Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-12-26
The Unexpected Visitor.
"RUNSING A SAW

| hanna valley, was one John Cutler, who
! built the Grst house nesr where the village
/ Of Uuadilla now stands, On the opposite
eide of the river He also built near By .
saw mill, and employed many hands, whom
he mustered in his own valley and that of
the Delaware He superiutended the
running of his lumber, was himself an
expert s.eorsman, acquired large prop
erty, aud purchased many acres of heavily
! timbered land on both sides of the river
belonging to the Dexter Patent.
In the Spring Of 1900, Old John, az be
was called, decided to trust his lumber to
friend, and stay a, the mill himself.
His wife had died the winter previous,
and he did not ike to leave Lucy alone.
Lucy was a dark haired, sprigatly girl Of
fifteen, and msnsged her father's houss
with order and neatness; but she missed
her mother sadly, and spent much of her
time in turning over the leaves Of time
worn Bibls. on tho little stand near her
mothers arm chair, and reading verses
marked by her hand, with tear dropping
eyes. Poor Lucy was glad her father did
not leave her this sad spring time. And
is it wonder that the old mla found
mysterious pleasure in the same occupa-
ton? There seemed a strange spell in
/ that old Bible, that drew him 10 Lucy's
side to listen to her clear, rich voico as
she read theTefrom and the worldly old
: man forge, h,.s,nAs. ha-n ,A,s -------
communion with the spirit Of his dead
wife-that time-worn Bible the golden
lux between them.
! 1t Was bright morning in May; the
hands had all started down the river
except one, and he had gone to q place
some twenty mile. distant, aud was not
expected back till the next evening. Old
John took his diuner- basket, and, bidding
Lucy not to be lonesome, set on; for the
mill, about half mile distant, in the
deep fures; Lucy had a hearty cry, as
soon as he was gone; but the grief storu
soon went by and tying on her hood, she
too went forth into the ''cieariug" The
sun shoue brightly, aud merry birds war
bled in the budding tree tops, as she bali
uncousciously entered the forest and took
the foot path to the mill. Luoy's heart
grew lighter as she stro!led along, now
stopping to gather wild flowers that grew
by the way, or pausiag to listen to the
universal hymns Of praise that srnse from
all animated nature around ber.
While Lucy was thus vending her way,
her father bad stopped the motion OF the
machinery of the mill, iu order to go To
the rear of the building aud remove some
slabs left there the previous uight. In his
absence, huge black bear entered the
mill unobserved, quietly devoured Johns
dinner, and, just as quietly turning about,
deposited his great bulk for nap upon
the very log in the midst of which the
glittering saw had just been suspended In
its operations.
As Lucy came in sight of the mill, she
was surprised that it was not gong and
looking about for her father, she caught a
glimpse of the dark object lying on the
half sa wed log on the frame. She hastened
forward, thinking her father might have
been taken suddenly i'll, and lain down
there. On her near approach, however,
she discovered the bear, spparently asleep
Where was her father? The thought was
horror to her-his rifle was on the hooks
against the ceiling of the log house she
had left But she neither screamed nor
tainted. A thought struck her, and she
darted towards the mill the next moment,
she was able to hoist the big gate, and the
saw instantly started off with great speed
Bruiu reused up At the noise. He shook
himself violently, aud uttered = warning
growl; but on dashed the saw at furious
rate. The bear looked steadfsst ss the
glit,ering blade, and began to show HIS
teeth, too then, raising himself on his
hind legs, he awaited the advancing foe
The saw moved steadily op-ou-ou -
until at last the enraged bear sprung for
ward with desperate valor, and grasped
his great paws around the cleaning steel
fell apart, sawed in two pieces
Alarmed at the sudden starting Of the
mill, the father rushed back just in time
to receive the fsinting form Of Lucy bus
many years did they live to laugh At the
pluck Of the bear in taking "fa'r hght"
with = running mi!-saw, ard devouly to
thark God igr lhe,g delivsrance