Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-11-12
GEO. NICHOLS, BEAR STORY.

In one OF OLIVEB UIBBS letters 10 the
la Crosse Leader, on sporting in the
Northwest, he says:
Il give vru a good palaver from Geo.
Nichols, of Prescott, which, luckily,
have fished up from an old bundle OF
manuscripts 1t is story told 10y him
at our Lost Creek camp fire. in an Octn
Der evening, nf tEe year 1863; present
Uncle Nat. Martin, George, and your
correspondent, a tub full of wild honey
in the tent. brace of cartridges and two
deer hanging outside, the roaring fire
giving US warmth and light, pipes in
mouth and hand, and wolves bowling in
the distance. Ii being ny "calI." dc
manded Nichnls' story about Randall
Thompson's Black Hog" and he gave it
rs follows, and since then has kindly
written it out for me"
GEORGE NICHOLS STORY.
In tie spring of 1855, came west to
see the country. find what ch noes there
might lac Tor speculation. and Try the wild
Sports IN the SparSely settled regions of thu
ST Croix Valley. Uncle Ned Ellis had
lived in This part of Wisconsin far several
years. His letters to me had given SOM
glowing accounts of the sports Of hunt.
ing and fishing. and he had extended
many pressing invitations TO me 10 visit
his place aud spend a few weeks with
him should ever he in that part If the
country | had i>hrd and hur,ed willi
him among Tie Green Mountains of Ver
mont, the Granite Hills of NcS Hamp.
shire, aud in the Wiltis of Northern New
York; and better friend or more trusly
partners, never found, therefore &C
cepted his invitation. and made my
headquarters with .'Uncle Ned" and hIs
good wife. "A unit Hannah"
Uncle Ned was a square built, musca
lar man. about five feet ten in height.
with grey eyes, aud with that venerable
look that comes of good face, set of
with hair and full beard of iron grey
He was kind heart d, cheerful man
fond of children. and havin. kind word
for ll:em whenever he met them. He
was true 20 his friends. loved his wife
NttAthiOtl. lfillFs htiu SbiltliliNS ~
little of cheerful beverage-say, for
instance. that rare one, good cup OF
tea, the secret Of preparing which mono
knew better than Aunt Hannah.
Aunt Hannah was molel wife for a
sportsman Eke Uncle Ned. No de-
scription of mine can do her justice. n"
word or look of reprnac met Uncie Ned
when he returned home after a lung
hunt, whether he had been SuCcasSfui al
n,I: II Ec had met will trouble or failed
Ia l'rir1g hume "a supply at game, u ~as
her deIshl To svupaIlrzs with han sud
make him cheerful. ..Podr man., she
would ,ay, hope y,'u Will have II,eit,-r
lack .xt.urns. ,lra,v up the c,zy char.
and try to make every ling pheasant
shout I! C house willie tc;t is drawing
and supper getting ready. With equal
care She Hooked after tile com fort q: her
enlirJ hoIsrhuuld and of the guests
Uncle Ned was, proud of Aunt Hsnuah.
/ cali linn Uncle n IL" So did ev
erybody. Did YOU ever know any NEAR
man called Uncle" Iy the entire neigh
borhood! Thai ailpclLlliaiiis onS'of5 en-
dearment. 1t is only applied To such OF
our elders as have. good and genial quail
titles. 1t is a better title than "Hcn.
for it means somelhing-it is the testi-
mony to a well spent life. Commend
me TO the man that everybody calls
'UEeIe."e / fqnhd Uncle Ned living on
n a.ehinl7 near the head of one uf the
tributaries of the South Fork of the
Kinuicki1nic, which is now known as
Hornet Creek Game was very plenty
in. those o days. FparlicularIy the white
tailed deer, sume-of- which came every
night during wafm weather TO drink and
eat moss rFfsomVthe largo spring from
which Hornet Creek took its rise, and
not more than hundred yards from
Uncle Ned's house. F,equerilv some
OF these deer might he seen lingering
around tAis spring anta nearly sunrise.
They would then Iie away tn the woods
or some cover in the coolies. Uncle
Ned could have procured bis yenison