The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-07-03
Mr.. TOMPklNS' oU.sT FOURTH.
How He Fled from the Noise and J,psty
of Town In nndc. , nan

Mr.. TOMPklNS' QUIET FOURTH.
How He Fled from the Noise and Bustie
of Town to Dodge u BAH
10 escape the sweltering heat Of town
on the Fourth of July last year Mr..
Tompkins gathered up the savings OF
several weeks and started for the quiet
of the mountains. In order to be totally
free from noise and excitement of any
kind, he repaired to the house of a
friend, which was situated in q valley
near spur of the Catslrills and although
he had but one day in which to enjoy
perfect rest and escape the hustle and
turmoil Of the town, he consumed q
little over four hours on the afternoon Of
the Sd getting to his retreat.
After hot and firing railway journey
Mr.. Tompkins reached his friends house,
hungry and dusty, and nearly choked
with coal dust. 9'
Isn't it glorious!" said he to himself
rs he gazed through his window ut sun
rise next morning over the green expanse
Of woodland and meadow. The gleam.
ing silver OF Esopus creek glinted through
the green that fringed its banks. Fields
OF grain were already turned TO rict
gold color.
The Catskills rose in purplish blue
background. Hastily dressing, Mr.
Tompkins wandered forth on tour OF
discovery.
His footsteps led him to u brook tina,
ran through u meadow thick with tail
damp gras> As he pursued his course
along the banks Of the stream seyera.
trout darted under stones and root
after the bashful manner OF trout. Mr.
Tompkins had been thinking of how
much he wished he had rod and fiies
along, when terrific roar made hin
jump two feet into the air. This was
quickly followed by another and another
Mr.. Tompkins thought some menag
erie must have lost an animal. Tn,
noise continued. 1t came from a clumy
of trees. At loss what to do the
young man did nothing but wait. Ant
then with an astonishing gamut o
roars, bellows and snorts out came 4
bull on dead run, with tail stiffened
and pointing toward the blue empyrean
Down the hill he came. roaring ant
snorting at every bound. The only GER
tain way to get clear away was straight
up the hillside, and that pass was held
by the bull. A brisk run across the low
land to another clump Of trees offered
temporary refuge.
Mr.. Tompkins made the best time or
record, and reached the trees not mo
ment too soon, for the beast was at hi.
heels. Then the bull lodged the young
man around the trunk of q big hickory
tree and kept up his pleasing diversion
for fully half an hour.
A heap of stones several hundred yard.
distant looked more promising to tht
young man who had come to the coun
try for quiet day. The bull was get
ting angrier every moment, and in hi.
blind rage stumbled and fell over a root
A dash for the stones, and then tn,
young man thought himself safe.
The bull came right along, and wasn't
many seconds behind. But the heap o.
stones was regular fort, for the bull
could not ascend it, and slipped at ever,
attempt, although it was only few fee
high.
They had time then to reason with
each other and become acquainted. Blu
they didn't have chance after ALL fol
signs of life began to appear about th'
farmhouse on the hillside, and one of the
farm hands came 10 look for the cows.
The young man took mean advan
tage of the bull. He called for help, al
though the bull couldn't talk. This was
hardly square, but the young man die
not obey the promptings of his mobiles
nature. He just sung out for help a
loudly as he could, and i came, with q
snarl and bound, in the person of ,
bull terrier.
Now, this bull knew that bull terrier
and the instant he saw the dog h,
changed his tactics and started on rul
for the barn. But the dog was too quicl
for him, and with one bound, seized hi
tail and held on till they reached tn
barn, about 800 yards away.
The bull beloved with pain and ange
as he ran, but he couldn't get rid of tina
dog or get him to loosen his grip on hi
tail. When the young man reached tn
house of his friends he wondered whethe
there wasn't little hustle and hurry il
the country at times.-New York Sun.