The Atlanta constitution., 1894-05-14

l
! stories are excellent and we know that
| all those who entered the contest Will con-
graduate the winners on their success.
The Children's Adventure.
| EarIv in the '40s when Putnam county
was not so densely populated as now, on d
| new settlement lying in the horseshoe peno
| of the Oconee river one, IN ramDlng ABOUT
| in the early mornings would see frequently
| beside harmless wild animals the fierce
catamount.
This settlement was owned by Mr.. c.
His comfortable log hut was built by him
self with the help Of his ak, hammer and
nails For occupants, it held himself his
wife and two children, John and Vallie In
a kennel outside the door lived Trippe, the
dog noted for kindness, faithfulneSS and
ferocity
Within radius of five miles lived five
otker families containing from two to five
children twelve of this number being old
enough to attend school, The head of one
of these families sent to Savannah, Ga,
and employed a relative as teacher The
schoolhouse was about mile from Mr.. C.'s,
who always sent Trippe with John and Val
lie as protector After leaving the road
that leads to Long Shoal MILL the most OF
the way led through a forest, and in this
forest the catamount'S scream often
heard.
On the 14th of November, the mother
packed a lunch and started John and VAL
the forest. After giving Trippe the bucket,
they set out, Trippe trotted on in front,
John following a few steps behind, repeat
ing to himself the tables that he had stud
led diligently the night before. little
in the rear of John came Vallie, dainty
and sweet, in a clean apron and blue sum
bonnet.
They were just crossing the double
branches which required better bridging
in those days than now, when John heard
Nallie scream. He turned quickly and saw
huge catamount in the act of leaping
upon his sister.
He was stupetied with terror; Trippe, too,
had heard the scream, and had acted as
quickly as he saw the trouble. He leaped
upon the back of the catamount and be-
gan to scratch and bite savagely.
This turned the creatures attention from
the child. John, seeing this, grasped Val
lies hand and they ran down the road to-
wards home screaming with terror
About ten minutes after the children left,
Mr.. c. came to the house and got his gun.
telling his wife that he going to the
mill, and from there out hunting.
Just as he reached the fork of the roads
he met John and Vallie. They told the
trouble. He started Immediately to TrippeS
help. When he reached the branch Trippe
was still fighting with the catamount, al
though badly hurt.
Mr. G. killed the catamount Mt a single
shot. He had the skin properly cured, and
Nallies mother used it a rug for years.
In the course of time Valie grew to be a
woman, and now she tells this tale of the
olden day to her grandchildren, and shows
the skin evidence thereof The descend
ants of Trippe be found in Putnam
county in the year 1894. Thyzee Cowles.
New Decatur, Ala.
Grandfather's Story.
''Wel, children, I have heard you ask
enough for stories and not get any, SO |
will tell you something that did really
happen to my sister and / when we were
small children.
II say happened to us. Old Grover (the
dog figured far more important than either
of us did. We We're living in the widest
part of California, where you could rake in
wildcats by the wholesale.
:" But you must have more courage than
what you have now.' said grandfather, as
little Alice made move as if to get more
snugly fixed under his coat. No, you
couldn't do anything with that look in your
eye. Why even father would when too
many got after him.
why. children, you have gotten me off
the track already, you must keep quiet
and listen if you want to hear it. We lived
four miles from the nearest school, l be-
lieve, and father used to go with us in
sight Of the house every morning and come
after in the evening, while old Grover
(the dog) would trot along with the bucket
III his mouth as big as any one.
But one evening, however, father didn't
come, so we started off, thinking while
we went what a surprise we would give
father and mother. 'Ah! how distinctly do
1 remember that day said grandfather
with a slight tremor in his voice. Never
till we were nearing a large thicket did our
hearts fail us. We were brave enough till
we came in sight of it. but the mere
thought of us having to pass through 1t
alone made our blood run cold, and even
old Grover slackened his pace a little.
1--WE were large enough, however, to
realize that we couldn't stay there till night,
as darkness was fast approaching, so we
mustered up courage enough after awhile
and had gotten almost across the bridge
that was on the other side, when from the
limbs above sprang ugly animal right
on sister Annies back and would have
killed her but for Grover, who. with one
fierce growl, sprang on the brute.
"Annie managed to get away from the
animal and both of us started for nome
as fast as we could go. 1t didn't take US
ten minutes, ! know, to go the last mile.
Reaching home told our story to
mother and father, who at once put out
for the bridge. There they found Grover
still in DEATH Brave, noble dog to sacrifice
his life to save that of his MISTRESS
Henry Anchors Columbiana, Ala.