, 1862-10-09
The Boy and the Wolf.

When was a boy, lived among the
Green mountains Of Vermont; in winter
making snow forts, and sliding down the
steep hills, and in summer and autumn wan.
dering over the mountains after flowers and
nuts, or catching the beautiful trout from
the brooks. But my brother in Wisconsin
wrote me to come to him, and went Our
house was then on what was called Baxter's
Prairie. The prairie was covered with flow.
ers, and the many clear lakes around abound
ed in fish and ducks; but our principal food
was "hoecake" and salt pork.
One Of our neighbors had had no meat for
a long time, and getting out of powder, they
had no game; so one day they sent up their
eldest son, boy about ten years old, for a
piece Of pork. As he was carrying it home
wards, and going through piece Of wood
by Silver Lake, he heard a rustling in the
leaves in a thicket by The roadside. He
stopped and listened-all was till. Again
h pushed forward, again the leaves rustIed
behind him, and he thought be heard a stealthy
step. Again hestopped; everything was still
except the gentle dash Of the waves upon the
pebbly beach, and the rapid beating Of his
own heart. He dreaded to go forward and
dared not stay, for be saw night was approach.
ing, when the woods always echoed with the
howl of the hungry wolf, and the savage bear
and stealthy catamount came out from their
dens. SO, picking up club, he gain started
humeward. Again came the stealthy step
behind him, nearer and nearer, until he saw
gaunt and savage wolf creeping after him,
cad as he hurried on, still clinging to his meat,
the wolf came neare- and nearer, and might
at any moment spring upon him.
Still, the boy, though he trembled in ev.
cry limb, did not lose his presence of mind.
He remembered having heard his father say
that If any one faced q wild an NAL and
looked it sqNare in the eye, it would not
dare TO attack him. He turned round and
faced the hungry wolf and commenced walk
ing backwards towards his home, still long
mile and half. As the woods grew darker
the wolf came nearer, showing his white
teeth, with the hair bristling upon his back.
Yhe 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 home awaiting his re-
turn. So backwards he went, step by step.
As the wolf came near be hit him square
upon the head with a stone, when with an
angry "yelp," the wolf sprang into the
thicket, and set up long and dismal howl.
The boy listened TO hear II there were any
answering howls, and, hearing none, took
courage; but soon the savage beast, mad
deued with hunger, came at him again.
With his club be gave him q well directed
blow between the eyes, which sent him
bowling back again into the thicket. Again
and again was the contest renewed; many
times did the savage, yet cowardly animal
make spring at the lad, and many times
did the brave boy beat him of, until at last
he came near the log cabin Of his parents,
when the disappointed wolf with q long and
wailing howl, dashed into he woods. Trem-
bling with excitement, and wet with perspi-
ration, the boy dropped the meat upon the
door, crying, Mother, I've got it; mother,
I've got 1T" AMI fell exhausted at his moth
er's feet.