The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-01-24
Why Oh Dick Was Not Up To Time.

settlers were put u Sreat trouble with
wolves. The barn yard suffered to u
great extent, in tn, way of pigs,
calves, etc, from their dvprodatl ns,
whioh frequently in mid winter were
carried to the audaoious extreme of
attacking human beings. Indeed it was
no UNUSUAL thing for the belated trav.
cler to fad himself. surround d by a
herd of thon in the woods. Some
striking stories Of .hairbreadth esoupes
and desperate adventures beloug to
this period and condition of things.
Of somewhat amusing character was
the adventure which befoll old Dick,
the negro fiddler. @
He was ssgood for nothing old
darkey,' as the word went in the
neighoorhood, whose sole merit con,is.
ted i'll his fidd!ing but by the way,
singular as this merit was, it in re-
aht5 constituted him by far the most
important gentlemen Of oolor within
f,,ty miles around. The taiot, nothing
OF any Importance could occur with
oat his being smoug tho present.
On the occasion of a grand Wedding
on Il ucighb riug pIautASIon, sons NIX
miles Oft, Of. Dick was oi course ex
peetel iii lao a, tor OF -.cers.
nonlr>. Il haL been al unusualy
sever wlnter, aid a heavy suow lay
u,'ou he g'"und upin the even,ful
evening, when having donned bis
"long tailed blue," with its glittering
buttons and mounted tie ,mmense
shirt coll,rby aid Of whioh the dig.
nifty Of his official character was prop
erly maintained, he sailed forth
fiddle in hand, to dare the perils OF the
distant path alone; for the younger
darkies had all gone to the frolic hours
before. '1f a.est H#
The moon was out aud the etars
twinkied away over head as the spry
old man trudged away over the
crisp and cracking snow TIE path,
which was narrow one, led fur the
greater part Of the way through a
dark bottom forest, which yet remain
ed as wild as when the Indians roa,n-
ed it, and was untra.ersed by u wag-
on road for many miles. F# ~
On he dashed with unrelaxing
energy, heedless of the black shadows
and hideous night.orie in ths deep
forest. Wolves were bowling around
him in every direction, but ho paid
no attention to noises which we're so
common However, be was soon com-
pelled to give more heed to those aui.
mails than was by any means pleas
ing rr expected. He had now made
nearly half of his journey and the
light opening ahead through the trees
showed him the "old clearing" as it
was called through which his path led.
The wolves had been getting oxoes.
sively noisy for the last mile; and I'd
the undescribable horror Of the old
man he could hear them gathering
about him in the cracking bushes on
either side, as they ran along to keep
pace with his rapid steps. The woods
very soon to Dick seemed to be literal
ly alive with them, as they gathered
in yellow packs from far aid near.
Wolves are cautious about attack
ing a human being at.ohoe, But usual.
ly require some littlo time to work
themselves up TO the point. That
such was the case now proved Il most
lucky circumstances to poor old Dick,
who began TO realize his horrible dan.
ger, as dark object would brush past
his logs every few moments with q
swapping sound like the ring Of 4 steel
trap; while tho yells and patteripg
feet Of the gathering wolves Increased
with frightful rspidity. Dick knew
enough Of the habits Of the animal to
be aware that to run would insure
his instant death as the cowsrdly pack
would be sure to set upon him ina body
on the instant Of observing any sigh
of fear. His only ohahoe was to keep
them at bay by preserving The utmost
eteadiness until he could Ssaoh q, Il, old
hut that stood in the middle Of ths