Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-04-07
4aliscellanp.
Life in the Woods.
IN TWO CuAPTERs-CHAPTER !.

of.its terrific power, the air thick with falling
snow, which was driven whirling into immense
drifts, and the wind raging and tearing in its
wild Jury with roaring like thunder.
Brooks Mills was small clearing on the
Ponobscot, over which was scattered some dozen
log cabins, besides the mill which gave name to
the place. The cabins had an opening in tho
roof which served the double purpose of letting
the smoke out and the light in and on nights
like the one described were scenes Of elemental
!, warfare for the wind 6nd snow caincsThistling
and drifting down the opening, but only to be
met and conquered by the bed of glowing Goals
and the flames which leaped and flashed as it
enjoying the contest
When nights were clear, the stars looked
down upon those gathered about the hearth
stone, and by day the sky spread above its
glorious blue, and the sun poured down its
flood of golden light.
The cabin of Peter Hoffman was somewhat
larger than the Others, and possessed the luxury
of glazed windows. The chimney occupied
nearly one side of the apartment, and the fire,
which was composed of logs several feet in
length, went blazing and cracking up, sending
out its ruddy light and genial heat. There
were perhaps dozen persons gathered around
it, luxuriating in it as only those can who have
battled through the day with fierce winds and
deepsnows.
There was but one woman present, Kitty
Hoffman, the house-keeper of her father; the
others were men with firm tread, iron muscles,
and voices accustomed to ringing through the
forest with clear trumpet notes, more pene-
tratng than the howl Of the wolf or the scream
of the catamount
One of the company was an Indian, whom
they called Sockabason, brown and wrinkled,
but with erect figure, and coal black locks,
which hung struggling over his ears and
shoulders. Near him sat boy, of perhaps
nineteen summers, who was designated as lndi-
an Sam, though it was evident from his blue
eyes and ruddy cheeks that he had no hereditary
claim to that title. He was an estray, who had
been. picked up by Sockabason, SO long ago
that he had forgotten when, though he repaid
the kindness of his protector with the stanchest
devotion. They had lived much with the REM
nant of the Penobscot tribe, after their usual
wandering manner but latterly the old man
had suffered from the rheumatism, and the boy,
in order to provide for him, had joined a log
ging camp.
The men had Just returned from hunting
excursion, which had lasted three days, and IN
which they had been highly successful having
brought home upon their sleds several moose
besides smaller game.
by Jupiter y exclaimed Paul Carter
man whose age ranged somewhere between thir
ty and forty, lor those men wear 50 well 1t IS no
easy to Judge g Byl Jupiter, Crawford, tina
moose's antics would have done for you ii
had not been for Sans hatchet.
:. HIN p" replied the man addressed " s.
they might if I'd been fool enough to let them
..For shame, Crawford " returned the firs
speaker, "yon dropped your knife when TIN
moose turned, and it lay three yards bchln'
Won. You d not have been living man to
night if Sam hadn rushed in when he plunge'
down upon you, and lucky thing it was, will
nothing in his hand but that hatchet."
Sookabason turned his eyes upon the boy a
his side, but without making the extra effort o
turning his head. and with his pipe held be
tween his teeth, grunted out q satlsfactor
"Ugh :"
Kitty Hoffman dropped her knitting upon he
lap, and looked upon him, as a woman aiway
does, upon man who has done heroic action
Every glance, save that of James Crawforc
was turned upon him with appreciation.
Crawford looked exceedingly sulky, at whc
his host seemed annoyed.
.sWhat's the use, friends" he exclaimed
"of all this palaver? The moose is ours, an
his beef will taste all the same whether struc
down with knife or hatchet'
That attempt to produce harmony was asslate
by Jimmy Spear, who, from an old chest in
corner, produced viol, upon which he scrapt
out number of lively jigs and reels. The
put the company in excellent spirits, who 500
after dispersed, some to their homes in the vic
ity, and the remainder to beds in Peter Ho
man g house.
Crawford was one who remained lie w
owner of the mill, which was position OF IL
nortance, and that, combined with other re
n
sons. gave him great influence with Peter Ho
man. The latter had an unfortunate taste /
strong drink, which was not easy to supply, t
Maine law being then in operation, and it W
shrewdly suspected by many that Crawfor
who went freq uently down the river, manag
to furnish bm with the forbidden article.
Crawford had endeavored to play the agr'
able to Kitty, but had been constantly repuls
by her, to the great dissatisfaction OF her fath'
Spring at length arrived. The leo had tax
its departure from the rivers and streams L
ax was no longer heard resounding through
forest. and the logs which had been deposit
by the waters edge, were Aoated by the sprl
rains and bound together in RATS, to be tra
ported in in that form to the market tow
some hundred and fifty miles below. The /
ging camps were broken up, and some OF tn
crews gone down the river to settle with
owners. whilo Others remained to :" drive
logs"
One balmy morning, Kitty Hoffman had b.
in the wood gathering the fragrant May-fiov
and scarlet checkerberries, which are SO be-
tlful amid their brown leaves and after taxi