Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-06-12
REAR STORY.

Vermont affair
Living in the town Of Rockingham, Yer
mont. in the last century, was family named
Simonds. Vermont. in the days Of my story.
was avid, new country, to which people
went as they now 20 TO Minnesota or the
territories beyond. building huts Of logs, and
cutting away the forest about them for acres
sowing, in the place Of the tall trees wheat
and rye, and planting large fields Of Indian
corn. What strange cries might have been
heard by night In these forests Something
more than the call Of the katydd and the
whippoorwill, the noise Of frogs and the boot
Of the sullen owl For pantlers, wolves and
bears lived in the dark Of the woods about
these clearings and sometimes the settler
would be startled from sleep by the squeals
Of the distressed mother Of family Of pigs,
and then he knew that, without a doubt,
great. clumsy, black bear had scrambled over
the side Of the pen (which was. by the way
built Of logs, and matched with hemlock
bark. and possessed himself OF one Of her
young ones.
But was going to tell you about the ia
mily named Simonds. They had nice field
Of corn at a little distance from the house,
and night by night bear had made havoc in
the ears, she ate, she trampled under foot,
she wasted most inconsiderately. They set
the bear trap in the field, but it was carefully
avoided. One morning. two Il the boys went
out as usual to look at the trap. There it
stood with It's huge jaws voraciously open, the
cruel teeth holding nothing. They took up
the trap TO move 1t to another spot.
What is that so olack on that tree, Eli
jah ? asked John, suddenly.
John was about eleven years old, while
Elijah was thirteen Of fourteen. The boys
moved as fast as possible toward the tree,
carrying the trap between them. There we're
two little cubs, only Just large enough to
climb, clingiug among the branches
Brother said Elijah, in a most excited
tone, Il have plan one Of US must 20 mp
and punch the cubs to make them cry, while
the other shall hold the trap down here, and
catch the old be in it when she comes
Yes, said John
Well, have your choice, John
ia rather stay with the trap
Without further words. up went elijah to
= ase the little bears and infuiiate their nam
ma. Poor little bears they were greatly
alarmed at the sight of that rough, Chamber
ing boy, intruding into their green drawing
room and they trembed and cried out pit
ously for their mother. In a moment some
thing black was seen on the top Of hillock
and on rushed the angry, savage beast, di-
recty towards the nursery where she had
left her darings
What are you doing at the foot of my tree,
you ugly boy! Now I'll eat you right up =
said she, by actions, which speak louder
than words
John was holding the large trap open before
him, his back against the tree. the end of the
trap resting on the ground, when the bear
dashed at him furiously, with mouth wide
open. Snap went the trap and poor Mrs
Bruin was fast. Home went the boys. each
of them carrying cub Father, brother
Gardner we've caught bear =
Yes, held the trap, and the old bear ran
at me with her mouth wide open, and ran her
head right in the trap, and there she was
See the cubs The bear is in the trap now =
Impossible = said Mr. Simonds
Impossible = said brother Gardner.
But they went back with the boys, and
there, sure enough, was the mother bear at
the foot of tree, muzzled with the heavy trap.
SO she was shot, and her meat filed the pork
barrel. Even at this distant day, | cannot
but feel sorry in my heart for that poor bear
But dare Jay the boys who read this will all
b9 on the side of Elijah aud John; and
to you older ones, who will understand me,
cannot help saying that / wish a certain other
black bear that we know of, savage, mali
cious beast, that has trampled and devoured
and wasted in Uncle Sans cornfelds to its
hearts sontent were as edectnally trapped and
gagg ed.-StadeHt and Schooimate,
FRESH PICTURE OF SOUTHERN LIFE
Few books are more eagerly and widely
read than the recent novels Of Mr.. Kirke.-
" Among the Pines" itself very largely a
narrative of facts, was sufficient to establish
his reputation for a keen eye and graphic
pen. The forteth thousand of that stirring
work goes 10 market with the first of its fl,
successor, My Southern Friends" These
books are az hign-wrought in incid Mt as the
most intense sensationist can desire, yet their
most vivid sketches are yitalzed 10y truth.
AS the tide OF the later work implies. M.
krke found among the Southern people many
fine characters, many noble and beautiful
traits. Jake Larkin, the negro trader, is
strongly and admirably drawn. Through ig-
norance and provncalism and the most de-
PRAYED associations, his true nature reveals
itself shrewd, generous and humane. We
/ RsNt utluW MS utitNrt OF MuloCks a wretch
whose revolving crimes justify, so far as any
thing could do it, the appeal o! an outraged
community to the summary justice of Judge
Lynch. 1t is piec, of mastery special
/ pleading:
" Now, fur ben' both mean an fool, ]
low he orter be punished But doan't We kill
him, gintlemen Guv it ter him 'cordng ter
his natur' an his merits. just lux at him
Hev ye ever seed sech face, an sech an eye
as tibet, in airy human bein'; Why, his eye
ar jest like a snakes an it's nat'ral, yC
| knows, fur snakes ter crawl the karn't dc
nuthin else, the hain't ter blame fur it. NJ
more ye karn't blame Mulock fur bein' who
he ar. So guy him coat NV tara ride OF
rail-a duckin' in tn pond-arything thet',
'cording ter his natur' an his merits but
doan't ye take way his life IF We does
tibet, he's lost-lost fureyer fur, swar ter
ye, his soul ar so small. tibet eff it wus once
out NV his body, tn Lord himself couldn'
find it, an the pore feler'd hev ter gwc
wand'nn' round with nary whar ter stay, an
nary friends, aither in heaven or t'other place!
So be easy with him, gintlemen. GUY him
one more chance. Let him stay we're a spell
longer, fur yere his soul may grow. An it
kin grow. Everything in natur' grows-even
skunks an who knows but Mulock NAV