The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-04-28
The Man Who Killed The Wolves
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

The ice lay in the river in great
floating blocks; icicles hung from the
tree boughs, and from the water-spout:
long arms of ice reached to the gut
ters below. ft had been cold all day,
and now that the sun was setting, il
grew colder still. No one who could
remain at home braved the bleak even
ing air, and all the Level distance of
field and market-garden and scattered
village streets showed only one far
away sleigh, and one solitary pedes-
trian making his way over the frozen
road. But within the windows shone
the ruddy CLEANS of fire-light, and
about the hearths of the village sat
many a merry group, discussing the
topic of the day-the prowess of the
young hunter who had saved Judge
Grantly's wife and child from the
wolves three nights before.
He had fought the whole pack
bravely-fought, so said Mrs. Judge
Grantly, like a lion; and but for him
since the man who had promised to
drive the sleigh across the prairie had
been taken i'll, and she had undertak-
en- the task herself, and was all aloney
with horse that had fallen lame, and
and child of four years old, among
the grinning pack-but for him, she
must have perished miserably, and
made meal for those ravenous wild
beasts. 1t was only fair that the
Judge should prove his gratitude by
the gift of that little house and farm.
with stock and furniture and that he
should have summoned all the village
to see the brave fellow installed there
in with pomp and ceremony, and to
help him eat the Western banquet
with which he was to celebrate the oc-
casion. Some said that the hunter
was hurt, and some said that he was
not. One knew that his name was
Smith, and one would have sworn it
was Jones; and tongues wagged over
it merrily. Most of all did they wag
at the public-house kept by the old
German, Hans Clausen, especially in
the bar-room, and in the little back
parlor, where blue-eyed Gretchen,
born in those Western wilds, sat knit
ting stockings; while her mother
patched Landlord Clausen's trousers
as scrupuously as if he had been the
poorest instead of the richest man in
the place.
of her fright !" said the old woman
''and the wolves upon the sleigh, and
Margery clinging to her.
"And think of her joy when she
saw that splendid fellow, and heard
him cry that he would save her, and
saw the foremost wolf drop dead; ell,
mother?" cried Gretchen.
"And again the wolves are upon
her," cried the German woman, ''and
crack goes the rifle and again one
drops; and crack again. and another
and they are mad and furious, and fol-
low faster, and the Judges wife prays,
kneeling; and he, this brave fellow,
fires again, and urges on the horse and
fires again; ami it is all smoke and
darkness, and the wolves bowling fills
the air; and he is fighting them close
altogether-and she faints.
And then her eyes open, and they are
at home and the horse has fallen
dead, and beyond lies dead also the
last wolf; and her preserver stands,
all covered with blood, and cries to
the Judge, Behold them, they are
safe and drops as one dead"
"But he lives, MOTHER cried
Gretchen.
"Yes, he lives" said the old wom-
an. CLARK !"
They are drinking his health at
the bar" said Gretchen. "Listen
Three cheers for the man who saved
Judge Grantly's wife and child.