The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-07-27
,ALD. HILLsBORO. O.-THURsDAY, JULY 90 1893

"Dey is treed one, bless Gawdl dey is
treed onel" called out old 81, and rum
ming forward he beat of the dogs and
applied his ak to the tree with quick
strokes But the old darky
had only his trouble for his pains, for
just as the tree was about to fall the
little animal sprang to tts ground and
scampered into the swamp, the hounds
in full chase at his heels. When freed
again the coon was found to be in
quite large tree, and old 81 hesitated
to attack it with his ak.
'.Here you, William Washington
Wilkes White" he called to a very
small, ragged and extremely black boy,
who had joined us somewhere on the
road, ''you shin up dis swee' gum an
git dat 'coonr'
william Washington Wilkes thus ad-
monished ran forward aud ''shinned"
up into the branches, which he began
to sha ke vigorously. Inexperienced in
hunting coon, expected to see the ami
NAL shaken from its perch immediate
ly, but was sadly disappointed, for he
was dislodged only after tedious 6ght
and took refuge in a smaller tree, which
81 readily felled No sooner had It
struck the ground when the hounds
hustled in and pounced upon the VIC
tim, but were quickly beaten on by the
old negro. The coon already seemed
quite dead, its body apparently crushed
by the strong teeth Of the dogA but TO
make sure the old man gave it several
blows with the big end Of the stick, and
tucked him safely away in his sack.
Shortly afterwards tho party became
separated, old 81, william Washington
Wilkes and myself remaining together.
Onward we marched until becoming
no pelessly involved in . cane brake,
which seemed to me impenetrable, the
old darky paused and observed: II clar
ter Gawd dunno whicher way ter go.
Kayn't year de dogs an kayn't see de
sky. specs we uns II hab ter wait
twel somefin' turns up an de dogs come
long back di sser way"
Nothing 10th to wait until morning
If need be in preference to wandering
about in the swamp all night, found
the dryest seat possible, while the old
negro divested himself of bag and AK
and proceeded to kindle fire of the
moss and leaves. Throwing ourselves
down in its genial warmth, William
Wilkes Washington soon fell fast asleep
and snored Justify.
eve amt had much luck wild coons, u
observed Old 81, drawing our one catch
from the bag, "but dissher ones power
full fat" and in trice the animal was
Invested of his fur and other sccesso-
ries and was grilling before the blaze.
Il 'spect hit'll be nigh about mawn-
in fore we gets home, an q leetle
suack II sorter hope breakfus," he ex-
planned. The odor Of the sizzling fat
ripping on the Goals aroused William
Washington Wilkes, who was instantly
awake, his mouth wstering in antici-
patton of the savory feast
'You is Jess LAX de pore sinner when
he is put in de debbil's hot hole" apos-
trophixed old 81. looking at the sizzling
coon. b
'De sinner can fool de old debble an
git outen he clutches as long as he in
dis worl, but when the debbil git I'm
in his big pot an he begin to stew an
fry, den hit be too late. De debbil got
um too fas' fur 'scape, sane's we un's
got dis coon aswizzlin' over de GOALS"
When day began to break the old
man gathered his traps together and
led the way out of the swamp. A tramp
of six weary miles brought us once
more to Ingleside, where we found the
rest of the party had been more success
full than we. They captured six fat
'coons, and we ate them, garnished
with sweet Eaters, for dinner. They
proved very savory eating, worth the
trouble to come by it, but I always
think with inexpressible WEAKNESS OF
the night went a-hunting of the coon.
Philadelphia Times