The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-30
A Merciful Panther.

DOWn on the BlacKWaler IN SOutn-
eastern Saline, about the year 1880, a
settler named Samuel Miller had
built his cabin and vas opening a
small farm. He had two little daugh
tiers, Jennie and Susie, aged and 6.
One morning the mother of the little
girls sent them on an errand to
neighbors, nearly two miles distant,
The road was mere pathway
through the thick woods, but the
children knew it very well. Hand
in hand they toddled along, uuheed-
ing because unconscious of peril. But
half mile from home, on the upper
arc of large leaning tree, which
bent directly over the path, they SAW
a large panther stretched out at full
length, basking in the morning sun.
They did not know rightly what it
was.
"Oh, SUSIE" said Jednie, "there's
a wolff"
YES" said Susie, "and 1 'spects
it's the bad old fellow that catched
my lamb and kills papa's pigs. Lets
20 right back home and tell papa,
and he will come and shoot it wiz
his gum"
But what if he runs away while
we're gone" returned Jennie. "Tell
you what We'll do, Susie, you stay
here and watch it. and I'll run and
tell papa 1 can run faster, you
know.
Little Susie readily assented to the
arrangement, assuring her sister that
If the "bad old wolf" should come
down the tree she would "take q
stick and punch his eyes out. Then
gathering some acorn cups and a
quantity of velvety moss she set
about constructing a "play house'at
the foot of the very tree on which
crouched the panther. watching her
curiously. Presently he arose and
walked back and forth, along the
level extent of the tree, as if impa-
tient and meaning to descend. But
Susie shook her little fist at him
menacingly, and soon he lay down
again with mis- head between his
paws, lazily blinking his great yellow
eyes, "as if" Susie said, "he was
awful sleepy"
Away ran Jennie, feet as little
fawn, and in due time she reached
her fathers cabin and hurriedly told
her mother that there was "big
wolff on tree and that Susie had
"staid to mind it," Mrs. Miller at
once eomprehended the narrowing
truth, and called frantically for her
husband, who was at work in his
clearing near by. Mr.. Miller came
at once accompanied by a young man
in his employ named George Plum
kett. Realizing the imminent peril
of his child, and dreading that per-
haps already horrible fate had be-
fallen it. the pioneer did not speak a
word, but in few seconds he and
young Plunkett, rifle in hand, were
running swiftly to the scene. Near.
ing the locality, Miller said
"If we are not too late. George. let
me fire first"
Possibly the emotions of the father
at this time may be imagined GER
tainly l cannot describe them. Faint
hopes and sickening fears alternated
in his breast as he sped feetly on. 1t
was hardly possible that the child
was yet alive, but as the panther had
not sprung at first there was bare
chance. Meanwhile. in the little
cabin home the agonized mother had
caught her remaining little one to
her breast and was praying silently,
but ferventlY.
But-O, the joy of it!-on coming
within sight of the fateful tree Miller
saw his child safe and unframed.
The little innocent was busy at her
play. grooming sweetly the while.
Doubtless He who stopped the mouth
of the lion had preserved her.
High above the panther was on his
perch. In two seconds Miiler's rifle
rang out, the panther came crashing
to the ground, bullet fairly in its
brain, and little Susie sprang up and
exclaimed. "Oh, papa. how you
scared me !"
The panther measured five feet ten
inches, Miller tanned it's skin and
when his daughters had grown to
womanhood each of them had a cape
made from it.