The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-25
q s-oesn nv n1r.EineOsfa.
THE BsAR HUNT.
sxa..say,, Par Mnrch

EotteE5 SaWe'sou's 11N''s' 20
says: D...,, Fer
onsiinq secretary Of the Historical
Society Of yirgin!s, for the following vasuS.
b,e contribution, In the letter enclosing
which occurs the following ample voueerr
for its authenticity
cit "a q copy .uerbatim ct literatn, Oh the
oristoal lines Ia my possession, wnich are
written upon blue ruled paper, folio slze,
covering the xrst three pages, ana the iiaa'
'staoza potion Of the fourth page. a
foe stroile * the first stanzi. which accom-
panics this, wilt be considered fvil au'
thentificatiea OF the document itsch oy
those faxsistar with the autograph OF the
ismeuted president, whose tragic END was 80
universally deprecated, and whose otnce II
was to saer our national bark through q
period as fateful and yet more trying than
were the troublous days Of '76, Il indeed,
characteristic internal evidences OF shougnt
and EXPRESSION shontd fail to conviDce. But
the positive Identification lies before me-a
letter from prominent member OF the iegai
profession of this city, who writes: sit the
congestion Of Mr.. Liscoln himself and
wholly written By aim. the endorsement on
the back lTbe Bear.Huni] only excepted,
and it. was sent to me by him."
| A wild bear chase Glds't never see?
Then hast thou lived 10 vain
Thy richest bump OF glorious gice
Lies desert In thy brain.
When first my father settled here,
Twas then the frontier line;
The panther's scream filled night Win 1e@f
AND bears preyed on the swine.
Rur woe for Bruins short-ved fun,
When rose the squeanR cry;
Now man ana horse with dog and gun,
For vengeance ut him hy.
A sound OF danger strikes his ear,
He gives the breeze snuh:
A way he bounds with little rear,
And seeks the tangled rough.
| On press his foes, and reach the ground,
Where's left his half-Muncbed meal;
The dogs, in circles, scent around,
| And find his fresh.maue tran.
With instant cry away they Dash,
Ana men rs fast pursue.
| Der logs they leap, through water splash,
| And shout the BRISK haloe.
| Now 10 elude the eager pack,
| Bear shuns the open gr0uno;
| Through matted vines he shapes MS trach
And runs 1t, round and rouno.
| The fail, fleet cur with deep mouthed voice,
| Now sp,e eds him rs the wiEd;
While nalfgrown pup ano shorl'ieEseu III
AreyeipiDg FAR bemno.
| And fresh recruits are dropping IN
| TO Join the merry corps; sat-
With yeip anu yell, miheieo Jill
The woods are III roar.
! A nd round and round he chase DOW goes,
he worlds alive with tuu;
Nick Carriers horse his rider throws,
And Nose Hill drops his gun.
Now sorcly pressed bear glanceS BACK,
And Tolls his tired tongue;
hen as 10 force him from his track,
An ambush on him sprung.
Across the glade he sweeps lor nisn''
And fully Is In view
The dogs new treu by the sight,
Their cry ana speed renew.
The foremost ones now reach MS rear,
He tn! MS, they dash away:
Aud ciIcling now the wrathiui Dear,
They have him tull at pay.
Al TOP of speed the horsenen come,
All screaming In Il row ., w., 80,
" " hoop. Take him, iger. seize MIN, DFuih' -
Bang-bang-the rifles 60.
And furious now the dogs he tears
And crusues In his Ire
Wheels right and left, and upward rears'
With eJ es OF burning nre.
But leaden death Is at his heart,
Vain all the strength he plies,
And. spouting blood from every part,
He reels, and sinks, and dies.
And now dinsome camor rose,
| bout who should have bis skin
Who first draws blood, each hunter Knows
This prize must always WIN.
But who cid this, and how to trace
What's true from whats lie,
Like lawyers in a murder case.
They stoutly drguy .....
Aforesaid fee, OF clustering MOOD,
Behiud. and quite forgot
just now emerging from the wood,
Arrives upon the spot.
| With grinung teeth and upfurned hair,
Brin full of spunk ana wrath,
| He grow and seizes on dead bear,
And shakes for life and death.
And sweIls as II his skin would tear,
| And growls and shakes again;
And swears, rs plain as dog Can swear,
| That he has won The skin.
Corceited whelp! We laugh at thee,
| Nor mind, that mol O few
| or pompouS, two-legged dogs tnere DC,
Concerted quite AS you.