Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-01-30
BOLD BACkwOoDs BOY.

ABoLD BACKwOoDs BOY.
Jad was eleven years old and little
Chic, his sister, was two years younger.
But this was great many years age
when their father, Mr.. Dunlap, had
lust moved into a township i'll the
western part of Maine, which was then
wild, uninhablted region, save where
here and there an adventurous settler
had planted his little log hut in the
heart of the wilderness. and laid bare a
few acres of the forest as a nucleus OF
the future home of himself and thrlv-
ing family-aimOSt always a small
colony in itself.
All. who can tell what homesick mo-
ments and lOngings for the old asso-
Citations our pioneer fathers and mothers
endured, coming as did many of them,
from wealthy States and pleasant sur
roundings. There must have been a
mighty attraction IL the wild, free life
of the lakewood man and a genuine
love of the simple and hOmely joys OF
the rough hearthstOne, to have held
them in these rude homes, almost iso-
lated, as they were, from the world.
But they lived il anticipation, looking
eagerly forward to a future of plenty,
when the wilderness should become
cultivated and fruitful through their
first persistent and hardy efforts.
With an energy characteristic of the
first settlers, Mr.. Dunlap pushed his
way on through toll, hardshIps and
many pTivatlOnS, at first Telling and
clearing a patch large enough to put
up log cabin for his family. then by
degrees cutting farther and farther into
the primitive forest, till now quite a
large tract lay open to the sun, a part
Of which was under tolerable cultIva-
tioH, the rest laying black and still
smoking from recent burnings.
As before stated, Jad was now eleven.
He was dark faced, sinewy lad; tough
as a thong, inheriting much of his
fathers pluck and endurance. What
ever be undertook to do he was pretty
SEIe 10 carry through.
IN these unsettled regions wild ami
mails were numerous, especially the
wild cat, lynx and glutton, or wolyer-
Inc. These creatures often come into
the clearings, and their frequent de-
predation5 became great pest TO the
settlers.
There was also an abundance of
smaller game to be had for the trapping,
and this fall Jad was anticipating no
end OF enjoyment in the warm Indian
summer days, trapping for ''musquash''
(muskrat) and mink along Kenny
brook, which ran past the clearing half
IN, tA 10 81 fnt
had helped him make his traps, and on
his very first visit he was greatly elated
by finding sleek and glossy mink in
one of them. This piece of good luck
had set Jad half wild, for mink skins
brought a high price at the big set
tlement," twenty five miles down the
cOuntry, where his father always went
10 do his trading.
Jad watched his traps eagerly as a
miser watches his money bags. But
with ali his vigilance what was his dis
may to find, one morning in the trap
farthest up stream, that mink had
been caught and taken out by some
wild beast and devoured. The tail and
little featheTly clumps of fur lay scat
tered about the trap. Dire vengeance
against the wild marauder at once pos
sessed his heart.
Little Chic was keen sympathizer
in his troubles. She was also his CON-
panlOD In this trapping expedition, in
which 1t was her duty to carry the
balt-SometlmeS a squirrel, oftener a
trout caught from the brook
What d'you s'pose got him." asked
Chic, rs Jad stood looking ruefully at
the tail, which he held between his
thumb and finger.
Il don't know, unless twas a glut.
ton, or wildcat. Pa says they are al,
ways nosin' round to get the bait out
OF traps and what's caught III 'em. Con-
found biml Seven dollaas gone down
his throatl'' he exclaimed, wrathfully.
''I-'s too bad" cried little Chic.
Can't you catch himp'
Jad thought moment. His father
had steel fox-,rap. He would set that
and have the thief. Leaving Chic, be
hastened to the house, got the tap and
raced back to the brook. 1t was set al
last to his satisfaction, and baited witt
squirrel, which he had brought along
TO bait his mink-traps with. He drove
a stake down thrUugh the ring III the
trap chain, SO as to hold whatever Was
caught.
Two days passed and not mink had
been near, but the bait was gone out OF
the steel trap, and also from two of the
mink-traps. With his usual perSeyer-
ancc, Jad related them and waited.
she bait Was again eaten out of most OF
his mlnk-tIaps, and, what was more eX-
asperatlng, another mink had been
caught and eaten.
Jad's patience now nearly gave way,
and lie was tempted to tear hia trap up.
But on second thought resolved to Try
once more. lie w9uld bait only the
fox trap. Jad did not visit it the next
morning as usual, for he was obliged to
finish harvesting the potatoes. But
after dinner, his father having gone
TO assist at putting up log cabin for q
neWly-arrlYed settler, some two miles
distant, Jad and Chic set off for the
brook, hatchet and fishpole In hand.
As they neared the place where the
fox-tIap was set they heard the chalr
clInking.
i bet my head we've got himln Jad
cried excitedly, dashing through q
clump of cedars.
And, sure enorgh, there he was. A
big, round-headed wIld-catI
At Jad's sudden appearance tn,
creature bounded and leaped fIanticall,
70 free himself: but the stake was ;
strong one.
After cutting a stout green clul
three or four feet In length, Jad stucl
the hatchet beneath the strap which b,
wore for belt, and going as near as b,