Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-08-04
AN AFTER DINNER STORY.


ny life in which my fate, as predicted by an old
fortune teller, was near being fulfilled, which
will tell you, and also the singular manner Of my
escape:
In my infancy, was called the /" little cub"
not from any badness Of temper, or clumsy ex-
tremities, (for enjoyed the common reputation
Of being "very fine child,') but from this cir.
cumstance My father had fancy for pets of
all kinds, among them was well grown bear, as
tame and gentle as kitten; and during the
height Of the hurricane of 1904, while the fam-
ly were retreating from the dwelling to the kitch-
en- for greater safety,t being lower to The ground
and stronger frame, my nurse was blown over
with me in her arms, and in the fury of the storm
and the blackaess,pf darkness, she lost hold Of
me, and could not be found. The family bad
reached the kitchen, and was soon followed by
the nurse, screaming higher than the wiud but
her terror and that of my parents was gone in a
moment, for the bear stepped in, walked upright
y, and holding me safely and softly in his en-
brace. Hence, for many years after, ! was
known in the family and the village as the "litte
cub" Now this, with all the perishable record
in nursery tales, had passed out of my memory
when was most disagreeably reminded of it I:
and introduce it because it furnishes the key to
my story. While student at Philadelphia,
accompanied two young ladies from Georgia,
| thpu Hnuhinn fhoir odr ~ J;n,
school, to fortune teller, in Callowhll street,
who had great notorety for her wonderful dis
closures of the past, and ful6llment of her pre-
dicons for the future need not say that
went merely for the pleasure of waiting upon
the girls, and to crafty them, for they had been
looking to the appointment impaticntly, and were
full of rose .colored anticipuiions in the coming
examination of their fair but lreacherous palms.
We were admitted separately into her presence
and when it came my turn, stood before the
prophecies with the same Indifference would
before an owl, which she very much resembled
She noticed this, and was angly, for she ex-
peced great awe and Difference She took my
right hand and traced its lines minutely, then
consulted her chart, and with much form and
soemnlty pronounced my fortune. | paid the
accustomed fee, and laughed in her face. She
sprang from her seat and caught my left
hand hers was cod, and trembling with rage.
She made hasty survey, and then darting at me
a look Of black revenge, she muttered beneath
her snake. like teeth :" Your life was saved by a
bear, and it will be taken by bear! Now CO..
said she, dnd she waved her bony hand towards
the door. But was motonless, pale, and con-
founded. She saw my discontinue, and in turr
she gigglcd in my face,and left me to my reAec
,ions. | recovered in few minutes from tht
nmazement in which she left me, and joined the
young ladies in the reception room. found Ma
ry very happy, and Jane very sad and in tears
Mary controlled her joy in sympathy for he
companion, aId we left the house in silence, no
was it broken until we reached the seminary
We rested on the steps, and told our fortunes tc
each other Poor Jane tried to laugh at ny
prospects, and took my leave.
graduated the following spring, and returned
to Georgia. The young ladies also completed
their course, and returned to their homes. 1t il
needless to say was not annoyed at the oil
woman's allusion TO my infant adventure, for
happened thousand miles off, and twenty year
before, and | had almost forgotten it myself
More important matters, however, engaged m
attention, and, regarding it only as something
very singular dismissed it from my mind. Te
years after. was present at an inauguratio
ball at Milledgevile, and among the gay, fash
ionable assemblagc of ladies, was delighted
see my Philadelphia friend, Mary she was lear
ing upon the arm of distinguished member {
Congress, whom knew very well, and with tn,
ease and confidence which at once assured m
he was her husband. took the earliest oppol
tunity to approach her, and renew our acquan
ance She seemed sincerely glad to NEE. mi
and as was natural with friends separated for s
long period, our inquiries were directed TO ou
histories in the intervening time. She told IN
she had crossed the water, had seen strange pei
pie, and hea I'd strange languages, for her fatht
had taken his family with him while minister
foreign court that she had lost near relativ
!, her mother); had married young, and the man
her choice, and statesman, whom the peop
were pleased to call distinguished ;"all of whicl
you will remember, was predicted for me on yol
visit to Callowill street, to the very Ielter;" an
! she added hurriedly, "you must have heard
f poor Jane? She went step by step, as was fort
told for her on the same evening. She ha
, many suiiors, married injudicionsly, was neg
lec,ed and almost deserted; lived unhappily, an
, died yonng Is it not strange p she asked; the
: looking at me, she said Do you ever think
\ that dreadful bear"
left Mhledgeville few days alterward, an
having no travelling companion, thoughts gre
deal of what had heard from Mary, and dete
mined, if extreme prudence and caution won
avail anything, would at least falsify the o
hag's prediction in regard to myself. And
!, confess, gentlemen, in,y your repeated bear hunt
nothing could have attempted me to join 20
. But with all my management to avoid my threa
ened destroyer, was fairly caught One NOR
ing, when returning from one of the upper plan
ations, and passing the western angie of Col
: mel Dicks river bank, heard piercing screa
8 of distress, and it was repeated again and agai
+ The negro who padded the cance,. exclaime
: Master, what's that?" Aad again the CT
rung in our ears. directed him to paddle ,
n quickly to the spot; and taking up my riff
o which always carry in the alligator season,
Jumped ashore and ran down the bank hu
dred yards or more until, opposite the spot fro
. which the screams proceeded. was exct
Is by curiosity to discover the sufferer, and the no
u TO relieve him. and leaped into the swamp, a