National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-05-16

| tHc Inauucnlng NlSlOn OF tne expectnnt
ranks OF sable gentility rolling the
whites of their stocking.feet upon the
floor, impatient Of delay ; for the truth
was that he had fingered little too
long over the polishing of those brass
buttons, and the setting OF that immen-
sity Of collar, and he first became con.
scious Of it AS he came forth beneath
the moon and perceived its unexpected
height.
4 On he dashed, with unrelaxing ener-
gy, Needless of the black shadows and
hideous night-cries, into the deep forest.
Wolves were howling around him in
every direction, but he paid no atten-
ton to sounds that were so common.
However, he was soon compelled to
give more heed to these animals than
was by any means pleasing or expected
lie 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 exceedingly noisy for the
last half mile and, TO the indescribable
horror of the old man, he could hear
them gathering about him in the crack
ling bushes on each side, as they trot-
ted along to keep pace with his rapid
steps. The woods very soon eemed to
be literally alive with them, as they
gathered in packs from far and near.
Wolves are cautious about attacking
n human being at once, and usually re-
quire some little time to work them
selves up to the point. That such was
| oh g.,
poor old Dick, who began to realize
the horrible danger, as dark object
would brush past his legs every few
moments with swapping sound like
the ring OF steel trap, while the yell
ing and pattering of the wolves in
creased. Dick knew enough of the hab-
its of the animal to he aware that to
run would insure instant death, as the
cowardly pack would be sure to set upon
him in body on the instant of observing
any indication of fear. His only chance
was to keep them at bay by preserving
the utmost steadiness until he could
reach the open ground before him, when
he hoped they might leave him, rs they
do not like to attack in such places.
He remembered, too, that an old hut
still stood in the middle of the clearing,
and the thought that he might reach
that haven gave him some comfort.
The wolves were becoming more au-
dacious every minute, and the poor old
fiddler could see their green eyes glar-
ing death upon him from all the thickets
around. They rushed at him more
boldly, one after another, swapping as
they went past in still closer proximity
! 10 l., 70 ha fr, l.
fiddler had at length to thrust at them
with his fiddle to turn them aside. In
doing so the strings were Jared and
the despairing negro took some hope
when he observed that at the sound the
wolves leaped aside with surprise. He
instantly drew his hand harshly across
the strings, and, to his infinite relief,
they sprang back and aside as if he had
,hot amongst them. Taking advantage
of this lucky diversion in his favor, and
AS he had now reached the edge of the
clearing, he made run for the hut,
raking his hand across the fddle-strings
at every Jump, until they fairly roared.
The astonished wolves paused for mo-
ment on the edge of the clearing, with |
their tails between their legs, looking |
after him but the sight of his flying
fern renewed at once their savage in !
stincts, and with a loud burst of yells |
they pursued him at full speed. Alas
for the unlucky fiddlerl had he been
caught now, it would have been all over
with him, even had his fiddle shrieked
more uuearthly shrieks than that of
Paganini.
Luckily the old man reached the hut
just as they were at his heels and slam
ming the rickety door behind him, he
had time to climb out on the roof, where
he was comparatively out of danger l
say comparatively, for the perch he now
occupied was too rickety to make it de-
sirable, except by contrast with the i'm
mediate danger from which he had es-
capped.
The wolves were now furious, and,
thronging the interior, leaped up at the
musician with wild yells. The poor old
sinner was dreadfully frightened, and it
required his utmost activity to keep his
legs from being snapped by some animal
more agile or enterprising than his con-
.freres. Wild with terror as he was,
poor old Dick had managed to cling to
his fiddle through it all and remem-
bering that it had saved him in the
woods, he now, with the sheer energy
of desperation, drew his bow shrieking
across the strings, while, with his feet
kicking out into the air, he endeavored
to avoid the fangs of the foe. Instant
continued to produce spasms of sound
such as man in his hysterical condition
would naturally conceive.
This outbreak kept the wolves quiet
for moment or two; but old Dick
soon learned, to his increased horror,
that even wolves are too fastidious to
stand bad fiddling, for they soon renew
ed the attack more furiously than ever
This was too much for the instrument
talist, and most especially when the
head of great wolf was thrust up be-
tween the boards of the roof, within
few inches of where he sat- He gave =
himself up now for gone darkey; and
with the Mortified exclamation, "Bress
God who dare ?" he fell to fiddling
" Yankee Doodle" with all his might
as the dying swan is said
to sing its own requiem. With the first
notes of the air silence commenced; ;
Orpheus had conquered The brutes
owned the subduing spell and the ter
fiddler, when he came to
astonished at the sudden cessation of l
hostilities-beheld himself surroun led I
by the most attentive and appreclative c
audience be had ever played to for, the c
moment there was the slightest cessa- s
tion of the music, every listener sprang
forward to renew the battle, and set
his pipe-stem legs flying in the air r
again. i