Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-01-27

not see Jonn, ana II SeeIneu W het tht tho "O'eS
were tearing him; and they were lighting over
their prey.
sBut when she had given him up, and as she
staggered against the corner of the house aint,and
dizzy, in despair, the woods rang with sound
which gave new life 10 her heart and made her
fairly leap fer joy
what scund?' asks the golden haired girl,her
countenance Frightening with hope
tThe report Of johns rife. Crack bang and
there was an instantaneous glow OF flame shooting
downward, from the 10 wer boughs of the young
chestnut tree in the field.
sHo. Johnn cried Sophronia, louder than she
ever shouted before in her life.
sJohn is u hard name to call by itself, on ac-
count of its shortness; and Sophronla always pat
in the ho The husband shouted back and sald
something which she could not understand for the
bowling Of the wolves; but as soon as these were
silent for a moment, he shouted again, and she
could make ont, from what he said, that he had
killed two wolves with his axe, in the woods, and
shot one under the tree, and declaring himself out
of danger, he enoined her not to risk her life by
remaining out of doors that bitter night with raw
enous wolves all about her.
sFor the first time Sophhonia perceived that
the air was mortal cold; it seemed full of points
Of needles. She hurried into the house, land sunk
half dead upon chair She was almost frozen,
Sounds from without aroused her. The woods
seemed alive with wolves; and in the midst of
the wells, the report Of Johns rife came TO her
ears
sWas he in the tree!' asked Margaret.
ITO be surep answered Julius, impatiently.-
Don't interrupt
sSopIironia knew that her husband was in the
chestnut branches, above the reach of The wolves,
but still she had her fears A branch might break
johns foot might slip, and the hungry pack
seize him with their jaws before he reached the
ground; or, even should he escape band
John was too cautious and self possessed to be
caught falling from tree--he might be unable
to shoot one half of them and be kept in the
tree all night; all the cold, cold night
Margaret shvers.
sAs long as Sophronia could hear the reports of
his rife, ii seemed that he was near her and alive;
bat when lsng interval elapsed, and there was
no more firing, she started in fear, and making out
of the house shouted, flo John' as described
BEFORE
Did he answer?'
Yes, child; and he told his wife that he had
used up all his bullets, and that there were doz-
ems of wolves around him. As for that matter
Sophrona could see that the ground was covered
with them; dark objects moved about on the
white surface of the ground, fighting, growing,
and jumping up against the tree in their rage of
famine. Occasionally one Of the gaunt monsters
would set up "a loud dismal cry, which would be
answered in different directions, far off in the
woods.
DO go into the house, shouted John, 4 am
safe; and you can do nothing for me. You will
freeze to death; besides, wolves are providing
about you, and they will be upon you before you
think of it. may have to stop till morning; but
"a L.. I fsNh Il and s1o
you cam
Whilst he was shouting, gaunt wolf came
leaping toward Sophrona, followed by others of
the pack Terrified she fled into the house Just
in time to shut the door and fasten him out; but
he came up with an angry snap and growl which
made her blood curdle in her veins.
sShe did not venture TO open the door again;
and as there were no windows in the direction of
the tree in which her husband had taken refuge,
she could not keep up any communication with
him. So the best she could do, was to sit down
and wait patiently as she could for the morning.
All this time the fire was burning ay,the brands
falling upon the hearth and the potatoes turning
to dry, black Goals in the ashes.
swell, after "a great while-and it was the
longest night Sophrona knew The first streaks
of dawn stole into the house, and found the poor
woman asleep ia her chair. 1t was the first slum-
Der she had enjoyed; and when, alter her watch
ing and anxiety, she awoke from that late sleep,
the night was gone-dayiight streamed through
the windows, and all was still around her,
1T took Sophronia minute to collect her fac
ulties and realize the terrors Of the night; then
remembering her husband she flew TO the door to
see lfthe wolves wera dispensing. Not one was
TO be seen; the field was clear, and the silence
frightened her.
TWhy was she frightened? I should have
thought she would be glad to find the wolves all
gone off"
''She was frightened, child because although
nothing now hindcred Johns coming to the house,
he had not appeared The awful thought that he
had fallen, and been eaten by the monsters, APP
palled her. But looking closely, she soon dis"
covered some object in the chestnut tree, which
she hoped was her husband.
'sShe called to him, and as he made no answer,
she thought he must be asleep.
'tSooD she saw two young men coming through
the woods, from the direction of Beaver Brook.
They passed directly under the tree without
looking up; too much absorbed, probably, by tho
sight which met their eyesonthe geound; Johns
axe dropped in climbing the tree, blood the ten
carcasses of wolves, and the snow all trampled
and trodden around
"tAwful cold morning = cried one at the Young
men, seeing Sophronia approaching from the
house. Guess you've been having time here,
by the looks. Heard tremendous bowling over
and see if anything was the matter.
"'Where's John?'
t'Sophronia, speeches. with anxiety and fear
polluted to the boughs fthe chestnut.
"fI'm blessed 7 exclaimed the first speaker If
there amt John in the tree. Halo 7
F" His body is twined over that limb queer
enough said the other settler. i'll declare
Charley-I believe"
"'You'd better climb the tree,' said his com
panion.
''The young man went up like squirrel But
before he reached the branches, Sophronia had
fallen lifeless upon the ground. She had seen
a CHASTITY face-not like Johns face--looking
down with staring eyes from the tree.
"'Is he asleep cried Charles, as soon as he
saw his companion touch the body.
"If he is he will never wake again 7 muttered
the other. He is stiff and cold as cake of
icen" az
"Was he deed !" inquired little Margaret who
cannot realize it. ,E5a
eyes, child John Pitman had frozen to death
in the tree and Sophronia, poor child was taken
home to her fathers and died the next fall, bro
ken-hearted, it was said. And this is the end of
my story"
A gang Of rowdies visited temperance meet
ing in West Orange on the 18th inst, which was
held in church. threw hottie of Rniriis of tur-