Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-09-06

benefit.
By the time ! had recovered my senses
sufficiently to leave The bright visions of
the future, and calmly consider nv pres.
ent condition, the sun was sinking behind
the hills. O1coursc had no intention Of
going any further that night, as, by Icav.
ing the location in the dark, might fail
to find It again; and | was in no humor
10 run any such risk. should have men.
toned before lh.l / was not travelling on
any lralI, but over the mountains. with no
guide but my compass and the sun. On
feeling in my pocket for my matches to
IlgAt fire, found that had neglected to
bring them. Muttering u slight 0nathema
on my folly in not carrying firearms,
mnnched a piece Of hard bread for my
supper, and laid down in my blankets for
the night. Hay awake some time looking
up into the heavens as the blue vault grew
darkerond darker, and the stars came out
one by one. remember thinking, lust
as | went 10 sleep, that it was the darkest
night | had ever seen, and dreamt that
made several millions in the claim had
been prospecting, the whole Of which de.
voted to lighting the mines with gas.
1t must have been midnight when
owoko. My throat was dry and parchcd,
and got up to qucnch my thirst at the
stream. Bending over, drank freely,
and bathed my head in cold water. heard
a rusIIlng in the bushes behind me, and
turned TO see what it was. Maria San.
tlSs1na ! huge black animal was stand.
ing on my blankets, dcyourng my uroyis.
ions ! once had doubts in regard TO the
possibility Of human hair ASSUMING under
the influence OF terror, the erect position
asserted by the worthy ghost Of MIR. Ham
let's lalher-but they exist no longer. 1t
| seemed to me as if a whole forest stood
upon my head Now what was to do
The slightest movement would attract the
beasts notice, and the idea Of furnishing
him with petit s0upcr at my expense was
not at all 10 my liking. | stood in the
bushes, looking at the animal, half an
hour, when, feeling somewhat iatgucd, |
thought / would try to sit down wi,houtat-
tracing his attention. In the performance
Of this mnnGuyre a few briars and sharp
sticks quite plainly notified me that my
, shirt was my only garment; fact which
the chilly night air would have made ap.
parent bot Tor my fright, which cngrossed
my attention. BY this time Mr.. Bruin had
composed himself 10 sIumber in my bIan-
kets, and | could hear his deep and rcgu-
lar breathing distinctly. The night was
so dark that could hardly see him, but
came TO the conclusion that he was not so
large MS some of whom had heard stories
related. He was quite large enough, how
ever, in my estimation, 10 cut of your
humble servant in the flower orhis youth.
I Gold is powerful, but | would have given
all that | had dreamed Of making to have
been quietly sleeping in some house or tent
within the borders Of civilization at that
time. \
In about an hour-it seemed long
week to me-my visitor got up and walk.
ed down 10 the water, where | heard him
drinking, while indolged in some pioUs
wishes for his slranguution. was then
rejoiced 10 hear him plunge into the water
and force his way through the bushes on
the other side. Shvering, crlwIed into
my blankets again and tried to compose
myself to sleep. No sooner had the drow.
sy god youchs1ted me the slightest wink
Of s,umber, when splash went something
into the water again, and the next moment
tho black form OF my tormCn'or emerged
from the bushes. thought my hour had
come. Home, wife and children, all fit.
ed before my eyes. No kind friend TO
break TO my relatives the tidings Of my
= unlimely fate. No comforting nssuranc.
cs OF Christian burial But here, in the
wilderness my form must lie, the prey Of
the wild beast and as my bones grew
white with exposure aud crumbied nio
dust, my friends, in the heart Of sickness
of hope deferred, would yainiy conjecture
what had been my fate Nearer the
monster approached, I'LL at last he stood
at my feet, when TO my surprise he cody
laid his shuggy wet form across them on
the top Of my blanket. hardly dared 10
breathe, every musc'> was rigid, and lay
momentarily expecting his attack. My feet
grew numb with his weight, and the water
from his hair soaked through the blankets
and completely chilled me.
A thousand thoughts passed throughmy
mind while the beast lay on my feet
Sometimes | thought that could remain
quiet until morning, when he might get
up and move of, leaving me unmolested.
Then it would como into my mind that !
had heard that bear would not attack
man unless molested or very hungry
That he could not be in the latter condi.
ton, my hopes coniecturcd from his recent
performances on my provisions and as 10
mymoesling him, no member oCthe Peace
Society of half century's standing could
be less inclined for bclIigereat operations
fbon | Then puain tho thouuht would