Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-11-06
WOLF FARM.


declaration of our national independ-
ence. man named Neville, in com
pany with his wife and six children,
moved from the vicinity Of New Lon
don, Conn, northward to Warwick,
one of the hill towns Of Franklin coun-
ty, Mass
The spring was well advanced when
they arrived at their new home, so
that they were not able to raise sutli-
cient grain and vegetables upon which
to subsist during the first winter,
which, unfortunately for them, set in
early and was of unusual severity.
To make matters worse, all OF their
sheep and swine were caught and
killed by wild animals, and one, the
most valuable of their cows, sickened
and died
Mr. Neville was very industrious
man, and worked at his trade-that of
a carpenter-here and there among
the settlers, whenever an opportunity
offered.
When there was no job in that line
in hand, he made improvements on
his own building, and worked away
enlarging his clearing.
The trees which were felled by the
sturdy blows of the resolute farmer
carpenter and his eldest boy were
trimmed out and cut into logs with
which they fenced in a small enclos-
ure where his animals, could he man
age to procure any more that winter,
might be herded with safety.
The neighbors laughed a good deal
over the very high and strongly-built
sheep-fold that David Neville had
prepared, when he did not possess a
sheep in the world, and there was
no immediate prospect of any.
Build your martin-box when You
have the leisure, and the martins will
be sure TO find you, said he.
One bright and quite mild day that
winter Nj. Neville said to his wife, Il
believe / shall rig up my hooks and
lines and go down to the Connecticut
River TO try my luck at fishing through
the ice. We are all Of us, | guess,
rather tired Of living on the par
tridges and squirrels we snare, and If
| could get a good haul of fish, we
should enjoy the change
G. "The river is five miles distant, at
least, and the snow is heavy" said his
wife. Il would not try the expert
ment."
Il know 1t will be good long walk,
said Mr.. Neville, but there is strong
crust on the snow, which to-day's sun
will not soften perceptibly, and |
think | will make the venture to-
night. | had so much experience in
fishing when we lived near the Sound
and the Thames River, too, | am sure
to have good luck.
Fish are not very plentiful here
among the hills, and | may possibly
catch enough to exchange with some
of the neighbors for bread-stuff you
know, wife, we are getting pressed for
food Of any kind"
Late in the afternoon David Ne
vile started bravely off with hand
led half-bushel basket full Of careful
" prepared pine torches on one arm,
a sharp axe over the other, and his
hooks and lines in his pockets
There were no matches in those
davs, so he took with him tinder
box and small, tightly-wound roll
of linen cloth which, when lighted at
one end, would burn slowly and keep
fire for long time.
Fresh fish for breakfast, remem-
ber." he shouted back cheerily, as he
struck off into the wilderness
God bless you; good luck to you,
answered his wife and children, as
they watched him out Of sight.
On reaching the river, the first
thing Mr.. Neville did was 10 build a
fire Of the dry limbs and trunk OF
fallen tree which he split up, for he
knew that il he stood long on the ice
he would become very cold. He then
set to work cutting a hole in the ice.
which was very thick and covered
with snow.
The fish in great number. swan to-
ward the unusual light Of the fire
and OF the blazing torches he held
over The large, square aperture he
had made through their frost-im-
prisoned habitat. and the solitary
fisherman could hardly drop his line
into the still, black water before the
bait was greedily seized.
For some time the exciting sport
went on, and he was kept closely
busy, batting his hooks and pulling
out the plump, lusty fellows, until a
large pile of them had accumulated
on the ice near the fire.
After a while, growing hungry, Mr..