, 1883-06-14
JIMMY AID THE PANTHER.

Many years ago, portions of our
country, which are now thickly popu-
lated, were plagued by Wild beasts, vino
were often excited by the pangs OF
hunger to daring which was foreign to
their natures at other times.
The depredations of the wolves, bears
and panthers, or "painters," rs they
were more generally called, sometimes
reached such point that the State of.
fered bountles for the staying of the
pests.
"Many time" said an old settler, "I
have seen well-worn paths around my
barn In the morning, made by the wolves
trotting back and forth while seeking an
ennanca - ihe sheep that were fastened
with
The speaker had lived in Scoharie
county. n. Y, during the early por.
tions 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, ard I have
seen him stand in his own door, in the
afternoon, and bring down six or eight
wildcats, who were driven to climb
some of the sGpIings among the un-
dergrowth across the road by the hunt
ing dogs that were sent to rout them
out.
"My brother Jack was three years
older than ], and he developed a fond
moss for hunting which father encouraged
to the utmost. When he was Il 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 a rife
suited to his years, for the regular weap-
on was too heavy for him to handle easi-
~, and he was then the happiest boy
you ever dreamed Of He would have
become a genuine Daniel Boone, and
spent all his time in the woods, if father
would have permitted it. As it WIS, he
was sometimes gone ali night, and
neither father nor mother seemed to
feel the least anxiety abont him.
"' If it was You, Jimmy, said my par
ents, we wo1ld be very anxious; but
when Jack has his gun with him he will
take care.of himself.
"Once or twice I accompanied nv
brother on his hunts, but that was
enough. 1 carried no weapon, and, not
feeling q tenth part of the interest he
did, Was almost tired to death when we
came home, while lie would have been
glad to continue it for hours longer, had
there been any Daylight TO help him.
''Some three miles away lived nv
fathers brother, Uncle jacob, who was
a thrifty farmer, with q boy about nv
own age. As they were our nearest
neigilbors, it was natural that Dick and
I should pass good deal of our time
together. Sometimes was at his house
I'll day, and as frequently he was at
mine. Occasionally one of us stayed
with the other over nipEt, but each gen
orally preferred to ps ct home with his
folks.
"Oae day, late in autumn, I was
given permission to go and see Dick,
put l was specially warned by my
mother that must be back again before
dark l readily promised. and started
off IN high spirits.
''The path leading TO Uncle Jacobs
was through the woods the entire dis
tanee, and near the halfway point was
deep hollow, where there was stream
of sluggish water, which was spanned
by log. The branches overhead were
SO dense and so matted by vines that
It was always dark tl,ero. even at mid
lhy.
I'm crossing the log. noticed in the
soft, oozy ground on In other side tho
prints Of some animals feet. though /
didn't know what kind of wild Great
me- he was. 1 never pretended to carry
aRun, but was SO accustomed to seeing
AID hearing wild beasts that 1 felt no
particular fear, and continued whistling
over the path until reached my uncle's
house.
'' 1t was cold weather, and there were
8 few needles Of ice thrusting out from
the banks of the little stream, while a
furry OF snow whiried about nv head
for few minutes.
But needn't say that that did not
interfere with the fun of Dick and me.
We played and romped together until
We were tired, and then played and
romped again. Our principal amuse-
ment during the afternoon was the game
OF HIde-and-whoop,' in the adjoining
woods.
81 had No Thought of disobeying nv
mother, but all at once I noticed that it
was growing dark, and, looking toward
the mouse, saw that my aunt had lit the