Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-10-05
THE PANTHER HUNTER.

On the banks of the beautiful Susdue-
hanna lived, many years ago, an individ-
ual whose life seemed to have been de-
voted to the woods and the stream. He
had grown old in the forest, but like the
aged and knotty oak, vestige still re-
mained of his antiquity and hardihood.
When | saw him first, he reminded me
of a dilapidatcd and deserted fortress.
decaying, but still strong. courted his
acquaintance, and many a time have |
warmed myself, during drcary, weary
months, at the bright fire the industry of
age had kindled. loved this old man,
but that love could not have originated
in pity for his misfortunes-no he was
happy as the spring birds, the os re-
gret he ever expressed was that the clear
ings' around had driven away the game.
He was himself the pioneer of the forest,
and civilization had deprived him of half
of its charms yet he would tell over the
the tales of his eventful life, and weep
and laugh as he rccounted them. "Oh," "
said he once to me, " have seen the foot
prints of the Indian and the panther,
where now the fields are white with the
harvests; they have both passed away
with the wilderness, and my own grey
head will soon lie down in the dust
must not murmur--yet | shall be the
last who has witnessed nature OIL this
spot in her simple and solitary grandeur,
but if could once again eqhibit pan
ther skin as the trophy of my age, could
even forget that"
There was something pathetic in the
manner this was misunderstanding mel
aDcholy in the idea, and it was in vain |
attempted reply; it was an all.absorb-
ing thought, and | gave the wings Of
fancy to reAection--it might have been
prophetic of the old mans end, for on
the next day the villagers were aroused
by report that panther had been seen
in the neighborhood. His eyes bright
ened at the intelligeuce--he seemed tt
have shaken off his years, and | shall
never forget the frmness of his step a.
he shouldered his rife with the hope o
gaining the trophy that he SO much de
sired
III find the creature" said he; II cal
60 to the spot, and if the old mans eye
do not fail him, shall have an easy tasl
but there is no knowing what may
take place, they are very dangerous ami
mails"
| wished him success, and he departed
accompanied only by his dog.
The day was fast waning away. ant
the shades of surrounding trees envelopet
the watchful hunter as he paced the mar
gin of an almost inaccessible ravine, cage
to discover his prey; but the panther ap
peared not, and he began to think he wa
doomed to watch in vain. At length h
leaned his rifle against tree, and com
menced partaking Of slight repast b
had provided all was still around hir
his dog lay quietly by his riae--a fc,
yards beyond him the clear and sparklin
waters of the West Branch might be see
meandering in lovliness beneath crage
bank or precipice, lifting itself towar
the sky more than hundred feet Thitf
erward the hunter straycd, looking upo
the stream and the valley below, erin
soned with the rays Of the setting sui
while thoughts of other days chased Oh
another across bis brain as SUNNI,
clouds cast their fllickering shadows ov,
? harvest field He was aroused frol
I his lethargy by rustling in The shru|
berry near him, and turning, he beheld
, panther across his path. He shudde
t ed, for his rife still leaned against Il
? tree where he had left it, aud the pal
f, ther was between him and that tree
: "Oh. God r he cried, he thou me
ciful to me-"
7 The animal seemed to have observe
: him. and, spripging into tree, with
scream. now surveyed the horror stricke
: hunter. while its fierce fiery gaze mac