Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-03
gelette0 Calt.
BELL-THE-W w OIL +
OR.
How Ben HoiCk Won his Bride
TRANSLATED FROM TIE GERMAN.

In the seQuestered valleys of that noble chain
of mountains known as the WaShitah range
the genuine American backwoodSman is still to
he found IIomely but upright, rough but
hardy. he is as remarkable for the Self-sacrfc
ing generosity of his friendships as for the dead
illness of his hatred, The tuilS Of the chase,
the cultivation cf the land. and, above all, the
rearing of cattle, furnished him with the means
of subsistence For these last named opera,
tonS the region is especially adapted, by the
mildness of the climate and by its undulating
surface, here rising into grassy slopes and anon
sinking into depressed hollOwS Of marShlanC
covered with acres of reed and rush. The rear
ing of vast herds of cattle is thus matter O
very little trouble.
One enemy however. the backwoodsman haI
to contend with, one that, in spite of rife anC
trap in spite of wearisome pursuits and endless
StratagemS. he has never yet been Il match for
The cunning. merciesS and bloodthrsty enemy
was the wolf In vain the backwoOdSmau
brought all his skill and experience to bear
against the crafty thief. Seldom could the wary
beast be tempted within gun shot. In spite OF
constant watchings, the wolves increased and
multiplied year by year, and the herds dimin-
i>hed in proportion, till the cattle-fafmers felt
tlat decisive measures must he adopted, unless
they were prepared TO own themselves vanquish-
ed and to quit the field and give up their ems
p.oyment altogether. a backwoodSman van
pushed, by the -rattlesnakes and buf-
faIoes it was not TO be thought Of; lifelong
disgrace and shame were involved.
That under such circumstances the best shot
should be regarded as the best man was but
natural: and 50 it was that Benjamin HolicE,
who, in the half year since he had come out of
Missouri to settle at Washitah, had killed no
less than seventeen of these formidable beasts
with his rile-rcceived the honorable sobriquet
OF Volts Ben. with the reputation of being
the most skilful marksman in the district
Volts Ben was moreover, a fine fellow to
look at; he stood full six feet high had q ri
ant breadth of shoulders and brawny mus
GUAR arm, and was considered more powerful
wrestler than a man, though himself 10 craven,
"oul care neadleSSiy to provoke. With all
'li>' he Was the most good tempered, patient.
''ASlng friend that settler could make. n
s'oI word would win anything from him; he
"0ara give away his powder to the last charge
@1I thc very last crust out of his wallet.
Dtas affections were fixed upon the only
laughter OF Robert Sutton, charming girl
~'' 4eireSS OF all her fathers wealth Ay, there
>,3 va. ,Ae rub; that he, poor adventurer in the
"''ll but his knife and his rife, and his strong
Ill should be accepted of as the Son-in-law of
v-'I .4ln Who had the largest possessions IN al.
@gAI'aA and Red River, and who only cane
" S.e mountains once a year for his health,
l pLI lof the sake of pasturage for the flocks,
u rs., rss u2t very likely thing to happen. And
N | "Heh be remembered too that Sutton was COM
VI -cI'! ~..a fePuted covetous man, of what weight
,5- ,,.1 such one would be Bepjamin's personal
%,antagcs?
Den had often tried to devise some scheme
5,S getting a little money-of late he had
9rS -..p;at Of it much aud sadly-iust enough to
To- llul start to set him going as it were
noa. oyaFh 1t by daily labor, and so from week to
@ ''H 70 add dollar to dollar seemed too tedi-
ko ana yet something must be done, for he
Ii VI uiat he would not be the first wooer for
ge n Jl1r oa Sutton had placed the bench outside
-:, but where, in the uuiet course of
~'I'c Woodland i.fc, was he likely tomcet