Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-06-18
5( isttItantOus.
A NIGHT AMONG THE WOLVES.
BY JOHN G. WHITTIER.
The gaunt old wolf,
Seeming the place of slaughter, with his long
And most offensive howl. and did ask for food.

And most offensive howl and did ask for food
"'Twas night in January, II. We had
been to fine quilting frolc about two miles
from our settlement Of four or Eve log houses.
Twas rather late, about twelve o'clock, L
should say-when the party broke up. There
was no mo0n-and dull grey shadow of haze
few pale and Sickly looking stars gave US their
dull light as they shoEe through dingy cur
tain. There were six of US in company-Harry
Mason and four of as pretty girls as ever grew
up this side of the Green Mountains There
were my two sisters and Harry'S sister, and
his sweet heart, the daughter of our next
door neighbor. She was q downright hand
some girl-that Caroline Allen. | never saw
her equal though / am no stranger to pretty
faces She was so pleasant and kind of heart
so gentle and sweet Spoken, and SO inteisi-
gent besides that everybody loved her. She
had an eye as BILE as hill violet, and her lips
were Ike a red rose leaf in June. No wonder,
then that Harry Mason loved-bcy though
he vas; for we had neither Of as seen cur
seventeenth summer.
Our path lay through thick forest Of oak.
with here and there tall pine raising its dark
full shadow against the sky with an outline
rendered indistinct by darkness The snow
was deep deeper great deal than it ever
falls Of late years but the surface was frozen
strongly enough to bear our weight and we
hurried over the bright pathway with rapid
steps. We had not proceeded far, before a
howl come to our ears We all knew it in a
moment and could feel shudder thrilling
the arms that were close to my own, as sud-
den cry burst from the lips of US all, "the
wolves the wolves ~
Did you ever see wild wolf-not one of
your Gagged, broken down, show animals, which
are exhibited for a sxpence sight, end child
ren halfprice but fierce, half starved ranger
OF the wintry forest, bowling and hurrying
over the suow actually mad with hunger P
There is no one of Gods creatures which has
such frightful fendsh look, as this animal.
1t has the form as well as the spirit of a
demon
Another and another howl and then we
Gould hear distinctly the quick patter of feet
behind us. We turned right about and look
60 ID the direction of the sound. 'The wolves
ate after us,' SAID Mason. pointing to line
OF dark bodies. And SO in fact they were. a
whole troupe of them, bowling like SO many
tnoians IN pow-row. We had no weapons
VI any kind, and we knew enough of the vile
creatures who followed us, to know that it
would be useless to contend with them. There
was not moment to lose the savage beasts
were close upon us. To attempt to fight would
nave been hopeless affair. There was but
" ~ue chance Of escape, and we instantly seized
upon it.
10 the tree let us climb this tree !" cried,
spilnglHg towards low boughed and gnarled
oIill CGAI winch saw at glance might be easily
Harry Mason sprang lightly in the tree, and
az afueu IN placing the terrified girls in a place
VI = comparative safety among the thick boughs
was the last on the ground and the whole
troupe were yelling at my heels before | reach
ea The rest of the company. There was one
t;o Ionent Of hard breathing and wild exciama-
s11 s,1u among u.s. then feeling of calm thank
ali1esS an1 Tor our escape, The night was cold
auu we soon began to shiver like so many sail
" us on the top of an iceland whaler. But
anele was no murmurs, no complaining among
10 lor we could distinctly see the gaunt, at,
''AaaVed bodies Of the wolves beneath us, and