The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-11-11
4 BE We BOY.

When | was boy | lived among the
Green Mountains of Vermont in winter
making snow forts and sliding down the
steep hills, and in summer and autumn
wandering over the mountains after fow-
ers or nuts, or catching the beautiful
trout from the brooks. But my brother
| In Wisconsin wrote for me to come to
him, and | went Our house was on
what was then called Baxter's Prairie
The prairie was covered with flowers, and
the many clear lakes around abounded in
fish and ducks but onr principal food
was hoe cake and salt-pork.
One of our neighbors had had no meat
for some time, and being out of powder,
they had no game. So one day they sent
up their oldest son, a boy about ten years
old, for piece of pork AS he was car
rying it homewards, and going through
piece of woods by Silver Lake, he heard
a rustliDg of the leaves in q thicket by
the roadside He stopped and listened
all was still Again he pushed for
ward; again the leaves rustled 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 his own heart
He dreaded to 90 forward, and he dared
not stay, for he saw night was approach
ing, when the woods always echoed With
the sound of the hungry wolf, and the
savage bear, and the steathy catamounts
camG out from their dens. SO. picking
mp club, he again started homeward
Again came the stealthy step behind
him, nearer and nearer, until he saw
gaunt, savage wolf creeping after him
and as he hurried on, still clinging to his
meat, the wolf was coming nearer and
nearer, and he might at any moment
,pring upon him.
Still the boy, though he trembled in
every limb, did Dot lose 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, faced the hungry wolf,
aud commenced walking backwards to-
wards his home, still long mile and
halt away. AS the woods grew darker,
the wolf came nearer, showing his white
teeth, with tie hair bristling upon his
back.
The courageous boy knew that if he|
gave up his piece of pork, he was safe,
aGd could run home uumolested bat he
knew there were hungry ones at hone
awaiting his return. So backwards he
went, step by steb. AS the wolf came
near, he hit him square blow upon the
head with q stone, when with an angry
yelp, the Wolfsprang into the thicket, and
set up a long, dismal howl The boy
listened to hear if there were answering /
bowls, and hearing none took courage
but sooD the savage beast, maddened |
with hunger, came at him again. With |
his club he gave him we'll directed. blow
between the eyes, which sent him howl .
back again into the thicket.
Again and again was the contest re.
newed. Many times did the savage an
imai make a spring at the lad, aud many
times did the brave boy beat him off, un-
til at last he came near the log cabin of
his parents, when the disappointed wolf,
with long aud wailing sound, dashed
away into the woods. Trembling with F.
excitement, and wet with persplration,
the boy dropped the meat upon the floor,
crying:
"MOther, I've got it." and fell exhaus-
ted at his mothers feet.
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