Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-04-03
A TALE OF DEVOTION.

was traVeIlng on epeclal business
in the interior of Russia. 1t was
the beginning of winter, but the fros.
had set in early. His carriage rolled
up to the inn, and he demanded relay
of horses to carry him to the next sta
ton. where he intended to pass the night.
The innkeeper entreated him not to pro-
coed, for he said there was danger in trav-
cling so late-the wolves were out But
the nobleman thought the man merely
wanted to keep him as a guest; he said
it was too ea,ly for wolves. and ordered
the horses to be put to. He then dr. owe
of, with his wife and his only daughter
inside the carriage with him. On the
box of the carriage was serf who had
been born on the nobleman's estate, to
whom he was much attached, and who
loved his master as be loved his own life
They rolled over the hardened snow, and
there seemed no sign of danger. The
moon shed her pale light, and brought
out into FURNISHED silver the road OIL
which they were going. AL length the
little girl said to her father:
"What was that strange, bowling
noise that / just heard p
"Oh. nothing but the wind signing
through the trees" the father replied.
The child shut her eyes and was quiet.
But she said again:
"Listen, father; it is not like the wind,
l think"
The father listened, and far, far away
in the distance behind him, through the
clear, cold. frosty air he heard a noise
which LIE too well knew the meaning Of
He then put down the window and spoke
TO bis servant:
THE wolves fear are after US; make
haste. Tell the man to drive faster, and
get our pistols ready
The postillion drove faster. But the
same mournful sound which the child
had heard approached nearer and nearer.
1t was clear that a pack of wolves had
scented them out. The noblcman tried
to calm the fears of his wife and child.
At last the baying of the pack was dis
tinc,ly heard So he said to his servent:
"When they come up with us DO you
single ont one and fire, and l will siSgle
out another, aud while the rest are de-
vouring them we shall get on"
As soon as he put down the window.
he saw the pack in full cry behind the
large dog-wolf at their head. Two shots
were fired, and two of the wolves fell -
The others instantly set upon and de-
voured them, and meanwhile tbecarriage
gained ground. But the taste of blood
only made them more ferocious, and they
were soon up with the carriage again
Again two more shots were fired, and
two fell and were devoured. But the
carriage was soon overtaken, and the post
house was yet far distant. The noble
man then ordered the postillion to loose
one of his leaders that they might gain
little time. This was done, and the
poor horse plunged franticslly in the
forest and the wolves after him and was
soon torn to pieces. Then another horse
was sent off, and shared the came fate
The carriage. labored on as fast as it
could with the two remaining horses, but
the post house was still distant.
At length the servant said to the mas
ter:
Il have served you ever since | was
child; love you as my own self. Moth
ing can save you but one thing. Let me
save you. ask you ouly to look after
my wife and little ones"
The nobleman demonstrated, but in
vain. When the wolves next came up
the faithful fellow threw himself among
them The painting horses galloped on
with the carriage, and the gates of the
post house just closed in upon it as the
fearful pack were on the point of making
the last fatal attack. But the travellers
were safe.
The next morning they went out, and
saw the place where the faithful servant
had been pulled down by the wolves
His bones only were there, and on the
spot the nobleman erected pillar. on
which was written, Greater love hath
no man than this, that man lay down
his life for friend" "But God COM
his love toward us, in that while
We were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Two Yankees strolling in the woods,
without any arms in their possession. Oh
served bear climbing tree, with his
r.wa CLAIMED arOund the trunk, One of