The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-05-15
My First and Last Hunt,
DY MRS. F. BURKE COLLINS.


The long, golden, southern day was draw
ing fast to close. The blue of the western
sky had turned to crimson and amber. A
soft haze seemed to hang over the horizon,
and droop lowly above the shining river
which flowed lazily along in front oil a fair,
country home.
1t is a wining little river the Tangpa-
hoa-here forming a bayou, and there a
lake; and now a clump of verduro is meta.
morphosed by q sudden curve into minia-
ture island.
The roomy old house Of my uncle, Judge
Granger, was built upon the bank of the
stream, just where was situated the prettiest
view. 1t was just the place to dream away
the long summer days.
Swinging in the hammock, in the sunset,
upon the vine,covered gallery, watched
my cousin Lucille, as she rocked slowly to
and fro in her sewing chair, with unlsguis
ed ennui.
"Lucille, what's the matLer?T1 cried at
last.
dts go stupid herel Do you know, Nell,
I would do almost any mad act if it insured
me some exctiement-anything to enliven
this dull place"
She tossed the embroidery, which was ly-
ing in her lap, liatessly aside, and looked
what she was, a very discontended maiden.
81 say, girls" cried her "bg brother
Charlie, FROM the other end of the gallery,
where he was smoking his mecrsclIaum,
and making believe he was reading "Daniel
Deronda," "what do you say to going coon
hunting with US tonight"
Of course he was only in jest, but to our
astonishment, Lucille cried, anmatedly;
"Go? OF course we'n go! Won't we
Cousin Nell2"
DECIDEDLY"
Oh, fatal decisonl Yet, what could /
do but agree with my hostess? was pupil
of certain boarding school in New Orleans
and of course, like most girls, released from
the trammels of school life, was ready iol
anything that promised amusement.
The case in brief, was this:
Lucilles brothersj Will and Charley, en-.
ergetic young planters, had long been an
noyed by nightly visits to their corn fields
from raccoons or some other mischievou'
animals, and had determined that night t.
make one grand attempt at the eXternina-
tion of this foe to ilourishing plantation.
II chanced that the Judge had gone to {
neighboring town. to deliver an address Il
political meeting. Lucille had no mother
the household being under the supervision
of her fathers maiden sister, Aunt Prudence
by name, and decidedly prudirh by nature
There was, literally, no one to oppose oui
plan for amusement, as we wisely CONCLUDED
TO conceal it from Aunt Prudence, and 50
quickly and quietly our scheme was ar
ranged. We would all go coon hunting
"by the sweet, silTery light Of the moou."
The lamps being lighted, we four plotter
seated ourselves to a good, old fashioned
game Of whist and were soon apparently
oblivious of aught else.
It had the desired effect. Aunt Prudence
who never c)untenanced card playing, con
sidering the bits Of pasteboard tools of tn,
Evil One, no sooner observed our occupa
ton, than, with highly viriuous look, sh
took of her speetatles, rolled up her knit
ting work, and with sniff, which spok
volumes of reproot to our degenerate cara
sailed najesticIlly ont Of the room.
She paused at the threshold to observe, il
a voice Of suppressed emotion and wounde,
dignity, that when she was young, peopl
never wasted their time in that wicked man
ner, and having fired this parting shot
which however, fell harmless, closed tL,
door behind her.
"Now, girls!' cried Charlie, an hour later
as ho pushed the cards away, out Of sight
"now's your timel Slip up to your rooms
and get into the strongest shoes you have
viii and have the pine torches in readi
ness, and as soon as you return we'll be on
No sooner said than done. We made th'
trip to our own apartments in safety assur
ed ourselves, by unmistakable nasal sounds
Issuing from the chamber, that Aunt Pru
dence had retired for the night; and ther
closing the doors and windows to the house
we stepped out upon the gallery, and await
ed further orders from the commanderin
chief.
lie was busily occupied releasing the dog
from their kennels, for il would be a useles
expedition, without those trusty adherenls
There were two, strong, 5ushy fellows
Lion and Tiger by name -and ready fol
what was before .Lom. 1t was a bright
moonlight night-so bright, everything wa
7 plainly visible. We marched slowly along
bound Cor the field Of battIe-the eoru Geld
first, Win aud Charlie, with the Digs
then Lucille, aud hast, but not least-'your
truly"
It did not take long to assure our hun
ters that The Troublesome animals were al
ready al wgrki and in an instant, Lion anC
Tiger, on the SCENT sprang forward viii