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

IdireduY as uark rs IL WOulu De Jilat nlSnb.
He noticed some peculiar marks in the
snow by the roadside and wondered whoth.
er "old Lion" who was great favorite
with him and frequently came even down
to the school house to see him, had been
there wallowing. There suddenly sounded
shrill through the forest from his right a
sharp howl. The boy tried to reassure
himself by thinking: "Old owl, you need
not try to scare me-" But there was
something in that sound which made every
fibre of his body trembe. When an old
man, he could feel how his hair rose as it
thrilled through him. lie started imme-
diately on the run and swung his firebrand
furiously. Almost instantly, the first howl
was answered by many on all sides. Be-
fore he reached the top of the little rise
beyond the bridge, some animals that
; looked like fierce dogs seemed to be thick
about him. Their dark bodies moved
swiftly among the trees, which, It must be
remembered, came close to the narrow
road on both sides. There were u dozen
or twenty of them, evidently, and they
seemed to crowd in as if to head him off.
He had no idea of stopping, but ran as he
never ran before. If swinging would keep
the firebraud alive it would soon be in II
blaze. The bright end almost touched the
wolves noses several times, but they
seemed to have mortal terror of contact
with that luminous arm. The fierce, hum
cry, blood. d.curdlng yOWI! yowt! yoUi!
came continually from their throats.
One side the road was wharfed up
with poles, and frequently wolf, in his
haste to avoid the fire, dove headlong over
this embankment, and gave smothered
howl as he plunged into the deep snow.
The lad ran this fearful gauntlet in this
manner for about an eighth of mile, and
then lost off shoe. The savage brutes
spent some time wrangling over it, and
gave the pursued a chance to gain little
distance on them, but soon the whole pack
came bowling on again. The poor boy
had now run mile and was almost ready
TO sink with exhaustion; the perspiration
poured down his legs. He had reached
the foot of hill about quarter of a mile
from home, and made up his mind that,
unless he could keep off the wolves with
his tirebrand, they must eat him; he could
not run further. The infurated animals
were close about him. but still dared not
come within the magic circle of the fire.
brand, Arrived at the top he struck up a
troL till he reached home. AS he neared
the clearing the wolves fell off, conscious
they had lost their prey.
Mr. and Mrs. Dewey stood at the door.
There, told you he would come" She
had urged her husband to go down the
road to meet Daniel; but having no gun,
and saying he was sure Mr.. Johnston
would not let the boy attempt the passage
he had not gone. Old Lion was so
frightened he could not be sent rod from
them.
They made the cattle and everything
about the house as secure as possible and
went to bed. The next morning there
were tracks of the brutes about the house,
and, following them to,the river, they found
hair and blood.stained snow where deer
had been killed and eaten.
Out of this incident grew the "great
wolf hunt on Irish hill, which took place
the next Saturday.
Mr.. Dewey was cabinet maker by
trade and, in the winter, Daniel worked
with him in the shop. The Dog river
farm, however, was not good location
for business and, in the fall of 1908, Mr..
Dewey sold out and moved to Berlin Cor
ner, into a house-the only one within
half mile-situated on the east side OF
the pond Mt the farther end of the present
little village. There was saw mill at the
outlet of the pond, where the saw mil
now is. Mr. Dewey opened tavern, and
was appointed postmaster. The meeting
house was about "a half mile west of the
corner, and there, also, was the school
house, where Daniel attended that winter.
The tavern business, by reason 90
proximity to Montpelier, was not exten
sive. The first regular stopping place OF
the way to Boston by this road was Judg'
Paine's in Wllamstown. Daniel, how
ever, was frequently called to wait upon
customers. The charges were three cents
for batting horses with hay, and twelve
cents for four quarts of oats. He alst
attended the postofice. The postage t.
Burlington was ten cents; to Boston
eighteen and three.fourths cents; to New
), York, twenty. five cents.
About this time it was discovered that
- Berlin pond was we'll stocked with trout
e, which had all sprung from few introduc
y ed by James Lynde four or five year
-, previous.
The military spirit, which makes thu
early history of Vermont so interesting
- was still strong in the neighborhood, ant
great pride was taken in the militi
= company. The boys, also, formed a com
: pany of which Daniel was made orderly
sergeant. The other officers were: Au
2 gustus Ellis (half brother of j. w. Ellis)
captain; VIM. Perrin, lieutenant; Luthe
u Stewart, ensign. On parade day at the
II Corner, the juvenile company made
y good show. There were many people
: present, and the sons of Squire" Bale,
" came on the grounds and peddled apples
The idea of peddling apples did not sui
q the notions of the rough but openhande
IL yeomen. Daniel and his companions
g moreover, had learned to look with sligh
o dsfavor on the Bailey boys, because the
went to church different from theirs
% such was the Puritan strictness in thos
o days, Anyway, Daniel and his friends
q having determined to put stop to tn,
a peddling of apples, procured horse ant
cart and drove to the house of Capt. Aver
. on "Bible street." Mr.. Ayers gave then
u ~ H.