True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-11-05

uiCu Hao nv WOdpUHo -InUeo UedSIS were
wild, savage, hunger mad, and the love
Of life was strong within him-no wonder
that he soon ouistripped the girl, whose
trembling limbs were poor match against
her pursuers.
Ii was fearful race. They gained
npOn her IN the first few rods. "God of
Heaven help her!" groaned the while
lips of Seth Peters. And God heard that
prayer, moaned out in that terrible agony.
There cleaned out suddenly upon him,
from among the gray tangled grass of the
last year, a large axe, which Enoch had
ground sharply, three days before, to
make an incision in the maple trunks, and
thrown down there in haste or forgetful
ness.
Seth caught it up eagerly, and with a
loud shout he bounded forward. Lefty
was nearly half across the lot, but it was
not large one, and in her blind terror
she had taken crcuitous route, which
the bears had followed, so the distance
between Seth and them was only few
rods. He shouted 10 Lefty to turn round
into The meadow; it was strange that she
heard him, but she did, and inslinctively
obeyed
A run of few yards, which the young
man accomplished quicker than our pen
has written it, brought Seth face 10 face
with the wild animals. 1t required a
stout heart to confront those two raging,
ravening animals, but Seth Peters tho
only that death was close to the woman
that he loved!
A moment more and it had reached her.
The hot breath Of the beasts drifted al
most across her flying feet, as the miller
rushed by her; for in turning toward the
meadow she had shortened the distance
between him and herself; indeed; at the
far,hest it had been only few rods
The foremost animal came up to the
young mau-the heavy paws were planted
on his shoulder-now, Seth Peters, a
stout arm and brave heart will only avai
you-the axe comes down heavily-it
has done its work well Do you see
the bear sink back, with that growl of
terror and Of pain, while the hot blood
gurgles up from its cleft throat!
It's mate sees all this, and with re.
sponsvc howl of fright and despair, rushes
back to the woods, and Seth is safe i!
Lefty Lefty! they are gone ~
The voice swells loud and triumphant to
the ear Of the poor girl, who, still imagn
ing the bears are pursuing her, rushes on
wildly in the direction of her homo i
She pauses moment. But that clear,
strong, triumphant voice sends new tide
of hope bounding through her soul. She
turns back. A few minutes later, and
her white face steals up close to Seth's,
as he stands there watching the last gssps
of life heaving the huge black frame Of
the bear.
Lefty let us thank God for this
great deliverauce.'
They kneel down there together, and
the sad moon and the sweet spring stars
look on them. as the young miIer's deep
voice sends up its eloquent thanks to the
All.Falher
But Letty's fair head droops lower and
lower; and when Seth looks once more
in her face, the blue eyes do not answer
him. Poor Lefty the terror has been
too great for her. No wonder she has
tainted with the great joy Of delverance
from death .
Suddenly across the fields breaks the
sound Of many voices. There is quick
stamping of feet. Jason has given the
alarm, and friends and neighbors are
rushing wildly to the rescue. In less
than five minutes they find the miller
seated on tho damp Garth, with Lefty ly'
ing senseless in his arms, and the dead
bear at his feet!
Oh but there were smiles and reioic.
ings that night at widow Pease's, where
but for the brave heart Of Seth Peters
there had been wailing, despair, and
death 1t was long past midnight when
4
Cyrus and Enoch returned and some.
how their faces did not look so bright az
when they left, and they settled them.
selves down wearily by the fire, saying
"What, mother, up watching for US all
this time Well, we havn't killed the
bear, after all !"
"No, but we have here, you see ~
was the old woman's triumphant response
and then, to their CALCULATIONS of doub
and surprise, the old lady detailed the
whole story-indeed, she had sent oH
Lefty to bed half an hour before, for the
exclusive enjoyment Of this pleasure
Cyrus and Enoch listened in amazed ST.
lence, and at the conclusion thus briefly
and Enthusiastically expressed theil
opinion Of the milIer's heroism: Wal
now, if that don't beat everything all
hollow I"
Three DAYS had passed! It was wild
sObbing night, with one Of those storm,
that furrow the sweet face Of April with
I wind, and drench it with tears.
This time the miller and Lefty Peas,
: sat alone together, in the ruddy birch
freight Of the old kitchen, while ih,
, storm moaned and battled without.
} Well, Lefty, how did you get OF
with the sugar-boiling !" asked the youn(