Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-17
Fl II u o Il.

Some years ago when the writer of this
was boy, there lived in Southern Mary
land an old man by the name of Davis,
who was passionately fond Of raccoon hunt
ing, and for this purpose kept several very
vicious dogs; enc especially SO, which he
called Flora
Now it happened that he had a daugh-
ter who was special favorite Of Johnny
Wilcox, a young man who lived in the
neighborhood, but from some cause, not
known to everybody, Johnny met with
serious opposition from the old gentleman
until on a certain night, Johnny, with
several other young men, joined the old
gentleman in a racoon hunt, when Cir
cumstance transpired which entirely
changed the current of the old man s
feelings.
Soon after leaving home the dogs struck
the trail of a raccoon, and in few minutes
forced him to seek shelter by going up
into large tree. The sportsman on reach
ing the tree, (being directed by the baying
of the Dogs, saw the raccoon on a limb OF
tree about fifteen feet above the ground.
Now is happened that the old man was
the only one in the party that could climb
up the tree; so up he went, and reached
the limb, all safe, but on going out upon
the limb in order to shake the raccoon off,
he accidently slipped and got on the under
side of the limb, clinging to it with his
hands and feet. He struggled manfully to
get on the limb. but failed, and finding he
must inevitably fall, and seeing no relief
for him, he essayed to pray; now 1t was
not the fall he dreaded, but his dogs,
which were accustomed to attack and kill
whatever animal they saw fall, and the
thought of being torn to pieces by his own
dogs, caused the perspiration to ooze from
every pore Of the old mans skin, and
though not of a pious turn generally, yet
he commenced to pray thus.
''Our Father who art in Heaven; hal
lowed be Thy--Johnny Wilcox, hold
Flora"
He made another desperate effort to re-
gain the top side of the limb, but failed.
almost exhausted, his feet slipped and he
hung on by his hands. He commenced
again to pray, sOur Father who art in
Heaven--Johnny Wilcox, hold Flora"
He made the third effort, and finding it
impossible either to regain the position
which he so much desired, or to avoid
fearful fall, together with a simultaneous
attack from his dogs, in his extremity he
commenced for the third time to pray:
'sOur Father--Johnny Wilcox, for Gods
sake hold Flora"
His hands refused to grasp the limb any
longer and he tumbled among brush and
briars; but Johnny, true to his trust, held
on to Flora, notwithstanding she tumbled
him about in the brush and briers, greatly
damaging his personal appearance, until
the old gentleman recovered his feet and
made Flora understand that the raecoon
Was still up the tree.
The old man would never acknowledge
the prayer, but he did acknowledge the
services rendered by Johnny in holding
Flora, and so waived all further opposi-
ton to him as son-in-law.--B aztinaorea,..
1t is the wife who has the making Of
mans home, says an exchange. True,
and now and now and then she makes his
wig wan too.
ssWhat is the interior of Africa princi-
pally used for?" asked teacher of a pu-
pill ssFor purposes of exploration,'' was
the reply.
A free circus with lunch counter at-
taehed, we have reason to believe, would
draw well here at present.
The higher classes--the ''lore" classes.
The lower classes "hire0 classes.
When birds soar they wariSles but when
throat's sore it doesn't.
When are eyes not eyes2 When the wind
makes them water.
A circular saw--a proverb that goes the
round of society: