The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-01-01
Selerf Storg.
4 KIGHT WITH THE W0lVEg.

|
KIGHI WITH THE N'0LVEg.
| A cold. tempestous night in mid-winter,
New England home of forty years ago;
the great logs cracking and blazing upon
the broad hearth, throwing ruddy
| glow through the entire room; the old
matron, in her cap and spectaeleS. at
one side of the hearth, knitting as she
gently sways back and forth in the great
family rocking chair; the grandfather
seated opposite, quietly enjoying his
pipe; further back in the room the son
and his wife, while around and between
them all frolic two roS"-cileelzed chill
dren.
The wind means disInally around the
house, whirling the snow in binding ed
dies, the sharp needle-like points rattling
like hail against the panes, through
which the tall poplars can be dimly dis
cerned. swayiug and tossing their heads
as il in agony Occasionally as the wind
sjIrgeS higher than usual. the watch dog.
who is stretched on the hearth with his
nose between his paws, raises his head
some human enemy outside
Without Is teinpeS-, darkness ANA
death-witIiin peace, light aud enjoy
ment.
The two children tumble and r1l! upon
the floor for a few moments when one
of them suddenly spring. 10 his feet and
runs between his grandfntlrer's knees.
30, grlndpap. yea promised to tell us
a story tonight
The old man lovingly strokes the
golden hair of the boy, and looks down
in his eyes for IL moment. while the girl
comes beside his knee aud uni,,-s har
pieadinss.
$50 / did. my children. 50 did. |
remember that said would tell vou a
story tonight. And what shall il be
about:"
Bears" excIaim~ the girl.
NO; Indians. replies E.ie boy. Il
like to hear about Indians
Indians and bears" adds tie g:-l.
willing to compromise the matter.
Yes; give Us both"
Il told you about Indians last week.
and the other night about bear.. Sup.
pose tell you of a trouble in which |
once got with wolves.'
80. that's it, that's t. exclaimed the
children, dancing with delight. We
didn't think of that; tell us about
wolves"
well now let me see. =" said the oil
man. leaning his head back and partly
shutting his eyes, as If to recall lis re-
membrance. 1t was fifty years ago.
lacking two yrarS-the same winter that
followed the Declaration of Independ-
ence-can you tell mo the YEAR,
Seventeen seve.ity-six, promptly r.
sponded the boy.
You are right; rs | wGs going to re-
! mark, il was in the winter OF the same
year, when | was a young man that this
occurred" "
Was that before YOU had listed I'M
der General Washington .''aske1 the boy.
whose thoughts instantly reverted to the
Country's Father. if there were any ref
| erence made to tEe American RevOlu-
| ton.
"A few months before; but, Iay child.
constant interruption greatly destroys
| the interest of a story. If you wish to
hear my adventure, you must listen and
| be quiet throughout"
The little fellow promised TO do 50,
and the old man, after another pause
as if to be sure that hiS memory was
bright, said:
Il suppose your gran !mother remp:n-
bers thar cold winter of '16. and the very
cold night that rode eight miles through
| a binding sIiOw-stOrin to see her. Dur
We were both voting IN those days. and
neither of us cared for those harlShip>
that would now keep a. indoors
WAS it as bad ;s night as this.' the
little boy asked, forgetting the promise
he had Just made. The old man looked
at him reprovingly fora moment, before
he answered:
''It was far worse than this; the snow
had been falling all day, and when | set
out. in the middle of the afternoon. If
had already become bard travelling for
INV horse But he pressed brayely for
ward. and We reached yonr grandmotl-
er's house just as night had fairly set in
He .gas put in the stable and we'll
groomed, for | had to return the ssnne
evening.
''The revolution had then broken out.
and every one could think OF nothing
but the war. / lived alone with my
mother. who was IA widow. and her lone
lv situation made me wait Il long time
before could feel willing to leave her
and ioin those who were eulistIng for the
battle. But as l saw that every man
was needed. | made 40 my mind TO gp.
and she, Ike the patriot that -he had
always been. told 'ne 10 90, and prayed
| God TO take care of me.
80 you see it was settled. and had
fixed on this night Ia ride out and bid
yorr grandmother cood-by. We were
engaged to be married. and it WAS right
that [ shouId 90 50. TIE time passed %
fast when / was seated chatting with her
by the fire. t,la- I staid great deal
longer than | meant. When [ rose tC
go it was nearly midnight.
Both your grandmother and hel
folks had tried TO persuade me to stay
all night; but - | had promised my
mother to return. and / knew she ey
pected me. | could not DO so. | ba il
her goodnight and mounted my horse
singing my gun over my shoulder. fol
we ALWAYS carried them in those davS
and started of on a canter. When
found how fast the snow was falling
and how fierce the storm was raging.
was undecided for moment whether tC
turn back or go on; but my horse start
ed out with such a goodwill that dii
not check him
He had not gone a hundred rod
when he was forced 10 come down TO
walk, and saw that it was going TO b.
hard work for him TO carry me home
The snow kept whirling around me :,
much that l could not tell whether
: was in the road or not; but knew tn,
, horse did, and so l did not try TO guild
him.
I'VE had gone about two miles,
! should think. when | was startled b
, hearing wild howl that seemed 10 b
brought TO my ears by a gust of win,
E stronger than the others My hors
stopped and perched his ears. and
I listened, for l could not tell from wha
point it came We had hardly pause,
when heard it again, right from benin,
me- If It had sounded anywhere else