The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-10-25
Young Folks.
The BOY aud the Wolf.

When | was boy lived among the
Green Mountains In Vermont, in Win
ter making snow forts and snow men,
sliding down the steep hills, and In
Summer and Autumn wandering over
the mountains after flowers or nuts, or
catching the beautiful trout from the
brooks. But my brother In Wisconsin
wrote me to como TO him, and | went.
lie lived ON what was called 'Baxtcr's
Prairie 1t was covered with flowers,
and themany clear lakesaround abound.
cd in fish and ducks, and our principal
food was hoe cakes and salt pork.
Ohe of our noighbors had not had
any meat for long time, and getting
out of powder they had no game; so
one day they sent up their Oldest son,
boy about ten years old, for pietc of
pork. As he was carrying it homeward,
and going through a piece of woods by
Silver Lake, he heard a rustling in the
leaves in thicket by the roadside. lie
stopped and listened; all was still.-
Again he pushed forward; and the
leaves rustled behind him, and he
thought he heard stealthy step. Again
he stopped; everything was still ex-
cept the gentle dash of the waves upon
the pebbly beach and the rapid beating
of his own heart. He dreaded to go
forward and dared not stay for he saw
night was approaching when the woods
always echoed with the howl of the
hungry wolf, and the savage bear and
stealthy catamount came out from their
dens. SO, picking up club, he again
started homeward. Again came the
stealthy step behind him, nearer and
nearer until he saw gaunt and savage
wolf creeping after him, and as he hur-
ried on, still cinging to his meat, the
wolf might at any moment spring upon
him.
Still the boy, though he trembled in
every limb, did not lose his presence of
mind. He remembered having heard
his father say that if any one faced a
wild animal and looked it square in the
eye it would not dare to attack him. He
turned around and faced theangry wolf,
and commenced walking backward to.
ward his home, still long mile and q
half away. AS the woods grew darker
the wolf came nearer, showing his white
teeth, with the hair bristling upon his
back. The courageous boy knew that
if he gave up his piece of pork he was
safe, and could run home unmolested,
but he knew there were hungry ones at
home awaiting his return. So back
ward he went, step by step. AS the
wolf came nearer he hit him square upon
the head with stone, when, with an
angry 'yelp,' the wolf sprang into the
thicket and set up long and dismal
howl. The boy listened to hear if there
were any answering howls, and hearing
none took courage but soon the savage
beast, maddened with hunger, came at
him again. With his club he gave him
a well directed blow between the eyes,
which sent him bowling back again into
the thicket. Again and again was the
contest renewed; many times did the
savage yet cowardly animal make a
spring at the lad, and many times did
the brave boy beat him Off, until at last
he came near the log cabin Of his
brother, when the disappointed wolf,
with long and wailing howl, dashed
into the woods. Trembling with excite
ment and wet with perspiration, the
boy dropped tho meat upon the floor,
crying, Mother, I've got it,mother I've
got it," and fell exhausted at his moth
er's feet.
Il don't believe that says Henry; I'VE
all have to run, and so would nine men
oct of ten. 1 do not believe there ever
was boy so brave as that Yet the
story is true, boys, If IL does seem a
pretty large one. I can give you the
boys name.