The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-01-01
Josh, Jemima, and the Wolves.


so violently that he was thrown to the
ground. Cold chills would run all over
him, as he expressed it, "from the sole
of his head to the crown of his foot"
Jemima was pretty, to Josh her hair
"red as the red sea, large eyes which
had the faculty of looking ways opposite
each other at the same time, and nose
which looked as If it had been heightened
by the addition of several others.
Now Joshua had never escorted Jemi-
ma home, for she lived near two miles
from Fleaburg. She came to "meetin'
every Sabbath night, and would walk
across the fields all alone, not in the
least afraid of the wild beasts which at
that time infested the country. But one
night our hero resolved to bear the dam
sci company, and accordingly prepared
for his nocturnal journey. He got his
grandfather's horse pistol, and loaded it
to the muzzle, and thrust large butcher
knife in his bosom, which thrust didn't
hurt him much, for it was the bosom of
his coat. A lantern completed his
e ''fixings."
The meeting closed, and Josh, with
Jemima leaning on his arm like large
gourd hanging from tall vine, set out
for the Pineapple mansion.
"We are in the woods now, Jemima,,'
said Josh, as he assisted his parter over
the fence of the last field, "and now
comes the tug of war. I'll bet dime
that these woods are full of wolves"
81 think they will not attack us but
if they do, oh, Joshua, on thy arm L
will recline, and breathe my life out
sweetly there" And she gave such a
sweet sigh that Josh started, thinking it
the half-smothered growl of bear.
" What's the matter, Josh ?"
"Oh, nothing" and gaining new
courage at the sound of Jemimas voice,
he squeezed her arm till she nearly
screamed aloud.
Suddenly a strange cry echoed through
the wood.
" Wolves !" shouted Josh.
" "Bears!" re-echoed his partner.
Come, Jemima, let us git. y And they
got.
Through the wood they went, Josh
literally dragging Jemima along. The
foe was approaching; the couple could
hear his footsteps in the leavrs. for they
had wandered from the path,
Josh, 1 can't go any hrther; we
must tree it,''' said Jemima, as size
paused for breath.
"By gosh, we must. Herr is tree
with its limbs nigh hanging on the
ground Climb it, Jemiml Here
go. Gods if the animal climbs the
tree, what then 20 And with bound
the terrified Joshua climbed up the teee,
leaving Jemima to follow him or be de-
voured by the terrible purster few feet
in their wake.
But Jemima was an old climber, and
was soon beside Josh, who was perched
in one of the highest brarches of the
tree.
Listen, Jemima; hear the horrible
thing gnawing at the tree. 1t is wolves,
sure'n shootin'. They will gnaw the
tree down in half an hour"
81 fear so, JOSH"
g But hold, Jemima! I've got pis-
tol," said our hero, thinking of his
weapon for the first timethat night
"Now, just keep still while shoot"
He deliberately cooked the weapon,
pointed it down through the branches
where the pursuer was paving among
the leaves, and fired. 1t vas destruc-
tive shot, and Josh vent spinning
through the tree like gresed lightning.
He had loaded the pistol 30 heavily that
it had kicked him from his perch into
the jaws of the animal blow. But for
tunately he alighted on his feet, and in
an instant he was again up the tree, hat
less, his red locks catching in the limbs,
which cruelty tore them from his head.
g / was burned fool, Temima, to have
loaded that pistol so leavily, and it
kicked me right into thewolves mouths,
but, that thank Moses, escaped. Just
feel my head
Jemima placed her hind upon JOSH 5
Uranium, and withdreF it wet with
gore.
"That is my blood, sled for you, Je-
NINA, and am Willing to shed more,
dogoned If amt"
"Can the wolves climb 2"
"Climb like rabbit Jemima; and
every minute 1 am looling for them to
come up here. L do believe my shot