The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-08-05
,uAsrp WOLVES
raos1na srorr o. ro-p,r

Kvery body oaght io know tie The bop
pers hats 20 blame, and not Johnnie
and roe. We never begged before, sir
snd please God, We never will sgAln
Tbc Relief Commissioner looked kind
down iDto Bc.s Nelson. pleading fscer
md answefedi
Bees you. sisl there isnt & shadow Of
an apology due. We're all alike In Kan
.as lbls year prairie chickens, as Il
were, With our piniealhcrs picked clean
oul ighliug our way through The cold
es, weather, too, that has been known for
thirty years
Johnuie aud Bess Nelson had come np
4, Fort Dodge from their fathers claim,
dicen miles away, to spply to The Relief
Z Commissioners FOR supplies 70 carry 70
their desiitnte home Shiyering under
thcif scauiy garments, with stomach a.
big a. Mammoth Cave, all the afternoon
they had waited for The train which was
70 bring tie needed aid sent BY The good
people eastward. About them stood a
baud of anxious, care-worn farmers, all
haye come upon the same pressing er-
rand as Bess aud johnnie.
Late in The afternoon the train arrived.
The w.utry twilight had almost set 10 ere
Johnnie aud Bess had received IN toll the
liberal share of supplies allotted them. =
But a more jnbilant boy and girl never
started on homeward trip. They had
-four, hominy and ham, tea, coffee, sugar
and other articles Of food; shoes for the
little barefoot brothers, aud baby Bell at
home; wooden clothes, and even medi.
cine for mothers ehils aud fathers rheu.
matism.
johnnie drove his own red Mustang
praucer, harnessed 10 hickory jumper
"a rude but seryiceable affair, made by
Mr. Nelson.
Now, then, we must travel lively, said
johnnie, as they glded over the snowy
prairie between Fort Dodge aud Smoky
Hin Timber, Fifteen miles from home,
and after sunset.
4 Twonld be no matter only that pa and
ma are sick, and they are all so hungry
at home, said Bess. It's bright moon.
igbt, and we have a big buffalo robe TO
keep us warm. l'm so glad the grass
hoppers couldn't eat this NJ, anyhow.
Wrapping themselves snugly in the
robe, Bess and Johnnie fell TO eating eag-
erly the supper of crackers and dried
beef they had spared themselves-sm mail,
Indeed, because Of the hungry loved ones
waiting in the prairie cabin. When they
had finished, Bess took a nap, while
Johnnie whistleG softly aud made future
plans, into which grasshoppers, drouth
and chnch-bugs did not enter.
Tie road home led most of the way
through Smoky Hill Timber. The trees
were thick on either side, but the moon
shone brightly overhead, and stars gim-
mered in the cold, clear sky.
In the lonliest part of the timber tired
Bess awoke. Prancer had tied into a
tagging gait.
Poor little MustangI how weak be is !!
said Bess, pityingly He's been so near
" starved al winter, Pm afraid the trip
will use him up entirely.
Hush, Bess was Johnnie's only ans
wer lie had thrown off the buffalo
robe, and was sitting in an erect and
listening attitude.
Bess pushed back her brown hood from
her ears, aud listened too
johnnie only listened more intenily.
Bess gave Johnnies hand nervous
clutch.
1t sounds clearer now, and there's a
lot Of 'em bowling together, she said, in
a low, frightened tone. They say the
wolves are unusually fierce this winter.
Wolves sound some like dogs don't
they?
Johunie's answer was qniet and reso.
ue
You can be a brave girl, Bess The
wolves are after US. Get down in front
aud hold the reins. Whip Pfancer hard,
IL need be--into a dead run
As Johnnie said, Bess could be brave
girl. She quickly saw the danger that
threatened. Slipping down in front,
she seized tie reins and cruel stick, with
which to whip the tender little pony,
hom she loved almost as well as John
nic Holding IN bis hand a loaded re-
yoiyer, which be had brought along a. a
precaution, Johnnie turned bis face to-
wards the backward road.
AT The FIRST touch Of The whip, TO which
he was so unused, Pranoer leaped for
ward into a desperate run, but the ter
rible pursuers gained upon him rapidly.
soon violent painting could be heard
and the leader Of the pack appeared in
sight. Nine wolves were closely follow.
ing bis heels
Almost IN twinkllng, the foremost
wolf was tearing at the buffalo robe, one
end Of which had fallen from The sleigh
behind. Johnnie Cred upon BIN. With
howl Of rage and pain, the savage
creature released bis bold and fell back.
. ward In the snow. The scent OF blood
maddened the remainder Of the pack
They paused IN the pursuit to rush upor
ihe wounded wolf quarrelipg ferociously
As 10 which should taste the last drop o