Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-06-29
A RACE WITH WOLVES.
A sKETCH'FRoM LIFE.

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couptysof S---r-.. Masses .sofs rocks lay piled
upon one another in Suclh q AAagBiGcent disor-
der. as if tossed there @ia the antediluvian
reyelS of some of our gigantic hrst fathers.
The roads wind broken and uneven through
every variety of hill and dale, on one side not
unfrequently rising in some lofty mountain,
waving with clustering foliage, and vocal with
the song of birds, while on the other descendS
as abruptly bristling precpice, the rugged
horrors of its yawning gulf, half hidden be-
| meath mantling vines, and only betraying its
great depth by the faint musical tingle of the
stream which it hides in its grim bosom. But,
uninviting, as are the features it presents to-
day, to any but the tourist, sixty years ago SO
formidable were the obstacles it opposed
deemed by the farmer, that when Jacob Wier,
a sturdy Scotchman with large family OF
tow-heads, built log cabin in that region in
the very heart of a mighty forest, ,and Installed
himself and said family, they were not want
ing some of his neighbors to hint, that the
act qualified him for straight jacket and a
straw couch in madman'S cell. Jacob only
laughed the croakers to Scorn, hewing away
all the while at the huge trees that hemmed
HIM in on every side, with untiring energy
and no small success, and, spite OF prophe-
cies, matters prospered with him. The crops
and the tow heads grew apace-the one bring
ing money into Jacobs pocket, the other sun
shine to his dwelling, and, as years went by,
he began to be spoken of with due respect as
well-to do and thriving man. Nowhere was
heartier welcome to be obtained than atJacob
Wier's. Friend or acquaintance, or passing
stranger, alike were sure of seat at the hos
pitable board, and warm nook in the CHM
ney corner. And such chimney none of
your modern, degenerate fire-places, but vast,
black gulf, yawning almost the length of the
house, and piled up to the very top with huge
logs of hickory and hemlock. that cracked
and blazed as though they enjoyed being burnt.
No wonder hospitality is out of fashion now,
for what man could ask another TO take seat
in the corner of his range?
1t was in the early spring time Of the year
eighteen hundred that our story commences,
when Jacob and his family were gathered a.
round the hearth, as was their wont, after
their plain but abundant supper. Bright and
strong blaZed the fire, casting fiickerlng shaw
ows on the rough ceilings and rougher walls,
flashing redly back from the we'll secured pew
ter on the dresser, lighting up the ruddy coun-
tenance of old Jacob, and the handsome one
of six tail, broad -shoudered and strong limb
ed sons, and finally throwing a whole halo
of light around the spot where sat the tor
ment and the idol of the household, saucy,
daring Kate, Jacobs only daughter. She was
of the tallest height of woman, and her su-
perb form, unshackled by the restraints of
art, and all that elasticity and subtle grade
which nature alone can give. Her features
were noble and regular in outline, her eyes
large clear, and blue as the heavens, and her
"
flowed almost to her feet, would have been the
envy and delight of fashionable hair-dress-
er. In short, she Vas, a handsome, frank, un-
sophisticated girl, not in the least resembling
the mIncing waddling many skirted bellies who
walk, or rather truddle through our streets,
with hollow chest, STOPPING shoulders, salIow
sl1insdaabed with rouge, and lack lustTe eyes
that meets US with cold and calculating stare.
Nor was she indeed. what could be termed a
proper young lady; for, ber mother dying
early y,and there being no neighbors save the
birds ahd squirrels, her Aeducation had been
conducTed on rather an original system by her
father and brothers. She was not what is
termed accomplished, for she had never seen
a piano, knew nothing of crotchet work, and
could neither dance or speak bad French.
| But she was good Shot, rode well on horse
| back, and was as swift as Camilla herself; be-
| sides, being deeply versed in the sublime arts
| of bread and butter making, stocking darmng,
| mending, and all those other feminine myster-
| les of which the masculine mind is SO pro-
! foundly ignorant, yet which tend so greatly
| to our comfort and delectation. am not
| prepared to say, either, that she had what the
| ladies call good taste in dressing, though it
| would be difficult to find a more charming
| figure than she presented in her gray, home
| spun dress and neat little collar at least so
| thought Alick Harden, on the eventful eve
| ming of which we are writing. Said Alick
| was a gay young student, who came to this
among the mountains, and had nearly finish
| ed it by serving as lunch for huge panther,
/ when he was fortunately rescued by two of
Jacobs sons.
| The wounds he had received were but slight,
! and he quickly recovered under Hates care
| full nursing; but he still fingered unaccounta-
| bly. though he manifested no disposition to
accompany the boys on their various excur-
| sions seeming to derive vast amount OF a.
musement in watching Kate, as she went a.
| bout her household duties. This practice was
speedily productive of the most disastrous
| results for in the course of two weeks, Kate
/ three times put buttermilk in the churn, twice
| burned the bread to a cinder, and finally set
| all their teeth on edge by the production of
/ lemon pie without particle OF sugar IN the
| composition. Regardless of all these melan.
! choly events, the audacious Alick still per-
/ sisted in this unaccountable course oil conduct,
| and had made himself so particularly obnox-
| ious to Kate that evening by 50 doing, that
she was continually blushing from sheer IN
| dignaton, and it was great relief when her
| father bade her get out the porringers and the
pudding, as he was right down hungry. Go
| ing to the dresser, Kate uncovered mighty
earthen dish, filed with deectable goiden,
| bued substance, which she forthwith served
| ont with due care and deliberation, INTO nice
bright porringers, and then proceeded 10
| drown it in a flood of yellow cream. ms
| DONE the fire was to be raked down anu ,he
porringers placed on the Goals ana mere .ila'
luckless Alck, prompted oy s his esIi .,oi
| attemninp to assist her, it SO happened their
| hands got mysteriously entangled and Aiick
| ,nost inpeniously contrived to upset the por-
ringers into the fire. ssHa, ha, ha!, roared
/ the brethren in chorus, as Alck ana Nate
| snrang to their feet in dismay and SHa, ,ha
| roared old Jacob, even his gravity being una
| bIe TO withstand the iudicrousy righteheu
I a sfrNrIt