. The moon was down. The wood
through which we had to return, was very
dark the ground being low and swamnv and
the trees thick and tall There was. in mar
tcular, one very ugly spot. where small
creek crossed the road This creek could
only be passed by foot-passenrcrs scramblno
over fallen tree. which. in dark nieht. was
not very easy to find. begged a torch Of
MIR NJ; but no torch could be found
Emilia laughed at nv fears still, knov;no
whata coward was in the bush of a niobt
she found up about an inch of candle which
was all that remained from the EVENINGS on
tertanment. This she put into an old lam
tern.
at will not last YOU long; but it will carry
YOU over the creek"
This was something gained. and off we set
1t was so dark in the bush, that our dim can
die looked like solitary red spark in the in
tense surrounding darkness. and scarcely
served to show us the path. We went chat
ting along, talking over the news of the ev-
enng, Hector running on before us, when I
saw pair of eyes glare upon US from the
edge OF the swamp, with the green, bright
light emitted by the eyes of cat.
"0'd you see those terrible eyes, Noodle ?"
and clnns, trembling, to his arm.
8" hat eyes ?" said he. ftisning ignorance.
Its too dark to see any thing. The light is
nearly gone, and, if YOU don't quicken vour
pace and cross the tree before it goes out.
you will, perhaps, get your feet wet by falling
into the creek"
"Good heavens! ! I saw them again and do
just look at the dog"
Hector stopped suddenly, and STRETCHING
himself along the ground, his nose restipo
between his tore-paws, began to whine and
tremble. Presently he ran back to us and
crept under our feet. The cracking of bran-
ches, and heavy tread of some larre an;m,,
sounded close beside u.s.
Noodle turned the open lantern in tn. d;
reetlon from whence the sounds came and
shouted as loud as he could, at the same t;mo
endcayoring to urge forward the tear-str;cL
en- dog whose cowardice was only equalled
by my own.
Just at that critica. moment the wick of tb,
candle filckered a moment in the socket and
expired. Wewere left, in perfec. darkness
alone with the bear-for such VIC supnosed
the animal to be-
t My heart beat audibly; cold perspiratior
was streaming down my face, but neitbe,
shreked nor attempted to run. don't know
t how Noodle got ME over the creek. One of
my feet slipped into the water, but. expect
lhg, as | did every moment, to be devonre,
by master Bruin, that was thing of no con.
sequence. My husband was laughing at M,
= tears, and every now and then he turned r.
5 wards our companion, who continued follow.
ing US at no great distance, and gave him an
: enCOuraalnn shout Clad anounL