Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-04-25

hAB hb VI bVl anu a ANS RHACC eAhN
when it came to draw towards night,
the deacon he says to me Silas, says
he, I don't kinder feel easy leavin'
this here barn unprotected during the
dark watches of the night. The heart
of man is desperately wicked, and
there's some loafers in the village, and
there's no end to boards and shingles
lying about, and so, Silas, what will
you take to stop here all night?'
deacon" says I, "what will you
give?"
"Well, you see the deacon was close
where money was concerned so he
puts on long face, and screwed his
lips together, and says very slow,
Would a dollar, Silas, be about
"Deacon, says 1, "'taint worth my
while to stop for that but if you make
it four, 1 don't mind if l do.
"Well, we chartered and chartered
for considerable spell, and at last we
concluded to strike a bargain for two
dollars and pint of rum. The boys
was pretty well Almost cleared out,
when Dave Shunyser comes to me and
says, 'Silas, says he, 'be it true you're
| d gum w ouOD OH Sllu
"I reckon 1 amt ogoin' TO do nothin'
else," says.
"'Take FOOLS advice, says Dave,
'and do nothin' of the sort.
"What for ?" says 1.
"'Cause,' says he, there's several
refused and the deacon knowed you
to be kinder desperate chap, or he
wouldn't have axed you
"Why man alive" says [, "whar's
the danger to come from ?"
"Why, says Dave, amt you aheerd
there's been wolves seen in the neigh
borhood? Didn't the deacon tell you
as how he lost two sheep only the night
afore last? You darsn't make a fire,
cause of the shavings; and the barn
amt boarded up
"Dave," says I, "dont you think to
pull the wool over my eyes that fash
ion, and then have it to say you circum-
vented Silas Wood. I reckon L can
read you as easy as o book. You'd like
to arm them two dollars yourself. Well,
now, I'll tell you what I'll do with you.
Twos company; il you like to stop
with me, you're welcome; and 1 don't
care if ] share the brass into the bar
gain.
Essays Dave: Il wouldn't stop a
night in this here barn as it is, not for
a Observation-Disclosures bill. Remember,
Silas, I've warned you as friend ) and
away he went.
novo soafe me, 3ause I knowed ne e was
sweet on a gal called Rini Parkins, that
were keepin' company with, and
would have been considerable rejoiced
to have it to tell how I had funked :;
and as I hadn't heerd tell of wolves in
them parts, I jest thought he said that
by way of banter.
"Well, made myself comfortable in
the barn. It was all boarded up on
three sides, and partly on the fourth !;
only there was a gap left for the door,
big enough to let in a wagon-load of
hay. It wasn't cold, bein' a fine night
in the Indian summer. So I kept a
strollin' up and down, takin' look out
body lurkin' about with an eye to the
boards and shingles, but there warn't
soul stirrin' but myself. Every now
and agin, I'd mix myself a little grog,
till the rum was all gone, and then 1
began to feel most everlastin' sleepy !;
so I thought I'd jest lay down awhile
on big pile of shavings there was in
one corner of the barn. Well, squire,
L dropped off, as you may suppose and
I guess it were along of what Dave
Shunyser said I got to dreamin' about
wolves, till at last, blame me if I didn't
dream there was one in the barn huntin'
about jest like dog, snifin' here and
there, till at last he came to the pile of
shavings where was.
"Well, squire, I can't call to mind
how I woke exactly, but the fust thing
[ remember [ was sittin' right up on
the pile of shavings, tryin' to make out
as ell as I could in the dark if there
was anything in the barn or not. 1t
was about minute before I could see
clearly but at last I heard slight
rustic, and thought I saw somethin'
move. Thinks ], that's Dave Shunyser,
or some of the boys, come back to
frighten me. They shan't have it to
crow over me. So l sings out, Is that
you, Dave?' There was no answer, but
I heard q rustlin' and patter jest like
a dogs paws, and [ could see the crit
ter, whatever it was, crawlin' towards
the gap in the boards. Then it stop
ped, and kinder turned it's head, and [
cotched sight of two twinklin' lights,
and, thinks I, it's stray dog; when
the critter give spring out of the barn,
and sot up howl.
esquire, I shouldn't have ben scared
with one wolf, but that howl was an
swered from the woods, maybe quar-
ter Of a mile off, by another, which I
knowed could only have come from a
pack of not less than fifty hungry
beasts. Well, squire, I was awful
scared, and that's fact but guess
if I'd lost my presence of mind, il
would ha' been all up with me in about
five minutes. I knowed I hadn't mo.
ment to lose, cause I heered the howl
comm nearer and nearer; and the yelp
yelp, of the sentinel wolf outside call.
ing them to their prey My first idea
was to set fire to the shavings. I out
with my flint and steel, but the spunl
wouldn't light, and not one of the shay
ings would cotch. The howls KEEP
comm higher and higher. Then / be
gan to think I was gone. There was al
axe in the barn, but what could I dc
agin fifty wolves? and in the dark
where they couldn't see my eyes tC
daunt them.
81 clenched it, however, and deter
mined to sell my life dearly. when al
to oncet, just when I'd given up al
hope, felt something touch agin my
head--it was a rope as had ben fast tC
| one Of tha raftera nnnsa sn11irn /