Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-03-10
Chased by Wolves.

Connecticut. The story was told mt
by an old lady Her graudfathe
had often related it to her as & rem
iniscence Of his childhood.
| will try TO tell it as it was giveT
me. But cannot hope to make i
seem so real as Che did.
Ny readers will recollsct that
though this incident really happened
in Vermont, Vermont was then only
an undivided part of the New Hamp
shire Grants, and iJs settlement wa:
continually disputed by numerous
wild beasts, Indians and WORKERS.
Its settlers, however, were of the
hardest and bravest Of men and wo
men, and it was not strange that
their children should partake Of their
courage and endurance.
Thursa and Ziba Sargent, thirteen
and nine years old respectively, were
much like children Of our own day,
fond Of going "a visiting At the
lower end Of the settlement lived
their cousin, Isaac Sargent, a lad OF
eleven. who a few weeks before had
had his leg broken by n falling tree,
while in the woods with his father.
1t was afternoon, about the middle
of January, cold, with sharp wind,
but sunshiny, when Thursa and ZiDa
asked permission TO take their box
handsled down aud give Isaac a ride,
which was readily granted.
Tie better TO appreciate what
Thursa did that day, a description OF
the handsled will be necessary. 1t
differed greatly from the natty little
steel-shod affairs of to-day. Ii was
made for service, and to last, like the
deacon's "one-hoss shay 1t was full
four feet long, two feet and a-halI
wide, with runners, usually found
grown to the shape, and held to
gether by three stout cross beams
1t was finished by a top-rail, running
lengthwise, in which holes were made
for stakes. The tongue-the length
OF the sled-was split at the bottom
where it was pinned securely into
mortises made in the roller, the two
rounded ends OF which were inserted
in the curve Of the runners. a pin
through the upper end Of the tongue
to draw by, finished the sled proper
All the work on it had been done
with an Ak, a cold chisel and a burn
ing-iron. The boX-for il had a rea
board box, a relic of their mother
Connecticut home-was fastened tC
the sled by raw-hide thongs, wounc
from stake to stake and around each
end. 1t made Il very comfortable
riding-pace for little folks, as we'll a:
a convenient vehicle for carrying
other things.
The sharp wind blowing up the
river was little minded by Hhurss
and Ziba. muiIled "a they were ;" 'hrII
warm home-spun clothes, fur caps
tippets and mittens; FOR though they
sometimes complained OF the CLUMSY
warmth of their garments, they neyei
complained Of being cold, aud they
prepared with great glee for theiI
run down the glare frozen river.
You must get home by 4 o'clock
children" called their mother, as she
stood in the door, watching then
climb down the bank to the river.
''Yes'm, we will shouted Ziba
busy urging his sister to get into the
box. Just you hold up the tongue
Thursa, and I'll give you a splendiC
ride ~
Suiting the action to the word, h'
took hold of the end board-the bet
ter to keep his feet on the smooth ic'
aud started at a tremendous pac,
down the river; and the mothe
heard. with a smile, their shouts o
merry laughter long after they ha'
turned the bend, half the distance t
their uucle's cabin.
Isaac was soon ready for his ride
and they were on the ice again, TIN
time with Thursa holding the tongue
Guns and Indians but isn't thi
nice - shouted Ziba, pushing vigor
ously behind, as they dash past tn
last house in the settlement.
you mustn't push so hard celIe'
back his sister, Il can hardly keel
my feet"
You needn't run. Thursa justpu
YOUR feet together and slide, wa
his gallant reply, III do the running
for both Of Us.
To such good purpose did he do tn
running that before they ever su;
pected how fast he was going, the
were down the Connecticut, where
with a slide aud a whirl, he steere
the sled down that river.
"Oh but we mustn't go to the bi
river. Ziba r. cried Thursa, strugglin
to stop the sled, I'm afraid 1t won
be frozen over"
Yes; It's, too he answered
Stacking up a little for argument
The two trappers that come up ye'
terday ssid it was frozen as hard
the booming cliff
But perhaps We ouehtn't to go
she pleaded. Mother mayn't Tx
it,"
"She won't care about it, ne crie'
plapcing wistfully down the smootf
glistening level before him. III "
only get home at the time bid.
After a little more persuasion
Thursa was induced to go on 81
stipulated, however, that they chou