The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-09-26
army musket that had been left during the

army musket that had been left during the
revolution by the French soldiers. With
this old kicking gun, l killed during the
proper season, plenty of big gobblers to
supply the table. could speak the turkey
language good as any turkey. Occasion
ally got a shot at deer, and with that
old army gun, loaded with two fingers of
double F and twenty one buckshot, at short
range, the only condition upon which 1
would venture to risk a load, would break
nearly every bone in his skin, and get
blowed myself. l must tell you how it
happened that killed my first deer. We
let our pillow horses feed themselves of
nights on the grass and peaviDe they found
in the woods. And while / was hunting
them up one morning in June, found and
captured fawn. When l carried it home
my old sensible Scotch grandma told me if
would load up the old gun, and 60 out,
and climb tree near the place where l
found the fawn, and sit there till its mann
ma came to suckle it, could get to kill
her. l was soon at the place, but could
find no tree near enough, except slim,
naked stem red oak. 1t had sharp fork
about fifteen feet from the ground, into
this was, with the old gun, soon lodged.
twisted and screwed, and changed sore
corner until was nearly dead before the
hapless old doe came. She came up very
cautiously, all the time making low,
clucking sound in her throat. l was all
eyes and almost afraid to breath. let her
come clucking along until she approached
the spot where she had left her fawn-it
was gone. Her hair all turned up, she
looked nearly as big again. blazed away.
don't know how long it was after this, l
found myself wandering in the woods;
did not at first know how or for what l
came there; soon however. came to my
senses, felt like was cracked all over, but
remembering the big deer, hunted up the
tree had been sitting on, found the gun
lying ten feet off with three inches of dirt
in the muzzle and the grass wallowed and
some blood about the root of the tree.
But there lay the big old doe, riddled.
forgot my bruises, but was at loss to
know how to save my deer from the hogs
and ravens. (Coruus Corar.) 1t was a
mile home, too far to call help. 1t would
not do to loose time, the venison would
spoil. AS the best plan l could think of l
placed the gun on the body of the old doe,
and hurried home as fast as possible.
This was big and delightful sport, and
enjoyed it very much, but it didn't fill the
void that was daily widening in my fifteen
years old organization. My Indian friends
had retired from my vicinity. I saw them
but seldom. l had read all the books l
could borrow, an old Bible and the Arabian
Nights. l didn't know which of these
books shocked my reasoning faculties the
worst. Nor did feel there was any thing
useful in either Of them. But l was too
young to judge of such matters then.
understand them both now. l heard no
talk about schools. had, to be sure, with
lrfv ri hao loo
still hunter, and could break the deers'
necks with much certainty at night with
pan full of fat Pine knots burning on my
shoulder. Racoons and foxes both have
bright eyes at night, but always let them
pass. The wild cat-Fslis rufd-whose
eyes blazed like fire, was occasionally shot.
This was all we'll enough, but somehow I
wanted more. l could not tell what it
was; but the want existed, and the most
successful hunting matches could not sat-
isfy it. l could not tell what needed, but
the chances around me had no promise in
them. l came to the conclusion that I
must seek change. So one day told
my people that l was going off to seek my
fortune. They all seemed to think it
smart in me; and left my home in the
woods. and going to the nearest little
court. town, hired myself to mer-
was unable to write and keep books. he
called me his outdoor clerk. At all the
spare time, and of nights, applied myself
assiduously to reading, writing and arith-
metic, and made such progress, without a
teacher, that before six months had elapsed
my employer ceased to call me his outdoor
clerk. Mr.. Clark, his indoor clerk, was
an educated and most excellent account
ant, but he was a low-pitched being
| couldn't like him, nor with my Indian
stiffness ask him to assist me. He would
every day, after was stopped in the store,
make some kind of low allusiOn to my
want of knowledge; and when MIR. Will
kins got to calling on him to do outdoor
business as often as he did me, Mr.. Clark
became so disagreeable that made up my
mind net to put up with it. One day Mr..
Wilkins came into the store when we had
no company. l made known to him plainly
how scurvily Mr.. Clark was treating me,
and that Notwithstanding the obligations
felt myself under to him Mr.. Wilkins) for
his kind treatment to me, and the great
advantage the position he had placed me
in, by affording me good books and ample
opportunity to study them, fully appre-
ciated his goodness and the favorable stu
alton, but couldn't stand Mr.. Clark; if
he would please to settle with me l would
try to find business somewhere else. After
some minutes reflection, Mr.. Wilkins very
gravely remarked: - believe, Gideon, I
would prefer settling with Mr.. Clark, - and
this came so unexpected that Mr.. Clark
became very angry, and exposed himself
by many ugly words. This occurred at
dull time in the season, and succeeded in
getting along with the business alone. In
deed, Mr.. Wilkins remarked to neighbor-
ing merchant. who came in the store one
day, "The business is better attended to
now than when l was paying two clerks"
CONTINUED