The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-04-30
THE ONE EYED BUCK, THE BOYS
FIRST DEER.
For the GOLD LEAF ]

Though a delicate STRIPPING, the grit or
young Ialbert was known.
He never had hinched from school TEL
low, not even a boy that was grown;
But there's difference twixt fighting with
school boys and mastering an untu-
tored buck,
1t appears to meet with the latter. requires
different complexion of pluck.
Driving for deer in the wlds Of the West,
With a party of friends, he was put to the
test,
They were gentlemen grown, though he
but boy,
With his Chckasaw pony, and gun butt
toy.
The day it was beautiful, and we can
never forget,
BY the tears of the night the grass on the
prairie had been thoroughly wet;
Both pony and boy so exceedingly small,
Had been wet to the skin by the grass
that was tall.
But with ardOr unchecked for the joys Of
the chase,
The kind friends Of young Halbert as
signed him place;
Where never before, had an antler been
To cross the old pike from the thickets Of
green.
But on nearing his stand with Joy he was
thrilled,
Though never had deer at the crossing
been killed;
lie saw that a buck had passed III the
night,
And he knew he'd return if they started
him right.
And thereby his chance for shot was at
hand,
fTnul6 no hold ia liS ann md stick To his
stand;
But alas for his nerves, like leaf that is
dashed in the wintry storm
lie trembled in feature in fibre and form.
Being suddenly reminded that this was
Where the buck with one eye had been so
often found;
And knowing that old hunters from their
frequent ill luck,
Believed him a wizard in the form OF a
buck,
lie was sorely perplexed and silently
gazed on a bending old beech that
was near,
But said to himself, II viii not. for the
end | never would hear;
] Will stand to my gun, and be trampled
to death by the deer,
Sooner than take to the tree, for the story
all the village would hear"
Then he thought of his mother and the
prayers She had taught him,
And he thought of the comfort they had
SO often brought him;
Thenhe knelt by the beech suppreSsing
his fears,
And prayed to his Maker to quiet his fears
Major NJ was the driver, while no better
Wing could be found in the land,
No better shot carried gun III his hand;
Old Tally, his leader, had routed the
deer,
And the voice of the Major every standel
could hear.
And quickly thereafter the pack Ill full
cry,
Gave chase to the buck that was minus an
eye; =,
With the chorus of dogs, through TIC
woodlands reSOunding,
Inst ahead of the music old One-Eye was
bounding.
Dashing, snOrting and making this way,
10 meet the pale boy whose nerves were
at play;
How he held to his gun was a mystery i'll
deed.
With his hands and his knees like a
trembling reed.
Yet he held it and fired and there was the
chamber of shot;
To speak for themselves i'll the most VITAL
spot;
On his knees fell the buck at the quick
fatal crack,
And wild was the boy when he mounted
his back.
Wild with excitement old One Eye Il
Straddle,
But quickly to find him unbroke to the
saddle;
The jOr was there, the hazardous spor
to enjoy.
When he saw that 40 damage was done
he shouted hurrah for the boy.
Then he signalled the ISLANDERS, who can't
dashing up with n cheer.
But the Joy was too much for the lad, or
his cheek was the trickling tear;
The hero of the hunt on that memorable
day.
Was the boy on the pony, young lIalber
Lemay.
Since the day of the drive, the beautiful
day,
Tho kind friends have crossed over and
the hair is gray;
So honestly gray that the wish would be
vain,
That he were a boy on pony again.
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