The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-05-04
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80. VI
aSrw way 70 brSE
Long after noon Of warm April
DAY. Tired from an extended tramp
through the sgheued snow. hungry
and without morsel 20 eat, / found
myself upon the further side Of the
mouBtAin where with b. ] had
gone bare hunting. We had pene.
trated FAR into the woods-into the
very midst Of the wide strip Of old
primeyal forest that covers the esteru
bali oi the township. bad just shot
a rabbit aud hung him up upon little
spruce. The old hound soon came
around upon the track and being, OF
course lost | called him up to pat
and cheer him; and to further my OBJ
jet. pointed him to the rabbit hung
quite high up upon the bush. He h ad
been nearly three days from home up.
on little love affair; probably had not
had quarter rations, as his company
was not at all agreeable to those nearly
concerned The wishful look that he
cast upon that rabbit was too much for
me. And to resist its pleading tone as
he half whiningly turned his eye to.
ward me. was impossible Master,
il isn't often that | ask for the favor.
Many is the time that you have drop
ped the game in my path after had
brought it around to you, and in my
eageness to serve you further have
refused TO crafty the gnawing craving
within. But, somehow, just now,
master, | would like that rabbit" And
the noble fellow bad it. And my din.
ner was, to bend over a stout spruce
bush, sit down, light my cigar. and
see him eat ID.
Now that dog amt troubled with
dyspepsia; especially after he has been
without eating two days and chased
rabbits the third. Nor is he at all
particular how his food is dressed. Let
me tell you how he dressed that rabbit.
lie began little back Of the shoulders;
and Ia a manner to give beholdels 10
SO
business. Within minute ne had
drefsed that part to perfectiol. How
he dressed the forequarters / can't
exactly describe, turned away my
glance lot a moment, attracted by a
slight rustling in the bushes, and
when l turned it back there were no
torequarters in sight. Where they
went TO ! don't know; they were all
right when ! last saw them and | am
willing to take my oath that | didn't
lose sight Of them long enough to
more than turn around How he
dressed he lungs. the liver, etc, |
don't know--the matter is blank to
me. When he had gone thus far, to
tantalize him, the thought struck me
to take the headquarters away; but
when | had. 10 all appearance, accom-.
plished my purpose, found that had
got hold Of only bunch Of white fur
attached 10 the bones Of two feet. The
head was the dessert; and never
choicer vas set before king; that is,
one more thoroughly appreciated And
the last that saw OF that rabbit, or Of
any part OF him except almost one
quarter Of the fur that | would sworn
was attached TO him when shot him,
was one eye peeking out from between
the dogs jaws--and that only for
glimpse. He had gone to pay the
great debt Of nature, +" although not
to that "bourne whence no traveller
returns" for have no doubt but that.
within an hour. ia some still quiet
place where there was nobod y to look
on, that rabbit found his way back.
Well the rabbit was dressed and
my dinner completed that dogs din.
ner was my own, aud never did l
enjoy better. ! looked at my time
piece aud found Only bali an inch Of
white ashes clinging TO the smoking
tip! How so much qualification, both
human and brute, could be measured /.
by 80 short a strip was. aud still is, a
profound mystery