The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-04
Ghildren's Column.
Stories Told the Bows.


field of ice near the woods once, by a
screech-owl in the pines. 1t was almost
dark, and we had never heard such an
unearthly scream before. Its a wild
cat J. shouted one of the boys; and by the
way in which we scud for home YOU
would have thought it was race for the
village championship
Did you ever hear how the hunter who
was taken prisoner by the Indians showed
them how to skate? No? Then it's lust
as good as new
1t was hundred years ago, in the old
pioneer days. Away up at the northern
end OF the great lakes a bold hunter and
trapper made his camp. He hunted for
sport IN the summer, and trapped for fur
IN the fall and winter He knew every
river and creek, every hill and valley.
IN the great woods, better than you know
the streets Of the town; and he had
studied the cunning ways and bright
tricks of the beaver, otter. mink and
martin, until he knew just where and
how to set his traps for them. He
bought good many skins of the friendly
Indians who lived near; and early every
year he would take big load of them
to the nearest trading-post tosell-brine-
ing back powder and lead, with tea
sugar, and other good::things for his table
The hunters life isn't half so fine as the
story books make it: but old Thomas
Judson-for that was his name-enioved
it better than any other
In the winter he had to wear snow
shoes in going through the woods to visit
ms traps and one year he brought back
a pair of skates, that he thought would
be handy when the ice was clear. And
very handy he found them at such times
for he could skate dozen miles as easv
as he could walk two, and the pack on his
back never seemed so light as when he
had his steel shoes on, and could skim
along the CLASSY surface of the lake or
river.
One very cold, clear day, when the ice
was good, he went to visit some mink
traps almost twenty miles north of his
cabin. He skated to near the spot. along
the shore of the lake, and then took off
has skates and put on his snowshoes to
travel over the deep snow mile or two
INTO the woods He knew that an Indian
tribe from Canada had come down to
make war on those who live near him
but never thought they would trouble
him.
All at once his good dog Bruno, that
had been running ahead on deer-track.
stopped, shifted the air, bristled up an
grlly and began to growl and before
Thomas could carry his rife to his
shoulder he was surrounded by dozen
bowling Indians, who .sprang from their
hlding-place in the thicket, brandishing
their tomahawks and yelling like mad. Q
The old man was brave, but he WASH t
a fool; and instead of showing fight
against such odds, he laid down his rife
and folded his arms. He could talk but
little Indian, and they could speak even
less English but by signs and motions
ne made out to let them know that he
wasn't on the war-path, but after furs.
The Indians threatened no harm, when
they found him peaceful. but were much
interested In his arms and dress. for
they hadn't at that time seen many white
men. The snowshoes they understood
all about, for you know the Indians in
vented them; but the skates puzzled
them.
A funny thought seemed to occur to
the hunter, as he saw their curiosity, for
his gray eye twinkled merrily. lice
moccasin, he said, putting skate to his
foot, and then he made with his hands
the gliding motion that the feet take in
skating.
ugh !" grunted the Indian chief, point
ing to the narrow blade of the skate and
shaking his head. AS plainly as looks
could do it he made the hunter under
stand that he wasn't so green as to be-
lleve that anybody could stand up on
those things. AS they were near the
ice, Thomas proposed to fasten them on
a young brave for trial
The Indians welcomed the plan with
glee, for though savages, they were great
lovers of sport. Selecting the bravest
and swiftest young fellow, the chief babe
him stick out his feet, which he did
rather suspiciously The skates were
soon strapped on, and the young buck
helped to his feet The ice was like
glass, and as he started to move YOU
know what happened his feet few out
from under him, and down he came with
a crack Such shouts Of laughter as the
rest sent up! The young fellow was
gritty, and scrambled up to try it again
but with the same result.
The chief now signalled to the hunter