Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-08-18

My own burden-the knowl-
edge TINT life is 30 far advanced with
me and have accomplished so little
has been placed frankly before my Office
boy during the days we have spent to-
gether in the leafy solitude Of the woods
lying on the bank of the river. We
have also read few books together
but there is difference in our tastes
which works against success in this
direction lie still clings tn seastories
and delights in piratical adventures
We get along better in Ielating3 our own
experiences. He exerts himself to i'm
press me with sense of the daring
character of his adventures. The days
at school when he clicked NIL the other
boys, and the days in the streets when he
fought with the 'mud-larks" and was him
self covered with gore" and glory, are
dwelt upon for my edifcation.
This extravagant talk on the part of
Satisfy has to be taken with good deal
of allowance. He is n fine young chap,
boosting is in part the result of par
donable purpose. For this youth is try
ing to ward of what he regards us dire
calamity, and he thinks this kind of talk
may help him.
The calamity which Satisfy breads,
and the fear of which is burden to him,
is the imputation of goodness. Vague
rs the danger is, and perhaps to most
minds shadowy, it is AS much reality
to him as my burden is to me or the
thunderstorm to Plato II appears that
on several occasions at the Sunday school
and elsewhere Satisfy has been called 81
good boy" No other appellation could
SO humiliate or depress him. 81 am no
saint" he pleads Indignantly, as he dis
courses of his grievance in our camp.
And then he proceeds to lay before me
the lies he has told, the battles he has
| fought and the small thefts he las COM
mitted. L discover also that he has
list of semi-profane words which he OK
plodes like fire-crackers in his vehement
talk. In reply to Satisfy am compelled
to admit that, taking all the sins together
which he has committed since his baby
hood, the array is perhaps sufficient to
constitute barrier against goodness.
But 1 do not tell him that which can
not help thinking, that, with his ex-
tremely impulsive nature, sweet DISPOSE
ton, and honesty of purpose, he is not
likely wholly to escape the imputation
which he 80 much breads.
Salsifys criticism of those who have
been his instructors at school is inter
esting. "There is Miss Williams" he
exclaims patronizingly, "who might be
n real nice girl, but she is slave to duty
and has no more idea of freedom or n
good time than machine"
suggest that she is discreet
He replies that she makes an old hen
of herself, and that if any one has got to
be always discreet like that it is no use
to live.
1 remark that have heard her speak
well of him.
eyes," says Satisfy little conceitedly,
Il know she likes me-" And then, after
u moments reflection. he adds indignant
ly, II don't like her ; she thinks 1 am n
regular little tin angel on wheels"
Two miles east of our farmhouse, on
a hillside, is n small hut, which can be
distinctly seen in n clear day, and which
is brought out very plainly by using II
spy-glnss. This hut interests Satisfy
and the rest of us, because it is the
hunting lodge of Alaska.saple-man. The
word sable is always pronounced saptc in
this region.)
The authorities in such matter here
say that Of course there is no. such ami
NAL rs the Alaska saple but they add,
| VIII u lhuBu, 'lut tuc lur Vi tHe <hlhshi
saple is obtained from an odorous ami
NAL not convenient to stumble over on
moonlight nights. The fur of the Alas
ka saple in the market might not seem
as sweet by another name Therefore
there is, rs convenient fiction, such an
animal rs the Alaska saple, and his fur
is very fine, and happens now to be in
fashion.
For some months in Autumn and Win
ter the Alaska-saple- pursues his
lucrative calling. He lives hermit
life, and is not likely to be troubled with
visitors. At the termination of his exile
lie deodorizes himself, his dog, and his
peltry, manages to get into new suit of
clothes at some intermediate point, and
returns to his beings.
| / have not stated hitherto the fact
that our little camp AMI general location
are in and near belt of woods which
connects with some slight breaks caused
by clearings) the Adirondack forest with
the forests of Canada. More or less deer
are seen every season passing over this
territory or runway il their journey
ings, and now and then hear is dis
covered along the same line. These are
often pursued and killed. Sometimes
the hunt and capture is in sight of the
houses. The story of each Of these incl
dents is valued as an important part of
the history of the neighborhood. The
oldest bear-stOry relates capture four
miles away, at the Corners There is o
small church at the Corners. Soon after
it was built, forty years ago, one Sunday,
while the people were in church, they
heard suddenly great noise outside on
the green. Looking out, they saw an i'm
mense black bear fighting with three
dogs. The meeting closed unceremo-
niously, and the people went out to see
the fight. In few minutes the hunters
who were pursuing came up, and the
bear was killed.
1t would require pretty thick volume
to set forth the store of good things in
the way Of hunting adventures and Incl
dents which have accumulated in our
neighborhood within the last thirty years.
They can be told worthily only by the
hunters themselves, in the cool Adiron-
dack Summer twilight or by the winter
fireside.
Salsify's interest in the variations we
} heard of hunting-exploits evening after
evening on the piazza was extreme.
Moved by curiosity and the stories, Salsi.
J fly naturally desired to explore. He re.
, solved, among other things, to attend
church at the Corners, where that bear
was killed on the green. On Sunday
: morning, before I was aware of it, he had
arrayed himself and had gone alone to
, the place. He returned early in the af.
tcrnoon, and explained to me that the
church-services did not amount to any.
thing, and that he had never been sc
stared at in all his life before. He pro-
fessed, however, not to care for the star.
ing, and said he could look any man, wo
, man, or child of them all, including the
preacher, out of countenance in ten sec
onds.
, did not venture at the time to tel
Snlsify whx ha Ind attranfel 40 Inucl