Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-09-05


A BRAVE BoY.--Whe / was 4 boy /
lived among the Green Mountains of Vere
mont in winter making snow Forts and
sliding down the steep hills, and in summer
and autumn wandering over the mountains
after flowers or nuts, or catching the beau
tiful trout from the brooks. But my broth-
er In Wisconsin wrote he to come to him.
and / went. Our house was on what was
then called g Baxter's Prairie The prai.
rie was covered with fowers and the many
clear lakes around abounded in fish and
ducks; but osar principal food was hoe cake
and salt pork.
One Of our neighbors had had no meat
fer a long time, and getting out of powder,
they had no game; SO one day they sentuE
their oldest son, boy about ten years old
for piece of pork. As he was carrying
it hornewards, and going through piece of
woods by Silver Lake." he heard rus
Ting of the leaves in thicket by the roads
side. He stopped and listened--all was
STILL Again he pushed forward, again the
leaves ruslled behind him, and he thought
he heard a stealthy step. Again he stopped.
everything was still except the gentle dash
of the waves upon the pebbly beach, and
) the rapid Beating OF bis own heart. He
dreaded to go forward, and he dared not
stay, for he saw night was approaching,
when the woods always echoed with the
howl of the hungry. wcls and the savage
bear and steathy 0tamount CAME out from
, their dens. SO picking up d club, he
2 again started hcmeward. Again came the
6 stealthy step behind him, nearer and nears
er, until be saw gaunt and savage VOL
9 creeping after him, and as he hurried on
:. still clinging TO his meat, the wolf was COM
ing nearer and nearer, and he might at any
moment spring apbn him.
Still the boy, though he trenbled in every
limb, did not loose his presence of mind.
He remembered having heard his father
say that if any one faced a wild animal and
looked it square in the eye, It would not
dare to attack him. He turned around and
faced the hungry wolf, and commenced
walking backwards towards his home, still
long mile and half away. As the woods
grew darker the wolf came nearer, shows
ing his white teeth, with the lair bristling
Upon his back. The courageous boy knew
that if he gave up his piece Of pork he was
safe, and could run home unmolested, but
he knew there were hungry ones at homo
awaiting his return. So backwards he wentl
St6p Dy step. AS tHe HOli Sitille near, nc
hit him square upon the head with a stone,
when with an angry "yelp," the wolf sprans
into the thicket, and set up long and dis.
NAL howl. The boy listened to hear if
there were any answering howls, and hear
ing meme, took ouurage; but soon the saw
age beast, maddened with hunger, came at
him again. Whh his club he gave him d
well directed blow between the eyes, which
; sent him bowling back again into the thick
ct. Again ard again was the contest re-
newed; many times did The savage yet COW.
} ardly animal make spring at the lad, and
many times did the brave boy Beat him Off
until at last he came near the log cabin of
his parents, when the disappointed wolff
with d long and wailing howl, dashed away
) into the woods. Trembling with excite-
! riient and wet with perspiration, the boy
, dropped the meat upon the floor, crying,
" Mother, I've got it." and fell exhausted at
his mothers feet.-Ansericon Messenger.