Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-04-18

BlH0 procured loF them hAa all disappeared
and that they now had nothing in the house tt
eat but bread. And soon saw INV wife anC
daughter, Minny, then Tesoute girl Of six
teen, in earnest consultation about something
which understood related to the necessity o
having some trout caught that night for til,
next mornings breakiast-a feat which knew
Minny had sometimes performed 1t was with
no surprise, therefore, chat soou saw her come
out Of the house, take down my fsh-poe, will
a hook and line attached and, taking my next,
a boy Of nine, along with her, dig some grub.
Tor bait, pat them on the hook, proceed to TIC
river. and throw in. Shortly after this saw
her look up with signfcan. smile; and the
next moment saw her bending and straightcn.
ing with all her might ina pull upon the pole.
'"i'no prodigious large trout was brought
flashing and 0oandcring to the surface Of the
water, when suddenly the pole flew back with
jerk, striPpel Of both hook ana line II
''' -. -. % describe the look Of dlsl.
/ N'' '"N N""1Ni" "H4VH atdH pea inc un-
lucky girls countenanca, as she sadly took hsr
way back to the house and most keenly did ]
symratbize with her troubled feelings. for |
knew as well as she did, that the loss Of their
only hook and line was great calamity to
them all Nor was this all that seemed to dis
tnrb me aud increase my anxiety for the iami
ly. somehow felt that there was still some
greater misfortune in store for them, and near
at hand. SO kept my post to watch for what
ever might beiall
" It WAS bright, starlight night, and, after
having seen ny family make their supper, on
their Indian Johnny cake and water bar the
door retire to their beds, and ell become hushed
in slambcr, | seemed to employ my time in al
ternat,ly casting watchfn glanccs round the
house that held my dearest treasures, and then.
in gazing around my opening, and On the wall
like masses Of forest which. looming up dipl,
against the sky light, seemed to eucloss Il 70
iaFstrc-ching. mountain ramrarts. Standing
here Ike sentinel on his wateh.tower. lam.
Peared 70, 70 be conscious Of Che lapse of time.
\ vision which must hayc EXTENDED through ser
en- o. eisAs hours, iil not seem to occupy one
and before though; Of morning. the chrping
OF the wood binds, and the peculiar chill and
ru0lng Of the air whieh arc always tho pre-
cursors Of approaching day, appriscd me that
the dawn was close At hand. While making
these observations, heard the tracking Of brush.
as II under the tread Of some heavy animal. I
emerging from the woods into my opening
Aud, the next moment, could discern a large. +
black, moving object, attended by tuo snail
ones, making WIDE circle around ny house. /
but drawing nearer and nearer, andsnulfng ca
serly, as if for some scented food, as they ap.
preached. perceived them to be bear and
cubs, and knew they wer, intent on seizing some
thing but still fols no apprchcnsions for the
family for knew that the bears would not be
able to effect an entrance into the house
" But as saw the Old bear cautiously lead
ing her cubs under a small, open, bark covered 4
she'd, which had previously thrown up against
'ne md Of tie house, for storing dry wood, aai
10 serve asa convenient place for my wife to
Keep her Kettles aud such things as she had not
Dom Tor in the house, an alarming truth, for
nc iirs: time, flashed across my mind among
he rough articles Of furniture | had dug or ,
iewn out from logs, was small but heavy .
hest, which had placed under my bark shed. +
ad beneath the window opening into i. and +,
'hich, tor want Of lid, had kept coyc!el !
'lIh wide roll OF peeled spruce bark. And "
ow reeolleeted that the morning Lett, wishing n
take my bag with me, had, ior wal; of +,
aeeptaela indoors, cmptei all our remaining n
'ock of meal into this chest, which with its a
lde' overlapping cover supposed would he as h
'cugo as II placed inside the house. And d
'arcely bad tho recollection come to mind. be- 4
'ro | saw the old bear approach the chest tear
Il the bark cover with her paws, and plunge h.
ct head within. The hungry cubs quickly fol- 70
wed her ox2l4. and all three, the next mo %
cnt wcro obviously eosaged in deyourng our r,
tile treasure Of meal, while, with feelings 90
mounting to perfect agony, | was compelled to na
ltnesS the destruction without tho power Of an
lrring from my post or of raising the least kr
ltcry to drive the thicyng brutes away They no
ade short work Of It, and turned to retreat vi
ON the place, when, 10 SO doing, the old bear lie
cd on the bark cover, which broke under her ia
eat weight with loud crash. The noise ev. of
emily fer the first time, awoke my wife, for | in,
once heard a stir within, and the next mo. ior
ent, saw her hastily thrust her bead from on
window, glance wildly after tho retreating wi
ars, end then look down, in utter consterna. ne
N, into the empty, bcslabbcrod chest beneath Of