The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-19
a Brave Boy.

When | was boy, | lived among the
Green Mountains of Vermont in winter max
ing snow forts and sliding down the steep
hills, and In summer and autumn wandering
over the mountains after flowers or nuts, OF
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 our principal food was hoe-cake
and salt pork.
One of our neighbors had had no meat for
some time, and getting out of powder, they
had no game. So one day they sent up their
Oldest son, boy about ten years old, for a
piece of pork. AS he was carrying it home
wards, and going through piece Of woods by
Silver Lake, he heard rustling oil the leaves
in thicket by the roadside He stopped
and listened-aIl was still. Again be pushed
forward again the leaves rustled behind him.
and he thought be heard stealhy step.
Again he stopped everything was still, except
the gentle dash Of the waves upon the peb-
bly, beach, and the rapid beating Of his own
heart.
He dreaded to 90 forward, and he dared
not stay, for he saw that right was approach
ing, when the woods always echoed with the
sound of the hungry wolf and the savage
bear, and the steaithy catamount came out
from their dens. So, picking up a club, he
again started homeward. Again came the
Stealthy step behind him, nearer aud nearer
until he saw gaunt and savage wolf creeping
after him and as he hurried on, still cling
ing to his meat, the wolf was coming nearer
and nearer, and he might at any moment
spring upon him,
Still the boy, though he trembled in every
limb, did not lose bis presence of mird. 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 at.
tack him. He turned around, faced the hun
cry wolf, and commenced walking backwards
towards his home, still long mile and a half
away. AS the woods grew darker the wolf
came nearer, showing his white teeth, with
his hair bristling upon his back.
ne courageous boy knew that II he gave
up his piece of pork, he was safe, and could
run home unmolested; but he knew that there
were hungry ones at home awaiting his return.
So backwards he went step by step. As the
wolf came near, he hit him square upon his
head with stone, when with an angry yelp,
the wolf sprang into the thicket, and set up a
long and dismal howl. The boy listened to
hear if there was any answering bowls, and
hearing none, took courage but soon the saw
age beast, maddened with hunger, came at
him again. With his club he gave him a
we'll directed blow between his eyes, which
sent him bowling back again into the thicket.
Again and again was the contest renewed.
Many times did the savage 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 wolf, with a long and wailing
sound dashed away into the woods. Trem-
bling with excitement, and wet with persnir-
alton, the boy dropped the meat upon the
door, crying;
Mother, I've got it, and fell exhausted at
his mothers feet.