Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-04-11
M | S G E L L A N Y.
From Porters Spirit of the Times.
AN ENCOUNTER WITH A PANTHER
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

william Glenn, young, powerful, and aih.
'letic man, left Portsmouth as early as the YEA,
1894, and, with his wife and three year old
daughter, travelled northward until the lofty
tower Of Mount Washington shut out the polar
star. In quiet, secluded dell-now comprs-
ed IN the township of Jackson-he fixed his
rough log house, and built up his family altar.
Broad acres of rich woodland, We, unmutiated
by the destroying hand of civilization, stretch
ed out their green, waving pillows far toward
Ellis river, and the morning sunshine looked
down upon the dell with wealth of lfe-eiv-
ing power in its warm beams
In truth, a loveler spot than Crag Dell could
not be found for leagues and although the
nearest human habitatlon was seven miles away,
the Glenns were happy family-livng, as
they did, in little kingdom Of their own, I'M
molested and untroubled.
Three years fled, and the wild, forbidding
features which would have once struck a stran-
ger so uniavorably, were almost entirely re-
moved from Crag Dell. Wide fields of corn
and wheat ripe for the harvest. -rus,lsd where
haughtiy in the breeze. The log cabin was
neater and more home-lke in its appearance
the wild eglanine blussomed by the humble
doorstep, and clusters of purple-bosomed morn
ing-gorles twined lovingly around rude poles
set In the earth beneath the one lass window
The pretiiest thing about the place was the
blue-eyed little Maggie, the sweet child who
stood by her mothers side, one magnificent
September morning, and begged TO be allowed
TO go out to knoll few rods from the cabin,
for whorileberries, which grew very thick and
e.,
for there was much danger 10 be apprehended
from rat,lesnakes, which were quite numerous
in the vicinity; but at last, won over from dis.
erection by two round, bright tears which glist-
ened in Maggle's eyes, she gave her consent /;
enjoining it upon her child not to 60 out Of
sight of the the cabin.
With mothers pride and care did Mrs.
Glenn watch the little form until she saw Mag
gle at the knoll busily engaged in capturing
the delicious fruit; and then with cheerful
face she returned to her spinning.
Ever and anon, the busy hum of the wheel
would cease; and the mothers face pressed the
window, to see if Maggie still remained upon
the Knoll AT last she looked forth, and a
frghiiu! change fell upon her as she looked
Her cheek became pale as ashes-a deathly
GOODNESS settled in all her limbs she would
have shrieked, but her lips we're sealed
There, on the bold rock which oveIhung the
knoll, where Maggie yet knelt in childish sat.
isfacton, fast filling the bucket with blue-ber.
ries, crouched an immense panther, evidently
preparing for the fatal leap. Mothers Judge
of the feelings of that mother! Far from hu.
man aid-her husband at work in the interval
two miles below-and panther about TO de.
your her only child. The golden hair would
'be dabbled in red blood the lips which had
so oien been pressed 10 hers in the rich kiss o.
holy affection, would be torn and crushed be-
tween The ravenous jaws of the monster The
lille body, now so warm and beautiful with
lille, IN moment would he a shapeless mass
.gorging the fierce appetite of wild beast
In that hour Martha Glenn thought only OF
her child. She reflected not on the dancer ia
which she exposed herself, in venturing forth
IN sight of the terrible animal. She remem.
bered only that her child-the child she hat
nourlshed at her breast, and who, for six hap
py years, had slept in her bosom-was in peril
Forth she sped, her hands uprased-her eve.
fixed in moveess agony upon the horrible TAB
leau.
Inv P""'"ci Sn'D ioW grow OF delight al
his restless eye fell on his new victim his tai
dashed the ground in his rage, his red tongue
CLEANED savagely over his white, cleaning
teeth, and his glaring eyes seemed living coal,
of fire
Unheeding all-all but her child-the dis
trac'ed mother sped on the low, sweet voc,
OF her darling reaching her through the deac
air-ior Maggie was singing to herself quain
old ballad of long ago. In an instant Maggie
was struggling in her mothers arms and lha
mother, with the courage of despair, turned
and attempted TO reach her cabin with The me
cious burden she bore.
In vain - all in vain! Uuering fierce cry
the panther raised himself upon his haupche,
his fore paws dug deep into the matted grass
"a wild, maddened snort, and his claws we're
buried in the shoulders of the helpless woman
Fiinging Maggie upon the fragrant heaps o,
mountain heather, which grew everywhere in
rich luxuriance, Mrs, Glenn prepared herself