Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-05-31
AN OLD HUNTERS o R

the Sight Of u Wolf Skin.
He was along in years, as ] saw by
his iron gray beard, and | saw upon
his goods hat his name was Cross.
He was a tall man, and his build
showed that he was a man Of great
muscular power. lie examined .ie
wolf skin for a moment, then threw il
rom him, muttering a deep curse, th.
meaning OF which | DID not under
stand. ! privately askca NY friend
what il meant.
All" said he, ''He has u SD story
70 tell"
My neighhor, who had only con-& a.
a guide, went home m the afterLots
and as Mr.. Cross was somewhat ia
.igued by the journey from the set.
Element, we did not leave the camp
that day. was very anxious 10 hear
Mr.. C.'s story. and after SUPPER We Sal
around tie lire for sope time, telling
about the moose and the various
shings that had happened during our
few days stay at the head of Bog river,
which IA the name Of the locality
where we were stopping. After my
friend and | had exhausted all our
tales, not forgetting that awful nights
watching at the camp door, we asked
Mr.. Cross 10 tell us something Of his
hunting exploits.
II have but one story" he repli~i,
that will much Interest you. but / do
not often tell it," and say a tear
~glistening in his eye.
| told him we would be pleased 10
hear his story. but did not wish for
him to call anything TO remembrance
that would cause him grief. He re.
piled: THE wound has been healed
these many years, though often now
il seems TO bleed afresh: but my story
now / will tell.
II was born in the northern part OF
Vermont. My father was a farmer
and as | was the only. child, my IA
ther gave me the homestead. lie dice
quite young ana the carc of the farm
devolved on me. My mother soor
became lame and unable 10 do the
work, and | resolved TO marry. Dea.
Louisa, "A farmers daughter VIE
lived but {. few miles away, was the
one TO whom | gave hay heart and
hand. and, indeed, size was worthy Of
the love of any man. My mother soor
after died, and we laid her beside hel
husband in the churchyard.
Two children were born 10 us
Tommy and Louisa. We watched
over them in their infancy, and loved
them dearly. Tommy was Z, ant
Louie, as We called her, was 5. Schoo.
was to commence the next Monday
and us they had never been 10 school
we made arrangements TO send them
The schoolhouse was about one-hall
a mile off, beyond "A piece Of woods
| went with them the first and secont
day, and met them at night, as they
were afraid 10 go through the wood.
alone; but the third day Tommy said
Papa need not 60 with us any more
We can 60 alone | granted theii
wish, and soon saw them disappear
going toward the schoolhouse. swing
ing their little dinner pals.
They had been gone but a few
minutes. had taken up my AK, ant
was about commencing TO cut som,
wood. lhesrd little Tommy scream
% dear, papal . dear, papal burs
upon my ears; and al the same mo
ment ! heard little Lulie call mamms
mammal II is needless To say that
rushed TO their rescue, tightly grasp
ing my AK. In one minute | saw tw,
wolves tearing my dear children 3,
pieces. With an unearthly yell,
rushed upon them. One left my chilC
and sprung upon me; he lay dead tn,
next instant. | sprang upon the otheI
that was tearing the flesh from ts,
cheek Of my little girl; but he RAJ
swiftly away. Poor little Lulie wa
dead; little Tommy raised his tori
and bloody hand, and family said
% papa, | wish you come foreI |
was his last words; in a few moment
he breathed his last. | took my deaI
ones in my arms, and carried them Il
my house. My wife was al the barn
Hay them on the bed: my wife sooi
came in. She looked upon her chill
dren, uttered a fearful wall of sorrow
and fell almost ~lifeless upon the floor
The shock was too much for her, an,
indeed, more than many mother
could have stood, and within ON
month she died raving maniac. Sin
sleepsin Vermont beside her dear babe
she loved so we'll" When he had Fin
ished his story there was not a dry ey,
in the camp, and for some time not
word was spoken. But the evenin,
was far spent, and we soon retired 4
our beds TO dream over the events o
the day. Thomas A. Crabtree in Lew