The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-06-11
The Family eircic.
A Night Among The Wolves.

When a settlement was first made in
South Kentucky, one of the great dan
gers Of the colony was the universal
presence Of the wolf among those prai-
ries any the woods. The large, gaunt
brute inhabited every solitude Of the
plains, every recess of the mountain.
Around the "Green River lay heavy
forests into which no one ventured TO
60 unless armed with a gun, and ready
to meet the savage animal at every turn.
Sill, as the soil was fruitful, the climate
pleasant, healthy, and equable, the coun-
try rich in productions, and every re-
ward offered to industry, no one cared
for these perils, and settlement rose
and prospered in that shady wilderness.
Farms were scattered over the plain,
and the harn-yards were robbed Of
calves and pigs; belaied wayiarers
were attacked and sometimes even
child was carried away.
Gradually there was a population in
South Kentucky. There wns town
here and there, and there were many
plantations, especially little way be-
low the Green River, which pours its
waters into the "rolling Ohio" Hen
derson was one Of the most prosperous
of these, but it was grievously haunted
by wolves.
Henderson took its name--which ex-
tended TO n whole country--from
family Of wealthy planters located there.
Now, they had an old black slave, call
ed Dick, who was a skillful fiddler but
good for little else. Nothing did he
know, and nothing did he like, bu,
the art Of charming music from an
old violin. Yet he was an important
msn-the most important "gemman oh
color" in all that country. Nothing,
for forty miles round, could 60 on with
out his presence. Who could dance in
the Juba ring; who could fly round in
the festal circle on "cornshucking day !"
who could bless the merry nupiials of
the slaves; who could trip Il 10 the
moon at "breakdown7 feRsts, unless
Dick the fiddler was there? None of
these things could be enacted without
him; 80 he was in continual request
He master was wealthy and good-na-
tnred and allowed him to have very
much bis own way. lie called him.
indeed, Unnecessary nuisance" because
he kept the blacks 10 good humor by
the magic Of his old violin.
II is said that all iiddlers have two char
neutrality-suspicious. and pune
,usliiy. These, IN the ease OF black
Dick, tilled up, rs Il were, n sort OF sup
plemenlal moral code. lie would in
dulge you on other points, but unless
you kepi yoar appointment, and unless
YOU behaved with propriety, Dick was
no, only severe bot implaeablc. IL
hapIcncd once that a grand marriage
festival took place among the ''ooiored
people" Mt n plantation about -ix mile.
from henderson. Oli Dick, OF coarse,
vas Summoned TO ac, as musician and
master Of ceremonies, lie dressed him
selL lie pat on his blaze coat, with Il,
long tails aud ilara,ng gils buiioas. lie
RULED brilliant craynt round an im'
nsensciy high shiri-ooilar, s,arched ~
slifm Diaah ooald starch Il, iIe allow,
"a the younger negroes 70 leave beior,
him. because, though be liked P1neiuAl
iiy, BE- uoah never acmeaa himself b,
uaiocodnins hasic. and, uhea ready
6ddlc under he srm--he salIied forti
Aione.
u had been a severe winter 1h'
o0l1 bright sian werr hurning dospll
IN he clear sky. The snos was erisl
and crscticd under his feet llis VA
lay lor tbe Inosl IaH along 3 Har0s
path through forrest, ahere ihere "a
net a ~ssoa road foF Hsiies, aad ~hgr'
si ir'ervsis bEo'sd Flar, opened 70 ID
eye, Lalf fsli a hgia hum the mos
half fan offha4ort ron o. trees