The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-12-23
JIMMY AND THE PANTHER .

Many years ago, pOItOhs VI our
country, which are now thiekly popu-
lated, were plagued by wild beasts, who
were often excited by the pangs of
hunger to a daring which was foreign TO
their natures at other times.
The depredations of the wolves, bears
and panthers, or painters, as they
were more generally called, sometimes
reached such a point that the State of.
fered bounles for the staying Of the
pests.
MANY time, 50 said an old settler, q
have seen well-worn paths around my
barn in the morning, made 10y the wolves
trotting back and forth while seeking an
entrance to the sheep that were fastened
within"
The speaker had lived in Scoharie
county, \. Y, during the early por-
tons Of the present century, and had
I met with more than one memorable ex-
! perience.
81 remember" he added, "that
/ father has shot many a wolf from the
/ window of his bedroom, and L have
/ seen him stand in his own door, in the
afternoon, and bring down SIX or eight
wildcats, who were driven to climb
some of the saplings among the un-
dergrowth across the road by the hunt
ing dogs that We're sent 10 rout them
out.
my brother Jack was three years
older than l. and he developed a fond
ness for hunting which father encouraged
TO the utmost. When he was II he was
one of the best shots IN the country, as
he proved IN many shOOting-matches,
where his competitors We're men who
had been known as crack shots years
before Jack was born. -
Father bought my brother rifle
suited to his years, for the regular weap-
ON was too heavy for him to handle easi-
ly, and he was then the happiest boy
you ever dreamed OF. He would have
become a genuine Daniel Boone, and
spent all his time III the woods, If father
would have permitted 1t. As it was, he
was sometimes gone all night, and
neither father nor mother seemed to
feel the least anxiety about him.
eli 1t was you, Jimmy, said my par
ents, we would be very anxious; but
when Jack has his gun with him he will
take care.of himself
Once or twice l accompanied nv
brother on his hunts, but that was
enough. / carried no weapon, and, not
feeling a tenth part of the interest he
did, l was almost tired to death when we
came home, while he would have been
glad to continue it for hours longer, had
there beenany daylight to help him.
"Some three miles away lived nv
fathers brother, Uncle Jacob, who was
a thrifty farmer, with q boy about nv
own age. As they were our nearest
neighbors, it was natural that Dick and
/ should pass a good deal of our time
tnrafbar Sor,o atfr,oac I .1-ae Of bTe br,,ea
all day, and as frequently he was at
mine. Occasionally one of US stayed
with the other over night, but each gen.
orally preferred to be at home with his
folks.
Zone day, late in autumn, was
given permission to go and see Dick,
but I was specially warned by my
mother that L must be back again before !
dark. readily promised, and started
off in high spirits.
"The path leading to Uncle Jacobs |
was through the woods the entire dis
tance, and near the halfway point was
a deep hollow, where there was a stream
of sluggish water, which was spanned |
by log. The branches overhead were
so dense and so matted by vines that
it was always dark there, even at mid
day.
elm crossing the log, I noticed IN the
soft, oozy ground on the other side the
prints of some animals feet, though l
didn't know what kind of Wild Great
ure he was. never pretended to carry
a gun, but was so accustomed to seeing
and hearing wild beasts that I felt no
particular fear, and continued whistling |
over the path until 1 reached my uncle's
house.
at was cold weather, and there were
n few needles of ice thrusting out from
the banks of the little stream, while
furry of snow whirled about my head
for few minutes.
But 1 needn't say that that did not !
with the fun of Dick and me.
We played and romped together until
we were tired, and then PLAYED and |
again. Our principal amuse-
ment during the afternoon was the game
of Hide-and-whOOp,' in the adjoining |
woods.
81 had no thought of disobeying my
mother, but all at once 1 noticed that it /
was growing dark, and, looking toward
the house, saw that my aunt had lit the
candle, which was shining throueb the |
window Night had already come and
/ ought to have started home an hour
before.
"Dick wanted me to stay all night,
but, remembering my promise to my
mother, said NO, and hurried off |
over the path, without going 10 the
house to bid his parents good-evening.
81 don't see how came to forget NY
SELF muttered, impatieltly, as I hast
ened forward. 1T will be as dark as
Egypt before l get home, and. ike
enough, father will warm my jacket to
keep me from forgetting next time
81 had no fear of any particular wild
animal, but / dreaded a walk through
the woods at night, as many an older
person does.
The sky had become perfectly clear
during the afternoon, and bright moon
was shining, but l think that made my
more gloomy and dismal. The
few arrows of moonlight which found
their way through branches half denud-