Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-04-12
THE BOY. AND THE PANTHER.
A WILD WESTERN SCENE.

II was fine morning in August, when
little Samuel Eaton, about seven years old,
was making dam in the brook that ran
before his fathers door. He was an only
and beautiful child, and his mother almost
tidolzed him. There he was, with his trous-
ers tucked up above his knees working like
beaver, his mothers eyes beamipg out from
beneath his sunburnt hair, and with some OF
his fathers strength, tugging at large stone
in the bed of the stream
samuel, you had better come in, had mt
you?" said Hannah, in tone of half-moth-
er and half-mate.
ono" said Samuel.
An acorn came floating down the stream.
The boy took it up, looked at it, was pleased
and reckoned in his own 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 in 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 ihsWater, he boldly entered the ra-
vine. An almost perpendicular wall or bank
ascended on each side to the height of one
hundred feet, composed of rocks and crags,
fretted by decay and storm into fantastic
shapes and positions. A few scattered
bushes and trees sought nourishment from
the earth that had fallen from the level
above, and excepting their assistance, and
unseen surface of rock, this natural fort SEEM
ed inaccessible but 70 bird or beast. About
an eighth of mile from the entrance, cat
aract closed the gorge, throwing up its white
veil or mist in seeming guardianship of the
spirit OF the 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 to be seen peep.
ing between them.
Hannah soon missed her boy, but as he had
often. wandered in the fields wherein father
was at work, she concluded he must be there
checked coming feers with the hope that he
would return at the dinner hour. When 1t
came, neither Josiah nor any of his men
knew where he was. Then the agitated
mother exclaimed:
+" He's 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,
and If you cannot find him then Join me in
the gorge"
He would not go to the gorge, Han
nah2"
He would 60 anywhere" She knew not
why, but presentiment that her hoy had
followed the course of the stream dwelt
strongly on her mind
al Can't find him, Hannah, said the hus-
band, as he joined her at tho mouth of the
gorge.
An eagle few past the mother as she en-
tered the rayine She thought TO herself,
the dreadful birds are tearing my child to
piecesi and, frantic hastened 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 ii in mockery Of her woe, 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 filed
with tears.
Who but a woman can tell the feelings OF
a womans hearth Fear came thick and fast
upon the reelng BRAN of Hannah. "Oh,
my boy, my brave boy will die and
wrluging her hands in agony, she sank at
her husbands feet. The pain Of "hope de-
ferred " had strained her heart strings to the
utmost tension, and it seemed as If the rude
hand OF despair had broken them ALL The
terrified husband threw water in her pale
face and strove by all the arts he. knew TO
win her back 10 life At last she opened
her languid eyes, stared wildly around, and
rose trembling TO her feet. As she stood
like heart broken Niobe, "all tears" n
fragment of rock came tumbling down the
opposite bank. She lookek 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, il turned into note OF horror
"Oh, mercy, mercyl" The crag on which
the boy stood projected from the rock in such
a way as 10 hang about twelve feet over the
bank. Right below one of the edges
OF the or'g, partly concealed among
the eusliss crouched a panther. The BOY
was aware of the proximity of his parents
and the presence Of bis dangerous enemy
about the same time. lie had rolled down
the stone 10 exulation, 10 convince bis pa
rents OF the high station he had attained,
and now stood with another in his hand,
aud drawing 1t back, and looking at them as
IL TO ask, whether he should throw II st the
terrible animal before him.
Till then the nrother stood iin,unovahls In