Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-20
Chased by Wolves.

Once there was man who lived in the
cold north country, where they have eight or
nine months Of winter, and ride in sledges
drawn by reindeer or dogs. They celebrate
their New Years day about as we do Fourth
OF July,-with fireworks and shooting and
bell-ringing and bonfires, and nuisance of
time generally. This mans name was
Erick, and he lived on farm about six
miles from village, through very big and
dark forest
One day, Just before New Years, he went
to town to buy some fireworks for his boys
to celebrate with, and some candy for 'em
to eat, and big fat goose for dinner. He
had so many stories to hear and tell at the
tavern, that it was dark before he got ready
to start for home. But his reindeer knew
the way, and he put his sky rockets and
Roman candles, and fre-crackers, and ser.
penis under the seat of his sleigh, along
with the goose and the goodies ;-chuckling
to himself as he did it, and saying Don't
you get afre now, you sky-scrapers, and
blazers, and pop-bangers, or you'll cook mas
fat goose before she's ready for it--besides
blowing me up before she has chance "
And he laughed as he put on his big bear
skin coat, and drew his wolf-robes over him,
lighted his pips and started toward home.
hiNVi ht u BOb q llllt VI 81 lIlUO JIlb WOODS,
and was thinking what a fine time he would
have with his boys the next night, he heard
a sound behiud him. 1t was way off. but
kept coming nearer. 1t was something be-
tween bark, and roar, and cry and as
he hardened he knew it was wolves-a whole
pack of them, chasing him. He was three
or four miles from home, and he had no
gun. He whipped up his reindeer but
didn't need to do this, for the deer had
heard the bowling, and was as much scared
as the driver, and he ran as fast as a race
horse.
But the wolves kept gaining, and Erick
saw that they would catch him before he
could get near home. He knew they were
awfully hungry, and there were so many of
them that they were bold, and would pull
him right out of the sleigh and tear him to
pieces. What to do he didn't know. till he
happened to think of his fireworks. Quick
as flash he lifted the cover of the seat,
and pulled out the bundle. The wolves
were now so close that he could see their
red eyes shining close behind and hear
them pant and growl as they ran.
He tore open a bunch of fire-crackers,
and lighted all the stems at once by the fire
in his pipe, and just as they were ready to
to pop, threw them back with all his might.
They fell right in the middle of the wolves
and went off-bang- -bangity- bang--f five,
ten, twenty at time. The wolves set up
| frightened howl and scattered, but as the
popping stopped, they rushed on again.
This time Erick had a Roman candle
lighted, and ne shot the fiery balls back at
them. One red ball went right into the
leaders mouth, and it was the hottest
| mouthful he ever had-so hot that he rolled
over and doubled up, and howled like mad
dog. But the rest had got so crazy for a
meal out of the man and the deer that they
kept on. Erick let fly another bunch of
| big fre-crackers, and then sent off two of
| three fiery serpents the sort that run
wriggling and fizzling around, nobody
knows where. One of them shot right
against the big bushy tai of wolf, and set
the hair on fire, and he began to chase his
blazing tail around and around in circle
bowling as he had never done before
| When the other wolves saw this, they were
worse scared than the man had been, and
turned and legged it back into the woods
faster than they had come.
And when Erick got home, and his wife
saw how white and scared he looked, she
asked him what in the world he had been
| doing.
"Oh," he said, "l've been celebrating New
Years with pack Of wolves and 1 warmed
the stomach Of one and the tail of another
so they won't be cold before morning,
| reckon |"
And then he told them what narrow es-
cape he had made; and they were all so
glad that they didI'L think of the fireworks
they wouldn't have the next night. But
one fat-faced little boy, who thought good
deal of his dinner, finally said
"An' did 90 save e goose 2"
"Yes," said the father, catching up the
little club and kissing him, " and you're
another"