Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-01
SOMETHING FOB TIE LITTLE
FOLKS.
A WFEg IN CAMP.
Harry T. johnson. I

to the other boys. Ar first every sound I
called forth Nv hats that" ''Hark." or /
= Keep still" But after while when the /
hunting became a business each saw and I
heard for himself and not another. Bang, I
bang echoed many times through the I
woods that day, but the result WAS Meth I
ing heavier than a dozen or two of squir-
rels and few rabbits. The liue was soon /
broken. the boys had gradually fallen |
away from each other and not until the |
.hadows grew long upon the hills did the 4
-houts of Home again call them together |
But one was missing Will'-''W here's /
WIZ" came from a dozen mouths at 4
once. \ dead silence fell upou the CON- /
pany. II did not last long, for they cou- (
Guided he had returned to camp, whittier
they at once started. But imagine their
surprise when they found no viii and no
signs of his being there since morning.
viii was an Independent fellow and
when he thought of scheme he kept il To
himself He wa. artra ted bya sound in
/ ne bushes and instead Of telling the OH
er- he fastened towards il. At this point
ne began to think how nice il would be 70
hunt alone just the saline A. the old hunt
teri did ia a book he had been reading.
He followed every sound he beard, taking
pass, and as he found no game he soon be-
came tired Of the situation and determined
10 90 back to his companions. But alas
he could not find them. He ran first one
way and then another. He shouted with
al his strength but received no answer.
lie was for once in hi life thoroughly
frightened. Finally he concluded he would
return TO camp and took up ha.ty retreat
As he supposed in that direction. But
no, every step carried him further ant
farther away from the little cosy home In
the opening He soon felt tired. cold and
hungry, and ''oh what shall do in these
lark, dense woods II night comes on be-
fore | can reach home;" This last thought
thoroughly aroused him. lie resolved to
climb tree. He did so and TO his un-
speakable joy he saw smoke curling up
through the dark woods below. lie went
down the tree in an instant and start d in
the direction of the -moke. With all pos
,ibe speed he has ems toward it. He soon
came in sight of large old fashioned
house; a woman stood in the doorway.
She was evidently surprised to see a youth
coming toward b, r for she exclaimed : A
boy, and alone. Who are you and how
came YOU in these woods aloue:'
IL am lost and | would like some help
if you,-"
NO business to be out alone. Young
.ter like YOU. guess you've learned a
lesson VIII videntlv agreed with her,
but only said. But will YOU let me come
in and get warm
"Why, yes, | suppose | can-come
along. She led the way into large,
old-fashioned room, warmed and lighted
by a bright, blazing fire. before which IA
man was sitting. The man was appar-
emily about fifty wear. of age. Heres
boy'-''got lost"-''what shall do
with him said the woman. The man
slowly raised his eyes toward the visibly
trembling Will, and looked him over from
head to foot. Then with much delihera-
ton he spoke: "Sit down and get warm
and tell me where you came from and
how you chance to be in these dense
woods alone-for only the most daring
hunters ever find my home: will do
what can to restore YOU to YOUR friends. :"
Will heaved a sigh of relief After he
told his story the man went into another
room. When Will was left alone he be-
gan to look about the room. 10 his sur
prise he saw that the walls were actually
covered with the skins of different am
mails. Some were large, some were
small, some all black, others black and
white, some yellow, some grey and one
| the tempter stood close by him and wills
pered You havn't ANYTHING to carry
home, why don't you:" will caught the
meaning though the words came in the
faintest whisper. lie raised his hands
and down from the wall lust back
from where he sat he drew three skins
One the glossy coat of little white rab-
hit the other two of squirrels. That :
luck" thought he as he noticed by the
feeling that they had been recently placed
there. "All the better for my use" and
with this bold thought he thrust them into
his game-sack and sat down to wait the re-
turn of his host. A. he looked into the
bright, open fire, he unused Nobody will
know that | took them need not tell
of it, and then it will he 50 nice to return
all alone with these skins. too. OF course
I they Will envy me u little and that i what
Ienjoy having them do. will tell them that
But his reverie was broken. The man
came in and proposed to start at once. for
said he, "l GU are Il long way from the
clearing, and shall have to leave YOU 1t
the river, in order to get back before
dark, and then with strange expression
in his face he added, mo man can safely
thread his way through these woods after
dark. Then with commanding come,
they started. They proceeded by wind
ing course into the heart of the great
forest. viii began to tremble ''What
if my guide is only getting me of to XIII
me. and the hot blood rushed to his face
as he thought of the little sure white
rabbits skin in his sack. He held his
hand TO his head, and was about to cry
out, when he heard, boy, do YOU see
that river: Follow it. On the peril OF
your life don't lose sight of it," Then
pointing in the direction he intended Will
to take, he shouted Now Ice OH with
you" VIII tried to say II thank you
sir, but in looking up he was alone. He
dared not turn, but kept hi> eve on the
river. He follow ed as directed, but how
different were Iii, feelings from when he
started out in the morning. He had
cheated his companions, told IA lie at the
"old house, and worse than all had
stolen from his guide, who had so kindly
directed him TO his camp. 1 he skins that
looked 80 soft and tempting, now became
a burden to him, aud he wished them in
the bottom of the river. While these
thoughts we're running through his min 1,
he, too. had been running with all his
might. lIo stopped suddenly and
listened He was not mistaken. lie was
near home. This fact gave him new cour-
age, and he at once btgin to say 10 hun
self swell, no matter, it is done and
cant be helped" Then throwing the hith-
erto hidden skins across his shoulders. he
struck up lively air and marched up to
the tent amid the shouts of the boys.
Where have you BEEN" Nv here did You
go:" Did you get lost?" said one with
a peculiar tone of voice. Lost in these
little woods" said VIII, with an air
of superiority. But the boys put on
a doubtful countenanee. II thought
| would not keep quite so near YOU for
fear we might shoot each other so went
just out of sight little" Didn't care
whether the rest of Us shot each other or
not, came from one who did not b, lieve
a word Will WAS saying. Nv ell. 4" draw led
Will, ''you see | did not have time to
think of you. | had quite AN exciting
chase before | captured the rabbit and had
other things to think about. Gu nav way
home | came across house. The folks
were very kind to me. They gave me a
nice warm lunch and the man showed me
how he skinned rabbits and squirrels, aud
then said he would walk downa piece
with me and he came Is far a. the river
At parting he shook hands and asked me
to come again whenever pleased. The
boys Uinked and tried to look sober
"Oh, well it is all straight. You never
knew Will to tell lie" said Dick. Il
suppose il is all right then" said the rest