The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-06-22
SOME BIG FOX STORIES,
roUaH ONES THEY USED TO TELL
IN THE OLD DOMINION.


Reynard Hung Himself Up in n Planter,
House.
Fox hunters, as well as fishermen,
6pin yarns which many sailor may
well envy. Virginia sportsmen in
hnte-bellum times were famous for
heir marvellous stories about cunning
Foxes.
A dozen or so planters, old and
Foung, were gathered in the "of1ice"
bn the lawn in front of Uncle Jacks
modern mansion. They had just re-
turned from an unsuccessful chase.
2eynard had suddenly and mysterious
y disappeared, when his capture
eemed certain. After vain endeavors
o recover the lost trail hunters and
logs returned disguised.
Speculation was rife as to how that
OK could have escaped.
"Ah p interjected one of the party,
noted sportsman, who kept a fine
ack of hounds, "the instinct of these
FEATURES borders close on reason.
ONE time since we started an old
ok, and after run of about mile
Fe lost him at point on Stony creek.
low he contrived to give us the slip
Ee could not imagine. Some two
Feeks after we started that same fox
rom the same cover, and we lost him
gain at the same place Determined
find out what became of the cunning
eamp we placed a negro boy at the
oint the dogs were at fault. We
eat up the same fox. He made for
he same point. Hard upon the heels
the dogs we came to the creek.
he dogs followed the scent to the
ige of the water, sprang in, and swan
ker.
"Did you see the fox, Benz we
Bked the boy.
"Yes, sab Dab he is ?
"WhereY
"Dah + and he pointed to a mass Of
verhanging vines, partially sub
erged in the deep water in the mid
e of the creek.
"Sure enough, on close inspection
e could see the top of the foxs nose
nong the vines. lie had seized one
the tendrils, which had served to
hpport him"
"Oh |" said Uncle Jack, as he laid
IS pipe on the rounl table, and slowly
nitted vast volume of smoke from
capacious mouth; "there's nothing
credible in that story. That was a
upid old fox alongside of mine. You
e, boys, we had the same trouble as
bu did with an old fox that roosts
bout mile and a half over yonder, on
[e edge of the swamp. We lost him
three successive runs, and where do
bu think he turned up missing? Why
ght here at this house. Each time
e dogs trailed him to the yard, and
e scent was lost, apparently, near
e house. 1t was a wonderful myS-
ry, and we could not understand it;
hd there's my dogs. You know them,
hd old Rip in particular. He is not
silly fooled.
"Well, 1 volunteered to stay at
)me, and the boys went one day with
e hounds to try and rustic that sly
x up. They had been gone about an
>ur, when l heard old Rips voice, way
in the valley. The cry came nearer,
id 1 knew they were on a warm
all. l stood at that window and
atched. 1t was not long before 1
ught glimpse Of the fox stIeaking
across the pasture and making
faight for the house. He clambered
er the rail fence, dropped down in
e lane and came straight to the gate.
pw, you know there is a paling fence
ound the lawn-and l was anxious
see, if he got over, how he would
image it. Well, sirs, that fox went
aight to the gate. 1t is of lattice
brk, and swings to with a weight on
inside. What do you think my fox
|? He raised up, put his forepaws
rough the lattice work, slowly backed
t, pulling the gate open. When he
d it pretty wide open, he suddenly let
whisked around the gate and sour
d in, the gate closing with a bang
It after he was safely inside. l was
onished slightly. Inside the lawn,
fox looked cautiously around. The
lst was clear. He came up to the
use and scampered around to
rear. / went to the back window
peeped out. The fox was on the
Eanda He sprang upon the railing
ich surrounds the veranda, and
liked cautiously along it to the side
the house. l could no longer see
from the window, so went to the
pr and cautiously looked ont. The
had disappeared. Now, boys, what
you think that fox of mine had
be with himself? Come out here
l will show you"
We all walked out.
You see all these skins hanging
wild cats, coons, 'possums, foxes
others; and you see that stuffed
hanging on that nail. Well, you
this nail in the house, near the
ing, and next to that stuffed fox,
u, sirs, my fox had leaped from the
ing, caught the nail in his mouth,
there he hung alongside of his de-
Bed brother I"
And the dogsP inquired several
erly.
Oh they came yelping in, rushed
ind the house; went upon the
L II