Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-11-08
THE BOY AND THE PANTHER.
WILD WESTERN SCENE.


lied him. There he was with his trowsers
tucked up above his knees working like
beaver, his mother eyes cleaning out from
beneath his sunburnt hair, and with some of
his father strength tugging at large stone
in the bed of the stream
Samuel you had better come in, hadnt
you?' said. Hannah in tone of half-mother
and half-mate.
NO., said Samuel
An acorn came floating down the stream.
The boy took it up, looked at it, was pleas
ed, and ''reckoned' in his mind that there
were more up the gully" and when his
mothers back was turned, off he started for
the acorns.
The gorge of the mountain into which he
was about to enter, had been formed (the
work of many centuries) by the attrition of
the stream he had just been playing in and
walking on the level that bordered each
side of the water, he boldly entered the ra-
vine An almost perpendicular wall or
bank ascended on each side to the hight OF
one hundred feet, composed of rocks and
crags, fretted by decay and storm INTO fan
tastic shapes and positions. A few scatter
ed bushes and trees sought htnourishment from
the earth that had fallen from the level a
bove and excepting their assistance, and
the unseen surface Of the rock, this natural
fort seemed inaccessible but to bird and
beast. About an eighth of a mile from the
entrance a cataract closed the gorge, throw
ing up its white veil of mist in seeming
guardianship of the spirit of waters The
verdant boughs hanging over the bank cast
deep gloom upon the bed below, while so
lofty was the distance, they seemed to grow
up TO the sky. Blue patches of water were
seen peeping between them.
Hannah soon missed her boy, but as he
had often wandered in the fields where his
father was at work, she concluded he must
be there, and checked coming tears with
the hope that he would return at the dinner
hour. When it came, neither Josiah nor
any of his men knew where he was. Then
the agitated mother exclaimed:
Hes lost he's lost My poor boy will
starve in the woods ~
Gathering courage, she hastily summoned
the family around her, and dispatched them.
all but her husband to search in different
directions in the neighboring forest To her
husband she said ''Scour every field you
call your own. ssIf you can't find him join me
msthe gorge"
He wouldn't go to the gorge, Hannah .
''He would go anywhere. She knew
not why, but presentlment, that her boy
had followed the course of the stream,
dwelt strongly on her mind.
Il can't find him, Hannah, +" SAID the
husband, as he joined her at the mouth OF
the gorge. An eagle flew past the mother
as she entered the ravine. She thought to
herself, ''the dreadful birds are tearing my
child into pieces" and, frantic, she hasten
ed on, making the walls Of the ravine echo
back her screams for her offspring. The
only answer was the eternal thunder Of the
boiling cataract, which, as if in mockery
of her wee, threw its cold spray upon her
hot and throbbing temples. She strained
her eyes along the dizzy hight that peered
through the mist till she could no longer
see, and her eyes filled with tears.
Who but woman can tell the feelings OF
a woman's heart? Fear came thick and
fast over the reeling brain of Hannah. "Oh,
my boy my brave boy will die !" and ring
ing her hands in agony she sank at her hus-
band S feet. The pain Of hope deferred
had strained her heart strings to the ut
most tension, and it seemed as if the rude
hand of despair had broken them all. The
terrified husband threw water in her pale
win her back to life. At last she opened
her languid eyes, stared wildly around, and
rose tremblingly to her feet. As she stood
like heart -brokeniNiobe, all tears, a frag-
ment of rock came tumbling down the OPP
posite bank She looked up-she was her.
self again, for half way up the ascent stood
her own dear boy.
But even while the glad cry was issuing
from her lips it turned into note of horror
''Oh, mercy, mercy p The crag on which
the boy stood projected from the rock, in
such way as to hang about twelve feet
over the bank. Right below one of the
edges of the crag, partly concealed among
some bushes, crouched a panther. The
bold youth was aware of the proximity OF
his parents, and the presence of his da nger-
Gus enemy about the same time. He had
rolled down the stone in exultation, to con-
vince his parents of the high station he
had attained, and he now had another IN
hand, drawing it back, and looking at them
as if to ask them whether he should throw
it at the terrible animal before him. I'LL
then the mother stood motionless IN her sus-
pence; but coscious of the danger to her son II
he irritated the beast, she rushed some dis
tanse up the rock. Yet, with the fearless
mind of childhood, and a temper little used
to control, he fearlessly threw the fragment
with all his might at the ferocious beast.
1t struck one of his feet. He gave sud,
den growl, lashed his tail with fury, and
seemed about to spring.
Get your rifle, Josiah! /" The poor man
stirred not His glazed eye was fixed as
with look of death upon the panther, and
he appeared paralized with fear. His wife
leaped from her stand, and placing her hand
upon her husbands shoulders, looked into
his face and said-s.Are you a man, JOSIAH
Eaton, do you love your child p He start
ed, as if from sleep, and ran with furious
haste from the ravine.
Again the mother looked toward her son.
He had fallen upon his knees and was Wills