The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-08-10
4 RABBIT.HUNTING STORY.
How the biggest Rabbit III Virginia Was
Carsht.
.Nur lIork Tim.

iIlSl Whipping VI NY IIit 'tiiN bit ohiN
one sister and Katie Was fourteen
and tcn--had nothing to do Oh that
quiet Sunday afternoon. Father had n
dinner party, some ncighbor> who had
come, and we did not care for the restraint
of the drawing. room. We were dressed
in our best, short waists, long Sa,!c> and
bows, and were To make an appearance
aitcrward. ltwas; lovely cool afternoon,
and we thought we might take Just a lit
tie stroll and pick some black berries.
think when said 10 sister, LIT Us p:ck
some berries had some idea Of rabbits
Katie consented SO off we went, swinging
our summer hats, and soon came 10 the
berry patch, not u quarter Of mile from
the house. The berries we're ripe and
sweet, and we picked and picked them.
must Say was hall! disappointed at
sighting no rabbit Katie said |, ARE
rabbit. 80 very good that they don't come
out of a Sunday? Uncle Billy told me
yesterday the king OF The rabbits lived
just around here, and do believe | have
seen him twice. lie i jus, -, big ~ two
ordinary rabbits, and his tail is longer
than his ears.
"'Wi,at u likely BUSH -aih Katie,
Now, whether She meant for black bcr-
RIGS or rabbits | did not know. "El"-
giant, said ], and jus, black with the
berries on it /; a regular rabbits bush, too
Then J pccred cautiously and, sure
enough slua,ting right in the shade was
t,lc biggest rabbit | ever saw. Now
came from hunting family, and though
Il little girl then the instinct Of the race
was strong III me held my breath so
did Katie.
"'Wc have got to catc. that rabbit
said Katie in a whisper.
"'Oi course we must replied Lcc
dedly.
won't you that's Il dear, dear sister
go for fathers hunting horn? asked
Katie. i am SO big that some one would
be sure TO see me, and you are little.
Then father and mother would forgive
you, and they wouldn't me, because you
are spoiled, you know. don't care Nho
gets the whipping. though. 1 will stand
by you. Now that's a dear; go back
across the hill, skirt the peach orchard,
and get to the stable door 1t won't take
xix minutes. The horn hangs on the
nail just rattle it, and you can get all
tho dogs you want. Run Annie, run,
anl | will stay here and fascinate that
rabbit, like the snake does in the story
book, and he will stay right here until
kingdom come. Don't you toot the
horn-0nly Just breathe III u. Keep the
dogs quiet, and come on to me here ust
hsgently ~ you can-and then the lots
OF fun wo arc going TO have
1T WAS too much for me to resist such
an appeal. skirlcd the peach orchard,
climbed fence, indifferent to ribbons and
tncks, went past the negro quarters and
reached the stable door. There along.
side IF that door hing the tin horn
Horns to cali dogs had uccn suspended
there for over one hundred years. Beau
ty, fathers pet hound, was apparently
asleep by the kennel, but she opened ono
eye and waggcd her tail as approached
her. She looked asionished NJ | reached
up my hand TO take the horn. l Just
breathcd through it, and lscutc gave
liltle whimpcr-a sweet ripple of sound
just ,.s much rs t. say, It's Sunday,
my little mistress, but il you really mean
hunt for earnest, will take II run with
you and Bcutc rose and shook herself,
and opened her mouth just Il little louder.
Then Cows!ip, her 5rindlcd sister and
Daisy, her aunt, and Pamela and Towser
and the Doctor came bouncing in and
wanted to sing too, 5ut looked cross ut
them and they were quicted. Thea hid
the horn under my skirt, but bcckoncd
them on. The news seemed to spread ut
once i'll the dog world, for i'll plunged
Brutus, Major, Nap. Lively, Soult, Dim
pie Short, Yellow Legs, Venus and her
two puppies. held my finger up, and
they seemed to understand it was still
hunt, for they all held their peace. Off
VIC went. | had s"utc by her long ear,
and she led like .amb, the rest of them
following close. Presently, with my
heart in my mouth, afraid ms death that
the puppies would begin singing, we all
got through the fence along the orchard,
and presently l saw Katie's blue md.
white skirt. She was as motionlcss AZ Ii
statue, pointing with an outstrelched |
finger. bunny had not moved an inch
no moro had sister Katie. Then Beute
got the scent. She knew that It was n
rnbbt, and she kind of looked at me
with her lovely hazel eyes, rs much as to
say, See here, Annie, your father |
wouldn't like it; but just then Venus
bunny and jumped for him. Then Beute
couldn't stand it any longer, for, she Just |
scattered the puppies and sprang for the
lead, Bunny having good, fair start.
On, it was lovely dozen fox.hounds,
puppies and all, and the whole band
playing. Off started the rabbit on the
full run, Katie abreast Of me and we |
following the dogs. Run! think
could in those days, and could keep up
with any Of my brothers. It was NIL
working lovely. Bunny took to the hol-
low away from the house, and rs we had |
good clear path along the ridge, dogs |
and rabbit were in sight all the time.
Oh, such fun, but pretty bad for ribbons,
for they were pulled Off by the limbs Of |
the trees. My hair was streaming out
behind me, and one shoe had gone in the
first twenty yards of the run, aud had
kicked off the other, but thet made no
matter, for was accustomed to run bare. |
footed.
"It looked as if the kill was sure. and !
that we would have had all the fun to |
ourselves and that nobody in the house |
would know anything about it, and the |
torn dresses could be accounted for. But |
just where little creek had fal, of |
about three feet, who should come up
but wretched cur belonging to neigh
bor, and that brute always fought our
Pack. What did that beast do but make
right for Beuto. Bunny saw her chance
and doubled right there. Katie was
equal to .ha emergency, for she took a
rock and hammered that chr and pound |
cd him until he let go his hold. Then
poor Beute. though her ear was all in
T r.bhons, i'.e or skirts, was game, took
up the scent again, dashed right up the
bank, got on the track, and away with
n big burst of speed they went, every
dor on the full veil I did mt tate tba