Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-08-10

| 'J D'AiOi was plChiuS uldChOeTIleS
on the west side of the '' Falls " on a
new-burnt piece. He heard the brust
crack under heavy tread. He looket
up. There stood bear. The boy scream.
ed, and the bear, the more frightened party
OF the two, tore away through the wood.
at furious rate.
I've seen IA bear! I've seen a bear =
shouted Daniel running to the house.
Have you?' said brother Dewey, How
long was his tailP''
So long" replied Daniel, measuring
the length of his arm. The boy had caugh
glimpse of the bears hind leg as the
bear leaped over log.
Mr.. Dewey, however, was not long tc
possess the advantage in banter, which
this incident afforded him.
Dog river at this time was full O
magnificent trout. There was a dam O
drift wood near the house which prevented
the large fish from getting any further VI
stream. Mr.. Dewey and Daniel, seeing
these large fish below the dam. had fre
quently tried every kind of bait to induce
them to bite, but in vain. One noon
while Mr.. Dewey took his afterdinner
nap Daniel strayed in the direction of the
river. As he neared the dam, he heard a
splashing of water, and discovered thai
three large trout, alarmed at his approach
were floundering in great haste toward.
the river from cold spring near the bank
the outlet of which furnished them scanty
means of locomotion. An idea occurred to
him in moment. The weather was hot
and the trout would be attracted to thi:
cold spring again. He fitted wide piece
of hemlock bark into tho channel of the out
let so as to operate like a sliding water.
gate, and left it up. The next day at the
same hour, taking his fish pole, he crept
thlther cautiously, by roundabout way
from the other side of the river across the
dam, drove bis bark gate into place by a
quick blow, and found he had three
magnificent trout prisoners. He captured
them in his hands, marched triumphantly
to the house, and answered Mr.. Dewey
wondering inquiries by saying he had
got so he knew how to catch fish" Mr.
Dewey was Immediately possessed with a
great desire to feel some of these spotted
beauties on his own line, and betook him.
self to the river. He did not make his
appearance in the field where Daniel was
raking hay for two or three hours; and he
discovered the secret a few days later only
by watching Daniel as he made one OF
several successful half-hour I" fishing ~
excursions to the river.
This first summer on Dog River, Daniel
beirg now just ten years old, Mr.. Dewey
and his family-he had son about two
years old-attended commencement al
Dartmouth college, leaving Daniel and the
dog, Lion" to keep house all alone. They
were gone two weeks, and during thai
time no one visited the place. 1t was a
lonesome, long time to the boy. He cut
up the corn stalks and reaped the wheat,
beside milking the three COWS and prepar-
ing his own food He made an attempt al
some 'nut-cakes." They were very heavy
and cooked only on the surface; he ate of
the outside, therefore, and put them in anG
fried them again,
In the following winter (l803) en- even
occurred which far outweighs anything thai
had yet befallen the subject of this sketch
1t is the famous story of mis- escape from
the wolves, which has been published +
number of times, but is repeated here fol
several reasons.
For the purpose of attending the distric
school, Daniel lived that winter with VIM
Dewey, brother of Israel, and did chore;
for his board. 1t was his custom to walk
home Saturday nights and return Monday
mornings. The distance was about thre,
miles, and about midway lived Mr.. Setl
Johnston. 1t was in February when th'
snow lay deep, that he set out, as usual
Just at dark to make this journey on foo
and alone, and was accosted by Mr.. John
ston, as he was about to pass that gentle
mans home without stopping. 1t was on
of the many remarkably fortunate occur
rences in Daniels life that Mr.. Johnston
happened to be in his yard splitting woo'
Just at that moment; had it been otherwise
it is highly improbable the boy would hav
been alive an hour afterwards.
"Daniel, you must not try to 60 throug
the woods home tonight. The varmint
will catch you"
The boy did not take this very seriousl
at first, and in reply to what was adde
about hearing the howls of the ''varmints
the night before, he said the bears were a
denned up and he was not afraid of owls
Nothing was said about wolves. and Dani,
had not clear idea exactly what wa
meant by "varmints" Mrs. Johnston ha
by this time appeared at the door and, OF
serving Daniel was about to resume h
way, she exclaimed:
daniel stop! Now, Seth Johnston, 20
must not let that boy 60 through the wooc
alone; the varmints will certainly hav
him. You know they have been prowlin
in the woods every night for week."
well, would 60 with him, if | coul
not do better, but can contrive to furnis
him a better safeguard than my compan
will afford" returned the husband. "Dar
iel, you hold on minute, and | will sho
, YOU"
So saying he ran into the house an
brought firebrand formed from stoI
sapling club, with one end well on fiji
and, putting it into the boys hand said
, him:
, "There, take that, and begin now
: swing it enough to keep it alive, and, If tt
savage brutes beset you. swing it roun
, you like fury, and run the gauntlet, an
> I'll warrant they won't dare to touch you
t The boy was a little staggered by tn
anxiety thew manifested. for nothing ha