The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-11

his stiddy path. Billy began to say he
didn't believe the dog knew his own
name, or he'd got changed in the dark,
and by that time we began to feel little
creepy and exert ourselves to keep our
spirits up. We sang and hollered, and
we set on the dog, and called him all
the names we could lay our tongues to:
old woods old Tread-on-
his TAIL old Blackin'' Seems's if I
never heerd a regimunt cd make quite
so much noises we children did out on
the mountain that night,
"There was one clearin', less'n three
miles from our house, and we felt most
home when we came in range. O that.
1t was lonesome cabin standin' by it.
self in the middle of field. We were
gettin' skeery by this time, N we greed
not to 90 any further, but stop over night
with the folks whom we knew, and 90
home next mornin' before breakfast
We didn't like the idee of facin' the
dark any further through the woods.
As we started for shelter, our courage
began to run out at elbows when we
heerd a voice--somethin' It we know
and we piled over the rail fence and put
for the house, where light was burnin''
as tight as we could pelt
"And what do you think we heard
from our mild companion I've been
tellin' you bout? a...f IT,
That beast t had been with us. it
give jump and lit on the top rail as
light as cat, and gave one long, awful
screech that Just lifted us. 'Twant no
dog in this world, but a painter, It had
been trottin' with us all that evenin'
when it was SO dark we couldn't make
him out. How we stumbled along over
the rough plowed ground can't tell We.
Seemed as if we never could get to the
house, and our hearts burstin' our
breasts, and Threats chokin', we was so
scared. Seemed s if | was all insides
for that one burnin' mint we were get
tin over that field! The woman in the
house was alone that night, sittin' up
ironin', and she heerd the panther 5
scream, and she was scairt to death,
and just had time to drag her husband S
tool-chist against the door, when we'ran
up, too out of breath to call, and Just came
bounce against it. She thought it was
the panther, and was nearly dead with
fright. We screamed out to her to let
us in, and she pulled the door open just
wide enough to let us tumble in, the
last one begin and cryin' for fear the
panther would claw him before he
could get in, and the chist was dragged
back and the door fast before we had
sense to know we were safe
"There was a bright fire on the
hearth, and it shone out of the windows,
and we knew the panther wouldn't be
likely to come very close, creturs are so
'fraid of fire. The woman. alone with
her baby and children asleep, was dret-
full glad to have us with her that night.
We put all the loose boards in the loft
chamber up to the windows, for fear
that thing might try to get in, and we
sat up hearin' it screech round the
house fit to tear itself in pieces, it was
so mad to think we'd got away. The
fire burned down and there was no more
wood in the house, and we didn't dare
to stir out for stick, for all the pile of
brush lay close to the door. But by and
by the screams died away, and after
watchin' an hour more we were glad to
go to bed. Next mornin' we found the
earth all clawed up round that back
doorstep, and the bark scratched off
the logs round the window where wee
fastened the cellar door up for shutter.
right at the foot of the bed. 1t must
have come smellin' round after we
thought it had gone off, and done that
mischief
We never could tell why it hadn't
attacked us in the road, unless it was
actually scared of US, we showed so little
fear and kept up such a racket. They
say panthers like singin', and that may
have kept it quiet, or it may have been
q young one, or not hungry.
''NeXt mornin' father and the boys
drove up bright and early to ask if any
thing had been seen of us. After my
brother Billy started the day before,
they heard from a neighbor out huntin'
that a big panther had been round the
places up the mountain, stealin' shoats
out of the pen, and it had carried a
sheep off day before. Mother had been
dreadfully uneasy when we didn't get
home at shutdown, and father began to
worry about us when we didn't come
by bedtime. He had been out to meet
US, ttlli Will lIlc Iedlu us
soon as it was light enough to see.
Father said it was well we hadn't gone
any further, for the woods was Wild
est our end of the road, and then our
panther mighthave got his courage up
and wanted to make acquaintance. with
us. We was little shy good while af-
ter that about bein' out late after dark"
81 should thought you'd been
afraid, said Ruth, drawing deep
breath as she took up her knife again
to attack pumpkin. -...., ..,
"'Fraid, child, 'fraid? We wasn't
'fraid neither, only most scairt to
death, was all the confession the old
lady would make. There was evident
ly a decided difference with her be-
tween sudden panic, and cowardly fear.
Don't you think there is, too?- Vide
AUGbe.
... ..... i.5.,