The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-10-23
PETER AND the WOLVES.


named Jan Jansen, came to this coun-
try and settled in the backwoods of
what WAS then old Virginia, clearing n
farm in the mountain wilderness near
the Cheat river.
These mountain businesses were then
as, indeed, they are still. tenanted by
the bear, the great gray wolf (not the
comparatively harmless coyote of the
WcsD, and even the panther.
The Jansens were genial, kind-heart-
ed folks, and counted everybody a
neighbor and friend who lived with
in a circuit of thirty miles.
If Jan or his wife were needed in
time of sickness or other emergency,
they took Peter and Greta and set out
leaving the cabin locked, and the KEY
hung outside, according TO custom of
the country.
Some Christian SOUL they said,
might need shelter or meal, and the
beasts could not unlock the door
Fear of the wild beasts prevented
their leaving the children at home,
though. in fact, neither bear nor pan
Their were ever known to approach Il
house, and wolves only in case of ex-
IRENE hunger.
After living in the mountains for a
few years, the Janscns became con-
WINGED that there was no danger, and
grew more careless. They frequently
were absent in the field all day, leav-
ins Peter and Greia alone in the house.
But they took care never to let the
night fall before their return.
The summer of 1850 was a hard one
IN that des0late region for man and
beast. Crops of all kinds, even mast,
failed.
As the fall passed and winter ap-
preached, the deer actually came near
the cabin in midday, driven by hun
ger. Rumors came from the far-off
farms that the wolves. gaunt and hum
ger-bitten, had attacked the cattle in
the barns.
In early December Jan was sent for
to John Supplee, farmer living about
ten miles down the range. Supplee
had fallen and broken his leg, and Jan
who had good deal Of medical skill,
was the only person who could BAN
dage it properly.
You will come with me, Maria, he
said to his wife, so that, in case | can
not come back before night, you can
bring the Garland OK home
Maria kissed the children good-by.
Il will be back before sundown,' she
said. You can have supper ready,
Greta, and Peter may milk the cow
The children spent the day quietly at
work in buildinga house for their hens.
The sun was going down before they
thought it was noon. Peter went 10
milk the COW, and Greta 10 put the
bacon to fry. and the corn-cake in the
covered skillet among the hot ashes.
Quiet. quiet, good Spryp cried Pc
ter, patting the white spot on her fore
head. Mother is coming. and have
not done my work
Spry stood still. The milk was
strained and put away in the brown
crooks. The cake was baked, and
waited, smoking by the fire, but moth
er had not come.
what is that Peter?' Greta grew
white as she caught his arm. 1t wa:
a rushing, rearing, Kissing noise, which
filled the whole air; then followed by
a deafening, prolonged crash, like
thunder. Then there was silence.
The sky was blne, the setting sur
warm. The birds we're twittering theil
last good-nights before the darkness
fell. The two children stood tremb
ling in the doorway.
1t is an evil spirit said Peter
promptly, for the Jansens had brough
all their native superstitions with them
We have made him angry in SOM
way. Come in and shut the door,
The crash had brought more trou
bic TO the children than could any an
cry spirit. 1t was tornado whicI
had crossed the mountains five mile
to the south, tearing up great oaks b,
the roots, heaping the ravines wit
rocks and fallen trees. 1t had crosse,
the road on which their mother In tn
cart was slowly driving the OK.
4. Peter was 10, and a stout boy of hi
: age. He sat now whimpering an
shivering in the corner like scare
baby.
Mother is dead. He has killed her
he cried.
who would kill mother! I'll go an
= find her. Come. Do something, P'
ter r said plucky little Greta, tuggin
at the latch with her shaking finger
DO! Whai can anybody do whe
the spirits are outP
, He crouched on the floor and hi