The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-05-24
AN OLD MANUSCRIPT.

One of the oldest houses in Arkansaw was destroyed by fire several days ago. All of the quaint high-back chairs, brou ght from England hundred years ago, the faded curtains and euriously carved tables were lost. Indeed nothing was saved except a roll of manuscript which was thrown out by an excited man. This old manuscript was given to the writer, and from the roll he selected the following:
 My name is George Lansing. My brother John and came from England in I7oI, and settled in Philadelphia. The quiet place suited me, but John thirsted for adventure He had an idea tha, the sole aim of civilized man was to kill bears. l never had any special pity for bears, and would just as leave they were dead as not, but did not care to kill them. In my idea of sport 1 am very much like ,he Chinese. would rather hire some one to do my sporting. soon | found that it was impossible to keep John in the village, and rather than be separated from him, at last agreed to accompany the reckless young man on what he termed tour of adventure. We went out into the mountains and built cabin. agreed to discharge the menial duties of housekeeper, for al ways thought more of book than gun. The situation, must confess. was no: unpleasant, fox among ihe< trees around our house. and in the bright stream that flowed down the valley, found much upon which to devote hours of study. We had brought horse with us, for without one, John could not bring in his noble game. However he was not over burdened with noble game, and some times had to content himself with shoot ing birds. Once when he killed wolf he bought himself hero, and it was all could do to keep him from eating the thing.
 "John,' said one day, " it IS fortunate that we brought provisions, for find that as hunter you have more desire than skill"
 Skill soon follows excessive desire" John replied.
 "Yes.' said with my mind still on the subject of provisions, for was always fond of eating-" but if we had not brought something we should staive, fear, ere the skill could overtake the ex- cessive desire"
 What do you want me to do, George p he rejoined in rather an annoyed way, " Declare myself failure and let you write home and tell the folks what fool am?"
 "Oh, no. Since your heart is SC, on hunting want you to become success"
 Well, then, don't taunt me-"
 " I'm not taunting you"
 Yes, you are. Ever since we came you have insinuated that canno, shoot"
 l saw that he IS becoming angry and l said no more, but taking a fishing rod, with which l had provided myself, went down to the stream. soon returned with fish enough for supper. had all most forgotten our conversation, but John, when he saw the fish, said:
 "l suppose you regard yourself as quite hero. Anybody can catch de- fenseless and unsuspecting fish, but it re- luires man to kill bear
 Yes, anybody can catch fish, and it requires man to kill bear. have caught fish, which makes of me sort of anybody, but you, not having killed bear, are not man.
 He sprang from his seat, and Tor time thought that he was going to strike me, but after looking steadily at me, he resumed his seat, and said:
 George. that was direct taun,. To- morrow morning shall take the horse and go out. If am not successful you will never again see me alive"
 '' Brother, don, be foolish. Wha, difference does it make whether or no, you kill bear. don't know that your future happiness depends on such an event, and l am sure that would think no better of you though you were tc kill a hundred bears"
 " Your words of attempted concilia,ion come teo late. am going out to-mor- row" \ demonstrated no further with him, but went about my work of dressing the hsh and preparing the supper. He seemed to enjoy the meal, and after il was over, we sat out in the pleasant twi- i light and smoked our clay pipes. Johns | spirits revived. and. though we were always close companions. yet, never be ! fore had he seemed so near to me. We ,u- 1E |