Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-03-12

4
away from the door, she approached the
rude stone fireplace, and after paying
due attention to what was cooking there
she approached the bed upon which her
boy was sleeping, and found the air OF
the fast deepening night appeared to
strike him where he lay. Not caring to
close the door, as she wished to catch
the first sound of her husbands foot
steps on his return, she bethought her.
self of quilt that was In the loft, which
she could spread upon the bed without
disturbing her little son.
Listening for a moment, to make
sure no footsteps were approaching, she
assembled the rude ladder, and felt hel
way along in the darkness-the loft was
unprovided with windows-to the spot
where she supposed the object of hel
search to be lying, but it was not there.
Either she or her husband had moved
it, and cropping her way about in the
darkness, she, after few moments de-
lay, succeeding in finding it, and taking
it on her arm, she approached the lad.
der and was about to descend when she
caught sight of an object in the room
that seemed to turn her blood to ice,
and for moment rendered her incapa-
bic of thought or action.
Standing in the center of the room
with its head unturned, its fierce eyes
glaring around in every direction, its
long red tongue partly protruding from
its half-opened mouth, in which the
white fangs were visible, was huge,
lank wolf, that despite the timidity of
its race, had ventured in through the
open door in search of food attracted
by the oder of the meat that was cook
ing upon the fire as it had been prowl-
ing about the cabin, as was frequently
the case at this season of the year.
For minute, Mrs Sloey was so para
lyzed with horror that for her life or
her child's she could not have moved or
utter word, and the wolf also remained
stationery, snuffing the air, and then
moved cautiously toward the fire, to the
relief of the mother, as she
saw that he was farther from the bed
upon which her boy was sleeping, yet
whom it seemed as if no power ON earth
could save.
Slowly and shyly the wolf approached
the fire, shifting the air as it did so, but
not fancying the strong light thrown
out by the embers, or the heat that as
it approached began to be rather un-
comfortable and as the monster would
dart back new pang of horror would
assail the heart of the mother, who,
with feelings that cannot be described,
was watching any motion on which de-
pended the life of her child.
Suddenly one of those wild fitful
guests of wind that sometimes precede
a storm, came whirling down the Chin
ney, and scattered sparks about the
room, to the visible terror and disgust
Of the wolf, who sidled toward the door,
and just as Mrs. Sloey was experience
ing delightful hope that the monster
would go away, the fierce gust slammed
he door to with a loud bang, and the
she saw that the wolf was prisoner in
The cabin.
Horror stricken at the situation of
affairs, Mr.. Sloey watched, with sink
ing heart, the movements of the wolf,
who, finding himself thus Gagged, began
to move anxiously about the room no
longer seeking 50 much for food as for
4 chance to escape; but, at this mo-
ment, what was the horror of the mother
to see her boy awakened, no doubt by
the noise made by the slamming of the
door, raise up in bed and call her to
come to him.
At the sound of the child's voice the
wolf paused near the center of the
room, and fixed its eyes upon the little
fellow, who, all unconscious of danger,
was calling for his mother. The red
tongue still protruded, and the white
teeth glistened in the fire light, as
the monster, half fearing to spring,
crept nearer the bed to take better
look at his prey.
Half frenzied with the terrible dam
ger of her child, the mother determ-
med to sacrifice her own life, if need be,
for that of her boy. A plan had sug-
gested itself to her, a mere hope as it
were, and she grasped it with all the
eagerness that only those so situated
can know.
Unfolding the quilt and laying it
across her arm, she prepared to de-
scend the ladder. The wolf was al
most at its foot, and the bed but a
short distance away. The monster saw
her coming, and withdrew his gaze
from the child, and fixed it upon his
new victim.
When half way down the ladder, the
wolf made spring at her this was the
moment for her to execute her hastily
formed plan, and throwing the quilt,
she enveloped the wolf in its folds, who
not fancying this covering, commenced
backing toward the other side of the
cabin, striving to get rid of it, but in
vain. Now was her moment for ac-
ton j.; and springing to the bed, she
clasped her child in her arms and
sprang up the ladder, unframed by the
wolf, who was still struggling in vain
endeavors to rid itself from the quilt.
With one hand she threw the ladder
back into the room, and then a cry OF
thankfulness fell from her lips at the
success that had attended her efforts to
save her child.
The boy not knowing the meaning
of this behavior on the part of the
mother, and somewhat frightened withal,
began to cry and while she tried
TO hush him in silence again, she die
Lot take her eyes from the wolf, who,