The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-01-27
One of Samson's Big Ones.

Oue VI S1mSOU'S Dig Vuc Be
On a chill evening in October, par
ty-villagers and travelers-sat around
the box-stove in the Office of the Conway
House, at Conway, n. H., and story tell
ing was in order A traveler-a big,
self-important manifold several very
large stories, his last being of an en-
counter with grizzly bear, which took
to tree, to escape his furious dogs,
where he shot it.
Uncle Samson Head heard this, and
then he thought it time to open, which
he did, as follows:
"A good many years ago, when l was
younger n I am now, 1 spent season
down by Mile Pond It was great
season for wild geese, and they took a
great fancy for that pond. I'd rugged
up raft for fshin', and arter time
trimmed it with bushes, so as to go arter
geese on it. But never mind about that.
From the winder of the chamber where
slept could see almost the whole O
the pond, and one dull, lowery mornin',
when l got out O. bed, and cast my eyes
out onto the pond, l saw p flock O. wild
geese jest ligthin' on the water, away
over the far SIDE
"You can bet your life, it didn't take
me long ter dress, nor ter git my old
duckin' gun and ixins; and when all
was ready, down 1 went to where my
raft was. AS most on you know, the
pond is six miles long, and the geese
were at least, three to four miles away,
so't couldn't shoot at 'em from where
1 stood. Wal, was jest maxim for my
raft when I 'spied fox, not more'n four
rods off, q lookin' at the geese. My fust
| thought was to let drive at him; but,
thinks l, hold on. Let's see what he'll
do And 1 held on, and it's plaguey
lucky t did And now I'll tell you Of
Jest the neatest bit of gamin' t you ever
heard on. Listen:
''That ere fox had got his eye on them
geese, and he meant to have 'em. Into
the water he went, swimmin' as beautiful
as you please, till he come to within
about rod of whar they was huddled
together, when he went down out O.
sight, and the next thing / seed was one
O. the geese drawn under in twinklin' !!
Ha twas neat job, now-just as true
as you ivel Wal, the fox come to the
surface agin jest about where he went
down, and then made for the shore, with
the goose's neck broke. He made straight
to the spot whar he'd took to the water,
and there he landed the fowl, right under
clump O hazle-wood.
"And then that fox set out for another;
and went through Jest the same ma
mowers. And-to make long story
short-thar sot, hid by the bushes O
my raft, and saw that fox go and come
go and come-go and come-till he'd
taken the last one o the lot!
"And, as Mr.. Fox landed with the last
goose, jest drew bead on him, and
let drive Good-by, fox! I went and
counted them geese, and found jest
thirty-nine of 'em! Thirty-nine good
fat geese, and a rousin' fine fox
called it a pooty good mornin's work
and done afore breakfast, at that
picked up the game and carried it home
and if ther' weren't some tall pickin' o
feathers for while, then I'm a sinner ?
As Samson told his story, the Travelled
stranger looked at him curiously; anG
finally ventured:
"My friend, may be permitted t.
ask you question ?"
"Jest as many as you please. Gt
ahead"
"You tell us you got those geese il
the morning, before breakfast?'
eyes"
| wen, slr, perhaps you Will explain IL
That fox had to swim three and hall
miles to reach the geese ?"
every bit of it, sir"
"Then he must have swan seven mile,
for each and every goose, which woult
have been t,Uo hundred and seventy
three miles, or thereabouts carrying
heavy weight-a weight very nearl,
equal to his own-one way! Upon m,
soul, can not understand it.
Said Uncle Samp., as cool and calm a
summers eve:
Stranger, you said you freed a grizzl.
bedr?"
"Ye-e-es," with considerable hesita
ton.
oval, I was watchin' that ere 70,
swimmin' arter them geese at the self
same time at you was watchin' q grizzl!
bear clina'in' a trcc""
The stranger pondered for season
and then, with ''smile that was child
like and bland" he invited the crowd in
to the little room back of the nfficA