Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-09-20

! One day Uncle Jonas's COWS disap-
peared from the opening in the woods
I Gbout his lonely home, and no traces
Of hem could be gained.
Aunt Molly, as his wife was called,
started to hunt them up next morning,
as the men of tho family we're away.
Leaving the children, and going in a
westerly direction, she wandered
throughout the day in the dark, I'M
broken forest without mouthful to
eat except few spruce buds and dried
4 berries, with an occasional handful Of
ground nuts, which grew in great
/ abundance on the low lands.
The sun was fast sinking, when to her
( great Joy she discovered the lost cows
! quietly grazing on small grass plat
( near Crooked River, some four miles
! from home With all possible haste
she drove them along, hoping to reach
home before dark, and as she had no
/ guide, not even spotted trees, she had
/ to trust wholly to the instinct Of the
/ beasts
Their course often seemed to her ex-
actly the opposite to right, still her
prac ical knowledge taught her it was
best to let them have their own way
When near what is now known as the
Pine House, on a ridge covered by a
/ growth of gigantic pines, both cows
gave a loud below as if from fright,
and broke into a furious gallop in
/ the direction of home, now half mile
distant. Papsing to ascertain the cause
of their fright she was suddenly con-
fronted by wolf
The wolf at once made spring for
her face, no doubt intending to grab
her throat. With the skill and fury of
an expert boxer Aunt Molly dealt him a
stunning blow with her brawny and
( hardened fist, which sent him back
upon his launches. Again and again
the starving brute leaped for her throat,
but each time was met by both fists and
4 feet with sufficient force to send him
back several feet. Knowing it was now
] life or death, this heroic woman found
herself fast growing weaker, while the
/ attacks of Ter savage adversary grew
4 more fleece.
Snstching her tattered shawl from
her head, with a desperate leap she
threw it over the head of the wolf, with
/ a dexterity which was not only surpris-
/ ing to the wolf but herself also
This piece of strategy had the effect
to bewilder the wolf. He eaped wildly
about, ysinly endeavoring to rid him
self of his inconyenient head-gear, while
Molly lost no time in climbing to the
| lower branches of the tree, and ont of
harms reach. When the wolf had rid
den himself of his Temporary blindfold
and sufficiently recovered his equilib-
rum, seeing his intended victim beyond
his reach he at once set up the most de-
moniacal howls of rage and di'appoint-
ment, occasionally venting his spleen
by furious attacks upon the trunk of the
tree and tearing the rough bark with
his long crooked fangs.
Here she remained until the return
of day, when he skunk away in the di-
rection of the river. As soon as she
/ thought him at a safe distance, Molly,
nearly famished, and benumbed by
cold, fastened down and sped for home
as fast as the conditions of her cramped
limbs aud chilled frame would permit
She found the children half fright
| ened out of their wits, as the arrival Of
| the cows in so great agitation had given
| them the idea that their mother had
been devoured by some wild beast
Nortoag (Me.) letter TO The LeioistoH
/ Journal.