Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-02-28
WHY Old Dick Was Not up to Time.

settlers were put to great trouble
with the wolves. The barn-yard SUI
fered to a great extent in the way OF
pigs, calves, etc., from their depreda-
tons, which frequently, in mid win
ter, were even carried TO the auda-
cious extreme Of attacking human
beings. Indeed, it was no unusual
thing for the belated traveller to find
himself surrounded by a herd OF
them in the woods. Some striking
stories of hair-breadth escapes and
desperate ventures belong to this
period and condition of things. OF
somewhat amusing character was the
adventure which befell old Dick, the
negro fiddler.
He was "good-for-nothing old
darkie," as the word went in the
neighborhood, whose sole merit con-
sisted in his fiddling; but. blythe
way-singular as this merit vast
i'm reality constituted him by far the
most important gentleman Of color
within forty miles around. The fact
is, nothing OF any interest could oc-
cur without his presence.
On the occasion OF grand wedding
on a neighboring plantation, some
six miles distant, old Dick was, OF
course, expected to officiate as mas
ter of the ceremonies.
1t had been an unusually severe
winter, and a heavy snow lay upon
the ground on the eventful evening,
when, having donned his "long- tailed
blue" with its glittering gilt buttons,
and mounted the immense shirt-col-
lar by the aid of which the dignity OF
his official character was properly
maintained, he sailed forth. fiddle in
hand, to dare the perils OF the distant
way alone; for the younger darkies
had all gone to the frolic hours ago.
The moon was out, and the stars
twinkled merrily overhead, as the
spry old man trudged away over the
crisp and cracking snow. The path,
which was a narrow one, for the
greater part Of the way. through the
dark shadows Of heavy bottom for
est, which yet remained as wild as
when the Indians roamed it, and was
untraversed by wagon-road for
many miles.
On he dashed with unrelaxiDg en-
ergy, needless Of the black shadows
and hideous nightcries in the deep
forest. Wolves were bowling around
him on every side, but he paid no at
tention to sounds that were so COM
mon.
However. he was soon compelled
to give more heed to these animals
than was by any means pleasing or
expected.
He had now made nearly half OF his
journey. and the light opening ahead
through the trees showed him the
"old clearing" as it was called,
through which his path led.
The wolves had been getting ex-
cessively noisy for the last mile; and
TO the undesirable horror of the
old man, he could hear them gather
ing about him in the cracking bushes
on either side, as they ran along to
keep pace with his rapid steps. The
woods very soon seemed to Dick to
b. literally alive with them, as they
gathered in yellow packs from far
and near.
Wolves are cautious about attack
ing human being at once. but usual
ly require some little time to work
themselves up to the point.
That such was the case now proved
most lucky for poor old Dick, who be-
gan to realize the horrible danger, as
dark object would brush past his
legs every few moments, with a snap
ping sound like the ring OF a steel
trap; while the yells and patter of
the gathering wolves increased with
terrible rapidity.
Dick knew enough Of the habits OF
the animal to be fully aware that to
run would insure his instant death,
as the cowardly pack would be sure
to set upon him in a body on the in
slant OF observing any indication Of
fear. His only chance was to keep
them at bay by preserving the ut
most steadiness until he could reach
an old hut that stood in the middle
OF clearing not far of.
The wolves were becoming more
audacious every minute, and rushed
at him, swapping as they went past in
closer and closer proximity to his thin
legs, the frightened fiddler instinct.
lively thrust at them with his fiddle.
The sudden sound OF the strings
causen the wolves to leap aside with
surprise. Dick instantly drew his
hands across the strings, and to his
infinite relief they sprang back and
aside as IL he had shot amongst them.
Taking immediate advantage of
this lucky diversion In his favor, as
he had now reached the edge OF the
clearing, he made a break for the
hut, raking his hands across the
fiddle strings at every jump, until
they fairly roared again.
The astonished wolves paused for
q moment on the edge OF the clearing
with their tails between their legs;
but he had broken the spell by run
ming, and In moment they were
after him.