The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-12-20

mother at once about the snareS but
by the time she entered the kitchen,
she had concluded that she would just
go and look at the snares first, so she
only said ''Good-morning, mother"
took her sun-bonnet and went out into
the yard. AS soon as she turned the
corner she started on a run for the
woods In her first snare she found
nothing but as she approached the
second, she heard growl, and stopped
speechless as she saw two great eyes
staring at her. She did not take sec
ond look; she ran back home as fast
as her little feet could carry her,
shrieking and crying, ''Oh, the wild
cat the wildcat f'
She rushed into the kitchen, ran and
hid her face in her mothers dress, and
cried and sobhed.
The astonished mother lifted her lit
tie daughter into her lap, and finally,
by kindly questioning, drew the whole
story from her, how she had set the
snares, her dream, her morning visit to
the woods.
Mr.. Buck came in in time to hear
the last part of her story.
perhaps she has really caught some
thing" said he, as he took down his
gun. cat any rate. I'll go and see.
Come, Hannah, and show the way"
"Oh, no, no r' cried Hannah.
81 will % exclaimed little Willie. ST
know the way. helped set 'em did"
Come along, then," said Mr.. Buck,
smiling. "P1 carry you"
Soon, in company with John and
Charlie, they reached the wood. Willie
pointed out the first snare how the
wise and experienced elder brother
laughed to see the way it was set
'sWhy," exclaimed Charlie, ..that
moose is large enough to lasso a
buffalo ~
Anyway. it's good and strong" said
Johnnie, looking at it again.
s.I should say so," said their father,
'for see Hannah has taken my linen
twine to -" but just then they heard
a low growl, and hastily directing their
steps toward the sound, they soon came
in sight of the second snare, where
Mr.. Buck was very much astonished to
behold huge black bear struggling in
| the bushes.
After dispatching him. they found the
moose really around the bears neck;
but some twigs had become caught in
| the knot in such manner as to prevent
its drawing up very tight. Thus the
bear had escaped strangulation, al
though he could not make his escape.
"Well, my little daughter" said Mr..
Buck, as he entered the kitchen, ''you
have beaten the boys all hollow at
snaring."
s.Oh, father, did you kill the wild
cat P''
s'Wildcat No, you -''
'sOh dear, now he will come-he will
make it all true r' And here Hannah
began to cry again.
"Hannah, stop crying! There was
no wildcat there, but bear ~ said MIR.
Buck.
"a beari" exclaimed Mrs. Buck and
Hannah together.
"Yes, a bear, and big one, too.
| Come. let's eat breakfast, and then we
will all go out to the woods and see
him."
Mr. Buck skinned and cut up the
bear, and, with the boys help carried
it to the house. He sold a large
portion of the meat; and the money
which he received, with the bounty, he
gave Hannah, TO be all her own.
But the little huntress never could
be persuaded to set any more snares.
1t was nearly a year before her dream
faded from her consciousness, and any
allusion to a bear or wildcat gave
her sickening shiver.
Still, for long time, in that section
of country, she was pointed out and
spoken of as ''the little girl who caught
the BEAR" and more than one old
hunter went out of his way to call at
the lumberman's house, ostensibly for
'.drink of water" but really for a
glimpse of Hannah.-WIde Atcdke.