The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-01-18
JIMMY and The PANTHER,

MANY years ago, portions OF our
country, which are now thickiy popu-
lated, were plagued by wild beasts, who
were often excited by the pangS OF
hunger to daring which was foreign 10
their natures at other times.
The depredations OF the wolves, bears
and panthers, or "painters, as they
we're more generally called, sometimes
reached such point that the State Of
fered bounties for the staying OF the
pests. =, M, -,
,aye seen well-worn paths around my
Darn in the morning, made by the wolves
rotting back and forth while seeking an
entrance 10 the sheep that were fastened
within"
The speaker had lived in Scoharie
county, N. Y, during the early por,
tons of the present century, and had
met with more than one memorable eX-
perience. -,
81 remember" he added, "that
father has shot many wolf from the
window OF his bedroom, and have
seen him stand in his own door, in the
afternoon, aud bring down six or eight
wildcats, who were driven to climb
some of the saplings among the I'M
dergrowth across the road by the hunt
ing dogs that were sent to rouU them
out.
"My brother Jack was three years
older than l, and he developed n fond
ness for hunting which father encouraged
TO the utmost When he was IA he was
one of the best shots in the country, as
he proved in many shooting-matches,
where his competitors were 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 east
ly, and he was then the happiest boy
YOU ever dreamed of. He would have
become genuine Daniel Boone, and
spent all his time in the woods, If father
would have permitted it. As it was, he
was sometimes gone all night, and
neither father nor mother seemed tC
feel the least anxiety about him.
of it was you, Jimmy, said my par
ents, we would be very anxious; bu
when Jack has his gun with him he vii
take care.of himself.
"Once or twice / accompanied m.
brother on his hunts, but that wa
enough. i carried norweapoD, and, no
feeling tenth part Of the interest h
did, | was almost tired to death when W
came home, while he would have bee
glad to continue it for hours longer, ha
there been any daylight to help him.
"Some three miles away lived m
fathers brother, Uncle Jacob, who wa
thrifty farmer, with boy about N
own age. As they were our neares
neighbors, it was natural that Dick an
1 should pass a good deal of our tim
together. Sometimes l was at his hous
ali day, and rs frequently he was a
mine. Occasionally one OF us stage
with the other over night, but each gen
orally preferred to be at home with HI
folks.
5 "One day, late in autumn, W.
v given permission to go and see Die
: but / was specially warned by n
:, mother that 1 must be back again befo
dark. readily promised, and start
u off in high spirits.
r "The path leading to Uncle Jacol
s. was through the woods the entire d
le lance. and near the halfway point W
IL ! deep hollow, where there was strea
~ of sluggish water, which was spann
y, by q log. The branches overhead We
~ 80 dense and so matted by vines I'll
or it was always dark there, even at M
co day.
of "In crossing the log, I noticed in
lie soft, oozy ground on the other side I
he prints of some animals feet, though
didn't know what kind of wild ere
hg ure he was. | never pretended to ca
he a gun, but was so accustomed to seel
en- and hearing wild beasts that felt
particular fear, and continued whistl
over the path until reached my unc
house.
"It was cold weather, and there W
a few needles of leo thrllsting out Fl
rn- the banks of the little stream, while
u.s. furry of snow whirled about my h
ng for few minutes.
III "But needn't say that that did
Dry Interfere with the fun Of Dick and
rit, We played and romped together u
md we we're tired, and then played
on romped again. Our principal ann
EST ment during the afternoon was the g
ex- of Hide.and-whoop, in the adioil
,m- woods.
n az had no thought of disobeying
ing mother, but all at once noticed tn
.rly was growing dark, and, looking toy
the the house, saw that my aunt had lit
the candle, which was shining through
and window. Night had already come,
,me / ought to have started home an
With before.
"Dick wanted me to stay all nj
but, remembering my promise to
With mother, I said mo-, and hurried
cut over the path, without going TO
d Of house to bid his parents good-evenil
4. III don't 200 how came TO forget