Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-12
Confronted by q Big VOL.


One day Uncle Jonas's COWS disap-
peared from the opening in the woods
about his lonely home, and no traces
of them could be gained.
Aunt Molly, as his wife >>as called,
started to hunt them up next ssornin6,
Us the men of tho family were avaJ.
Leaving the children, and going in .
westerly direction, she wandered
throughout the day in the dark, mn
broken forest without q mouthfnl 10
eat except few spruce buds and dried
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 hAsts
she drove them along, hoping to reach
home before dark, and as she had no
guide, not even spotted trees, sho had
to trust wholly to the instinct of The
beasts.
Their course often seemed to her en-
actly the opposite to right, still her
practical knowledge taught her il va
best to let them have their own way'
When near what is now known as To
Pine House, on q ridge covered by .
growth of gigantic pines, both COWS
gave a loud below as if from fright
and broke into q furious gallop Il
the direction of home, now half Q mils
distant. Pausing to ascertain the cause
of their fright she was suddenly oon-
fronted by wolf.
The wolf at once made q spring for
her face, no doubt intending to grab
her throat. With the skill aud fury az
an expert boxer Aunt Molly dealt hima
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,
hut each time was met by both fists and
feet with sufficient force to send hin
back several feet. Knowing it was nov
life or death, this heroic woman found
herself fast growing weaker, while The
attacks of her savage adversary grow
more fierce.
Snatching her battered shawl from
her head, with. desperate leap abe
threw it over the head Of the wolf, with
O dexterity which was not only surpEis-
ing to the wolf but herself also.
This piece of strategy had the effect
to bewilder the wolf. He leaped wildly
about. vainly endeavoring to rid him
self of his inconvenient head-gear, while
Molly lost no time in climbing to tho
lower branches of the tree, and ont Of
harms reach. When the wolf had rid
den himself of his temporary blindfold
aud 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 disappoint
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 tho di
rection of the river. As soon as she
thought him at safe distance, Molly
nearly famished, and benumbed b!
cold, fastened down and sped for hom'
} as fast as the conditions of her crampei
limbs and chilled frame would permit
She found the children half fright
ened out of their wits, as the arrival o.
the cows in SO great agitation had giver
them the idea that their mother had
been devoured by some wild beast
Norway (lMe.) letter to The LeaUist0H
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