Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-02-02

TRICK WAS DONE
One day John Thompson had performed
in the suburbs of a western city,when gen
tleman appeared among the audience who
had known the snake eater under a different
name, and in different sphere of life; in
fact, they had been college chums, and the
visitor this evening had considered that the
snake caters lot would have been cast in
quite different mould The old fellow col
legiars met Eight years only had they
parted and yet what changes had taken place
in that period.
''Will you not go back with me to En-
gland? said Thompson old companion.
No" answered the snake eater. II
must die in land sshere all those | hold sa
cred are buried Twill tell you my short but
melancholy history, and afterward don't
question me, but keep my secret. Let HE
spin out the few years allotted to me as John
Thompson, and let me select the spot where
| must be buried
But to come to facts, my friend; | am
not what you think | am. Though regarded
hereabouts as one who has dealings with ia
miliar spirits and wizards. | am only bro
almost without hope. | do not speak this
for your sympathy, for human sympathy
can but at best awaken afresh the wells of
mOurnful tenderness in my breast, without
pouring one ra; of sunshine upon the trou
bled fountains they must flow on in dark
ness, without prospect of day; yet listen
TO my story.
About eight years ago, with the spirit of
adventure stirring within me, came from
the walls of an English University to the
far western States of America. | wrote to
nv parents for, in fact | asked for, my rat
rimonv, and said | would never expect any
more from them They sent me a handsome
sum, and sought with this capital in hand
to make trade with the Indians, and there
| fore took land close to the frontier. bought
/ furs from the natives, and bartered generally
with them. For all the country could pro-
| duce gave manufactured articles; and thus
went on prosperousy. Myc pital doubled,
trcbled, quadrupled fact, in all respects
| was prosperous. Then followed love
affair, and it was pEre love with Inc, my
friend. The family of my afianced thought
lived too much out Of civilized life, and
would not consent to our union; so we elo-
! ped. and what a wife henade met speak
not in rhapsody, but she was the loviest
being hat ever inhabited this lower world.
None could excel her in beauty, and she
made that beauty perfect by the graces of a
| mind pnre and highly cultivated. Her voice
was melody, her smile a burst of pure and
living light, and her calm blue eyes were
the sweet cxpositOrs of sinless affection.
! To speak no more of her perfections, suffice
| to say that loved her mith my whole soul
! She was my idol; her happiness was the
/ centre of my every wish, and she was the
! object of every aspiration.
/ 1--WE were married; time went on. and
! brought me bud from the rose had estab-
/ lished in my green bower at home. We
were indeed happy then. Aloof from soci-
! ETY., though we missed a few of its luxuries,
we suffered none of its yexatioDs and de-
moraizing corruptions On Sundays We
role many miles through the wilderness to
attend place of worship established by the
missionaries, and to hear the word of God
/ read and revealed.
''On the day that my dear little Sarah had
attained her second year, she was seated near
! to my counter, and her mother was standing
by, when three fierce looking indians enter
! ed the store They had evidently travelled
a long way for their leggings were torn and
dirty, and their feet were almost bare. |
recognized one of them instantly as the
Crouchng Wolf desperate being who
hung alternately around the skirts of settle
ments, begging for rum, or getting it in bar
ter for the furs of wild animals Just year
! previous to this he had visited me for the
purpose of procuring the 'fre-water' |
had refused him, aud be left me with the
VOW of future vengeance.
g Hoogh ! said he as he reeled up with
his gruff- looking companions toward the
counter where my child was playing and my
wife stood, the Crouching Wolf said he
would come back He wants the talking
water he wants that, or revenge. He will
have one.
Il tried to reason with him. but he was
deaf to reason He had tasted from the
fagon ofone of his red companions, and the
fumes were in his brain.
Come, medicine man, said he, the
Wolf wants the fire milk. Where Is it :?
He cannot wait. His spirit is up, and his
forehead is warm
Il saw that he grew desperate, but my
resolution was taken. sternly denied him; !;
it was fatal denial
During the coIloquy my wife and child
had gone out ON the green sward, and the
latter was picking wild flowers and stringing
them. The Crouching Wolf left me, growl-
ing some gutteral sentences TO his compan-
ions; and, oh, mereiful Heavens! | saw
them advance toward my child. | was mo-
tionlcss, and paralyzed with terror As the
Wolf approached my little girl, he drew a
tomahawk from his belt, and fourisheG it
on high. / sprang toward him. but was
pushed back by his companions. The dear
innocent, unaffrighted child smiled in the