Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-03-02
SCENE IN THE BAcKwooDs.

ehuIeiy "l'uout lOod Like the widow S cruise of
OIL, our means, though SMALL were never suffered to
cease entirely. We had been some DAYS without
mat, when Moodie>came running in forhis gun. A
graat she-bear was in the wheatfeld at the edge of
t wood, very busily employed in helping to harvest
ts crop There was but one bullet, and charge or
tvb of buck-shot, in the house, but Noodle started TO
ZIG wood with the single bullet in his gum followed
bia little terrier dog that belonged to John E..
cd Jenny was busy at the wash-tub, but the moment
sic saw her master running up the clearing and knew
te cause, she left her work, and snatching up the
ewing knife, after him, that in case the bear
sould have the best of the fight she would be there
tdhep ''the masther." Finding her shoes incommo-
dq her, she flung them off, in order to run laster.-
New minutes after, the report of the gun, and
beard Noodle halo to E, who was cutting
likes for a fence in the wood. l hardly thought il
pssible that he could have killed the bear but ran
tGhe door to listen The children were all excite
nsnt, which the sight of the black monster, borne
dNn the clearing upon two poles, increased to the
widest demonstrations ofjoy. Noodle and John were
Crying the price, and old Jenny, brandishng her
ctving-knfe, followed in the rear
p'he rest of the evening spent in skinning and
.rag ufp and s,sius risursiy g1easdre, wTose esh
Ned barrel with excellent meat in flavor resembling
Def while the short grain and juicy nature of the
dsh gave 10 it the Tenderness of mutton. This was
lite a Godsend, and lasted us until we were able to
xii two large fat hogs, in the fall.
. A few nights after, Noodle and | encountered the
mite of Mrs Bruin, while returning from visit to
Emilia, in the depth of the wood.
We had been invited TO meet our friends father
aud mother, who had come up on short visit to the
w,ods and the evening passed away so pleasantly
fat it was near midnight before the little party Of
fiends separated. The moon was down. The wood
Trough which we had to return, was very dark; the
ground being low and swampy, and the trees thick
and tall There was, in particular, one very ugly
s,ot where a small creek crossed the road, This
creek could only be passed by footpassengers scram-
bling over fallen tree, which, in dark night, was
noivery easy TO find lhegged torch of Mr.. NJ +;
bud no torch could be found. Emilia laughed at my
feas still, knowing what coward was in the bush
of night. she found up about inch Of CANDLE which
was all that remained from the evenings entertain
ment This she put into an old lantern.
st will not last You long but it will carry you
over the creek
;trhis Mas something gained, and off we set twas
SOLITARY red spark in the intense surrounding darkness
ana scarcely served to show the path We wen
chatting along, talking over the news of the evening
Hector running on before us, when saw pair Of
eyes glare upon us from the edge of the swamp with
the green bright light emitted by the eyes of cat.
"Did you see those terrible eyes, Moodie!' and
clung, trembling, to his arm.
"NVhat eyes 20 said he, fegning ignorance. otis
too dark to see any thing. The light is nearly gone
and, if you don't quicken your pace, and cross the
tree before it goes out, you will, perhaps, get youl
feet wet by falling into the creek"
Good heavens saw them again and do just
look at the dog"
Hector stopped suddenly, and stretching himself
along the ground his nose resting between his fore
paws, began to whine and trembe. Presently he rar
back to u.s. and crept under our feet. The cracking
of branches, and heavy tread of some large animal
sounded close beside us.
Noodle turned the open lantern in the direction
from whence the sounds came and shouted as loud as
he could, at the same time endeavoring to urge for
ward the fear-strcken dog, whose cowardce was on
ly equalled by my own.
Just at that critical moment the wick of the candle
fckered moment in the socket, and expired. We
wtS left in perfect darkness, alone with the bear
for such we supposed the animal to be.
My heart beat audlbly cold perspiration was
streaming down my face, but neither shrieked nor at
tempted to run. | don't know how Noodle got me
over the creek One of my feet got into the water
but expecting, as did every moment to be devour
ed by master Bruin, that was thing of no conse
quence Ny husband was laughing at my fears, ant
every now and then he turned towards our companion
who continued following al no great distance, and
gave him an encouraging shout. Glad enough was
when / saw the CLEAN of the light from our little cab
in window shine out among the trees and, the mo-
ment | got within the clearing, ran, without stop
ping until was safely within the house. John wa;
sitting up for us, nursing Donald He listened witt
great interest to our adventure with the BEAR ant
thought that Bruin very good to let us escape
without one afectionate hug.
"Perhaps it would have been otherwise had he
known, Noodle, that you had not only killed his gooC
lady, but dining sumptuously off her carcass ev
cry day."
The bear was determined to have something in re-
turn for the loss of his WIFE Several nights afte
this, our sumbers were disturbed, about midnight, by
an awful YELL and old Jenny shook violently at ou
chamber door
'Masther, masther, dear Get up wild you thi.
manent. or the bear will destroy the cattle ntrely'
Half asleep Noodle sprang from his bed, seized his
gun, and ran out. threw my large cloak round me
struck light. and followed him 10 the door. The
moment The latter was Enclosed, calves that W.
were rearing rushed into the kitchen, closely follow
ed by the larger beasts who came believing headonl
down the hill, pursued by the bear.
1t was laughable scene, as shown by that paltr,
talow saddle Noodle, in his night-shirt, taking ain
something in the darkness, surrounded by the Ter
rfed animals old Jenny, with large knife in he
hand, holding on to the white skirts of her master
garment, making cutlery loud enough to brighten ava
all the wild beasts in the bush-herself almost in
state of nudity.
"Och, maisther, dear don't tmpt the ill-condtion
ed crathur wild charging too near; think of the VIII
and the chlder Letme come at the managing basic
an IN st;cL tho knifa into the heart of him. 4"