The Mena star., 1898-12-21

{SAS%M F as ne poured four ,sNI pounds of No. 6 shot from the scoop of the scales into one of the conical packages that our shot used to be done up in by storekeep- CTS before the era of paper bags.
 "Well, no, not exactly hunting" an swered with the view to the possible need of excuses for an empty bag. I'm going over to Bradley's to spend Christ mas, and didn't know but I might see q partridge" It would have been stuck up" to call our best game bird part ridge" and no one would have recog- nized it under the name of "ruffed grouse"
 You hain't goin' to hoof it over the maountain?" he asked, with the end of the string between his teeth as he wound the package with a frugal al- lowance of packthread 1 nodded an affirmation while l silently admired his thrifty habit of putting the few spilled pellets into the box of unsold shot
 Wal, then, ye'd better let me put ye up paound or two O buckshot."
 NO, sir" l said, in tone expressive of reproof for the suggestion. i've no use for buckshot this time of year." for the close time for deer began with the month.
 "Of course not, but you'd want some thing bigger'n number sizes if the wolves got after ye," said Hiram, mak- ing a persuasive dip into the box of buckshot.
 Wolves, said I, contemptuously; ''why, there hain't been wolf around here for 20 years"
 Wal, there is, naow, pack O seven, anyway, an mebby more. Why, hain't you heard? Amos Barker seen 'em full tilt after deer an counted em, seven of 'em. His man at was helpin' of him on his coalin' job said there was 13, but Amos reckoned he see double or caounted some of 'em twice, an there's lots O folks at s heard 'em There's wolves hantin' the maountain, you may depend. Better le' me weigh you about couple O paound."
 ''No guess it won't pay to carry any extra weight On that chance," 1 said, admiring the storekeeper's cunning at tempt to sell me something I did not want But you may put up that small doll and that Jack-in-the-box for me They're light and they'll tickle Billy's two little shavers. Then put up a half dozen crackers and a bit of cheese for lunch. fill my tobacco box, and let me have an extra pipe, and I'll be off. want to make the trip by daylight"
 ''I hope ye will l ra'ly do. lwouldn't want to have you get ketched in the dark on the maountain. So you're goin' right over to Bradley's. be ye?" he con- tinued, as he shutiled about behind the counter to put up the articles for me, and then began rummaging in drawer of odds and ends. Now, l wonder If you wouldn't jest as lives take him pair O bullet rnolds at Aaron Clark left here for him, last spring, l guess it was.
 Hiram found the molds after short search and, slipping them into my pocket with the other articles, l re tired to my bachelor quarters over Miss Diantha Gridley's tailor shop, where, after transferring the shot to q spring top pouch and filling my flask with  changing my leather boots for pair of sheepskin boots tanned with the wool on. which were then the most ap- proved winter footgear, with my double gun on my shoulder to tighten my steps, set forth on the ten-mile tramp.
 Crossing the little river that turned the mills and forge of our village, and following the road as far as it ran in my direction, l held across the fields to the woods. before entering which set my compass for my intended course.
 When the backbone of the mountain was reached and my journey half ac- complished. l had but one partridge, but there wee chance of more in the stretch of forest that lay before me, partial glimpses of which l now had through the stunted oaks, ndpines that scantily clad the rocky ridge.
 The weather was exceedingly mild for the season, a circumstance when proved very fortunate for me- and as was quite comfortable in the warmth of the low midday sun, l gave my legs a good rest while I ate my lunch anu lazily smoked and dreamed in the midst of the quietude.
 There was not a sound to be heard above the constant murmur of the pines and the occasional rustic of an unfallen leaf withered, nor was living thing to be seen but mite of a winter wren eX- ploring the intricacies of fallen tree