River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-08-14
AN ENCOUNTER WITH A PAN
THEIR.

Noio thtih tAAN AoNNl Vi 4lOQH
Washington shut out the polar star. Ii
quiet secluded dell--now comprised il
the township of Jackson-he fixed hi
rough Lighthouse, and built up his famil,
altar. Broad acres of rich woodland, We
unmutilatcd by the destroying hand o.
civilization. stretched out their green wa
wing pillows far toward Ellis liver, anC
the moinlng sunshine looked down OF
the Dell with wealth Of life-givins
power in its warm beams.
In truth, a lovelies spot than Crag Del
could not be found for leagues; and al
though the nearest human habitation was
seven miles away, the Glenns ere a hap
py family-living as they did, in a little
ingdom OF their own, unmolested and
untroubled.
The prettiest thing about the place was
the blue-eyed little Maggie, the sseei
child that stood by her mothers side one
magnificent September morning, and
begged to be allowed to 90 out to knoll
but a few rods from the cabin, for whortle
berries which grew very thick and large
there. AT first Mrs. Glenn demurrred
for there was much danger to be apprc-
hended from rattlesnakes, which were
quite numerous in the vicinity; but at last
won over from discretion by two round
bright tears which glistened in Maggie's
eyes, she gave her consent; enjoining il
upon her child not to 90 out of sight Of
the cabin.
With mothers pride and care did
Mrs. Glenn watch the little form unit
she reached the knoll buslly engaged in
capturing the delicious fruit; and then
y it'll cheerful face she returned to hel
spinning.
Ever and anon the busy hum of the
wheel would cease; and the mothers
face pressed the window to see if Maggie
still remained upon the knoll. At last
she looked forth, and frightful change
fell upon her as she looked. Her cheek
became white as ashes-a deadly GOODNESS
settled IN all her limbs; she would have
shrieked, but her lips were sealed.
There, on the bold rock which over
hung the knoll, where Maggie yet knelt
in childish satisfaction, fast filing the
bucket with blue berries, crouched an
immense panther, evidently preparing
for the fatal leap. Mothers! judge OF the
feelings of that mother! Far from hui
man aid-her husband at work in in
teryal two miles below and panther
about to devour her only child! The
golden hair would be dabbled In red
blood; the lips which had SO often been
pressed to hers IN the rich kiss of holy
affection, would be torn and crushed be-
tween the ravenous Jaws of the monster
In that hour Martha Glenn thought
only Of her child. She reflected not s'n
the danger to which she exposed herself,
in venturing forth in sight of the terrible
animal. She remembered only that ber
child, the child she had pourlshed at hei
breast, and who, for six happy years had
slept in her bosom, as in peril! Forth
she sped, her hands uprased, her eyes
fixed in moveless agony upon the horri'
bile tdbleau.
The panther gave a low growl of de
light, as his restless eyes fell on his new
victim: his tail lashed the ground in his
rage; his red tongue CLEANED savagely
over his white cleaning teeth, and his
glaring eyes seemed like living Goals OF
fire!
Unheeding all-all but her child the
distracted mother sped on; the low, swec
voice of her darling reached her through
the dead air-for Maggie was singing tt
herself quaint old ballad Of long ago
In an instant, Maggie was struggling IL
her mother arms; AMI that mother, Will
the courage of dispair, turned and at
tempted to reach her cabin with thu
precious burden she bore.
IFtfo,.snrr Zorro
cry, the panther raised himself upon his
haunches his forepaws dug deep into thu
matted grass-a Wild, maddened snort
and his claws wee buried in the shoulder
of the helpless woman Fllnging Mag
gie upon the fragrant heaps of mountain
heather, which grew everywhere i'll ricl
Iuxurance, Mrs. Glenn prepared hersel
for desperate and unequal struggle. Tn
equal indeed, for y hat was the strength
of a frail woman, opposed to the fury OF
raging pantherl
Already the fangs of the animal wer'
fastened with an iron grip apon her let
arm; the blood flowed in torrents dowl
her disordered garments; the pain sh'
suffered was past all mortal conception
and vet, IN that fearful hour, the courage
IF Martha Glenn did not fail her. 4
blessed thought flashed across her mine
she seized with her uncontined right hant
the strong cord which fastened to he
waist the long, sharp pointed shears
which were then deemed necessary to tn
toilet of every housewife. The glitterint
steel flashed bright in the sunlight, anC
with one powerful effort she drove tn
: h. ha,,1I9 in i,n fhr0af n
her assailant.
His cries of pain and rage were appal
hing and his teeth closed together through
the fIes of that torn and mutilated arm
Not then did Mrs. Glenn yield Wit
certain death for herself she would stil
save her child, and with desperate an
determined bravery, she plunged tn
shears again and again into the neck c
the Infatuated beast. The combat gre'
territicl Growls and howls filled the al
and Maggie shrunk beneath an overhang
ing rock, and hid her little face in ht
apron.
At length, by lucky movement o
the part of Mrs. GleEn, the panther er
tire throat was cleft in twain, and III
loosing his ho,d, he rolled upon tn
ground IN a paroxysm of agony. Ovt
and over-raising the dry, gray dust
clouds, in the struggle with death.
lasted but little ~hIle; there was
convulsive twitching of his strongly d.
fined MUSCLES grating of his ponde
Gus Jaws, dying out of the light in h
fiery eve, and he lay still and mOtionlei
dead
4 4 4 81, n frnt
pain and loss of blood, Mrs. Glenn ha
sufficient presence of mind to crawl bac
to her home, followed closely by Maggi
Who could scarcely comprehend the teri
llc affair Dreariiy, and In the most il
tense suffering passed the long afternoo
to the wounded mother; but In the smil
which welIed up from Maggie's blu
ewes when standing beside her, she fe
more than repaid for all she had alread.
and all she must in the future, endure fC
her child's lite.
William Glenn was horror-stricken O
returning from his labor, at the frightft
condition of his wife. He dispatche
his hired man eleven miles for the nearei
phvsician. and in ANXIOUS hope and fci
he awaited his arrival.
At last-it was nearly day break-th
man of science came. After gravely q
amining the case, he pronounced amput
ton of tee mutilated limb the only meal
of preserving life Mrs. Glenn dil NJ
finch from the trying ordeal, but boz
herself throughout with Roman fortltud
i Maggie Glenn grew up good an
beautiful wOman-her love for her mott
Ter the one great, holy and sanstiied ira
4 IN her lovely character. Early in life Il