Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-09
Gales aud Sketfhes.
The Last Of the Deer Yards.

The Last OF the Dcer'1Srus'
This happened long ago. 1t is years
since q wild deer has strayed through the
Berkshires of Massachusetts,, though rec
foxes and squirrels are still plentiiul
along the rocky mountain sides. Inc NJ
tie red foxes on sunny days are seen oy
the farmers, playing in the cornhelds, and
even in their fox babyhOod they know the
presence of dog or gun by kind OF intu'
ition. In the long winter twilight the
beautiful silver fox will glide like shad'
ow across the snowy uplands. following
some well. rum" and in the shlv-
ering cold nights, his short, sharp bark
echoes from the pine ridges. Farther
back in the woods stray catamounts lead
dangerous life. doubtless seldom failing
to fall at last prey to the hreless NUM-
ers. Recently. too, solitary bear was
found in these distant Businesses and came
to an untimely end under the farmers
rifle. But no stories of deer seen drinking
at woodland springs, or passing through
the forest, ever float down from the most
isolated village in the Berkshires. They
all persisted long ago in spite OF protect
ing laws and watchful officers.
But early in the present century it was
no unusual occurrence for farmer or
woodsman to find deer-yards in winter,
where numbers of the pretty, tlmid
creatures were gathered for warmth and
company. These deer yards may even
now be found in the Adirondacks and
Canada, where some few remnants OF the
once numerous race are still left. The
sharp. small feet of the deer cut through
the snow, and when it is deep and crusted
in winter, they come together in compa-
MES of from five TO fifty or a hundred.
They then form beaten path in circle.
This circle is crossed by intersecting paths,
or as often the whole circle is trodden
smooth and hard Here the deer sleep,
warmed by the contact of the warm bodies
of their companions. Sometimes, too,
when the winter is very severe and the
crust frozen so hard that even their sharp
hoofs will not penetrate it, they lie and
perish of starvation. Then the crows and
wolves feast on their exposed bodies. For
the deer digs through the snow and eats
the dried, withered grasses buried be.
meath. Hunters sought carefully for these
deer-yards, and when they found one with
the animals in good condition, considered
themselves very fortunate, for the deer
could be slain easily and at leisure
Nowhere were deer-yards more common
than in the sheltered hooks of Berkshire,
and it was long considered a good hunt
ing ground. But as factories sprang up
along the streams, the deer rapidly grew
fewer in number and hid themselves in
the farthest recesses of the forest, I'M
til at last deer-yard was as great
curiosity as an Indian village.
1t was at this time that grand Their, then a
young man, in hunting for wolves, which
were not so ready to give way before the
entertainments OF civilization as the harm
less deer, came upon the last of the deer
yards. 1t was far up on the side OF the
mountain, but shelted from the bleak winds
under the steed peak. There were but
few deer, and those were young, as the
light antlers of their leader revealed. AS
Grandther emerged suddenly from the
wood, shod with his long, light snow
shoes of bent ash-wood laced with deer.
skin thongs, and the redoubtable old style
musket, which at the present day would
overburden young sportsman, across his
shoulder, one timid, quick-eared deer
lying just beyond, sprang to her feet and
gave the alarm. Every member of the
little company bounded away with quick
leaps into the snow But no sooner die
their feet touch the deceptive crust thar
with brisk crackle it gave way beneath
them and they sunk to the body; or if {
quick leap saved them from sinking, i
was only to strike again the same yielding
surface. Under such discouraging cir
cumstances their progress would be bu
slow, and even the stoutest of a herd coul(
not long continue in his course withou
resting.
Grand'ther could have killed them all
and rare Christmas feast they would
have furnished, but he was Presbyterian
and Christmas was in his eyes no festival
| There were never wreaths of green o
| Christmas tree or Christmas turkey il
the farm-ho left him by his father, an,
therefore old for the newly settled noun
tains. The turkeys were sacrificed a
Thanksgiving, and that was the one feas
of his year. Then. too he pitied the dee
and left them to enjoy new summers ant
live out their quiet, innocent lives. HI
often visited his deer-yard hoping nc harm
| Wpuiu DCldll GuVll tlliu uC w dS NcEf CdI6
full not to speak of this spot even to hi
nearest neighbor a mile distant, fearin.
lest some local hunter would bear it of
and then there would be no chance tina
the deer would ever live to see anothe
spring. But his precautions were use
| less. The deer had other enemies thai
man, and one morning when grand'the
visited the deer yard, there lay the man
gled and torn bodies of his pretty friends
Every one was dead. The wolves ha
discovered this place as well as grand'ther
but proved less merciful, and had spare
none of their victims. Often in winter
after. grand'ther sought for these deer
yards, but in vain. nor did he ever hea
that one was again found in the Berk
shire Good Cheer.
What is home without mother?" VIII
1 EN ,.,l,.z