The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-12-24
A Brave Boy.

When l was a boy | lived among the
Green Mountains of Vermont; in winter
making snow forts and sliding down the
steep hills and in summer aud autumn
wandering over the mountains after flow.
ers or nuts, or catching the fue bsauti-
full trout from the brooks But my
brother 10 Wisconsin wrote mo to 20 to
him, aud I went. Our house was on
what was then called the Baxter's Prai-
rie" The prairie was then covered with
flowers, and the many clear lakes around
abouuded in fish and ducks; but our prin.
cipIe food was corn dodger aud salt pork.
One of our neighbors had had 20 meat
for long time, aud getting 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 home, aud going through piece
of woods, he heard rustling in the leaves
by the roadside. He stopped and lis.
tened-all was still. Again he pushed
forward, again the leaves rustled behind
him, and he thought he heard stealthy
step. Again he stopped; everything was
still. He dreaded to 60 forward, and he
dared not stay for he saw night was ap-
preaching, when the woods always echo
with the howl of the hungry wolf, aud
the savage bear and stealthy catamount
came out from their dens. So, picking
up a club, he again started homeward.
Again came the stealthy step behind him,
nearer and nearer until he saw q gaunt
aud savage wolf creeping after him, and
as he hurried on still cliuging to bis
meat, the wolf was coming nearer, and
he might at any moment spring upon
him. Still the boy, though he trembled
in every limb, did not lose his presence
of mind. He remembered having heard
his father say that if any one faced 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 to-
ward his home, still long mile and a
half away. As the woods grew darker,
the wolf came nearer, showing his white
teeth, with hair bristling upon his back
The little courageous boy knew that if
he gave up his piece of pork he was safe,
and could run home unmolettcd, but he
knew there were hungry ones at home
awaiting his return. So backwards be
went, step by step. As the wolf came
near, he hit him square upon the head
with stone, when with an angry yelp
the wolf sprang into the thicket, aud set
up long and dismal howl. The boy lis
tened to hear if there were any answering
howls, and hearing none, he took cour-
age, but soon the savage beast maddeued
with hunger, came at him again. With
his club he gave him we'll directed blow
between the eyes, which sent him howl
ing back again into the thicket Again
and again was the contest renewed; many
times did the savage, yet cowardly ami.
NAL make a spring at the lad, and as
many times did the brave boy beat him
off, until at last he came near the log
cabin Of his parents, when the disappoint-
ed wolf, with a long aud wailing howl
dashed away into the woods Trembling
with excitement, and wet with perspira-
tiop, the boy dropped the meat upon the
floor, crying, "Mother, I've got it," and
fell exhausted at his mothers feet.