Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-11-03
THE PARSONS BOX

Rivers, the old Maine guide, as he tiI
ped his cracker-box back against tn
front Of the country store, upon who's
platform a company of village loafer
had "Speakin' O war re
minds me OF sort of Quaker parso
that ust to come up into these part
every winter and travel round amongs
the lumber camps. holdin religion
services. That man was the deades
sot agin blood sheddin' Of anybody
ever see, before or since. He didn'
even believe in war between man AM
varmints, sayin' that 1t was a crime
agin God TO take the life he had Givel
meat becuz II was slain and some
times, can tell ye, boys. the poor cus'
was reel hard put to 1t for bellyfull
here In the woods, whar the heft 81
our provender ust to be wild meat
I've seen him go to bed half-famished
when he'd stop at one Of my camps foi
a night and find me out OF everything
but tea and venison.
THE Personals We fellers up here
called him: he was a good sort OF a
chap, too-was so determined not to
shed the blood Of any Twin critter that
he wouldn't even fight varmints in
self-defence He didn't carry any wen
pin besides his axe and jack knife; and
these he only used for cuttin' his wood
and buildin' his camps. What did he
do when pestered by wild critters,
then? That's what I'm a-goin' to tell
ye.
THE Parson travelled through the
woods with a strong oak box, bout
seven feet long and two and a half
broad, sot on n toboggan. It was the
stoutest, best-built box | ever see
put together with four-irch screws.
and bound on the inside with steel
strips and brackets. The top raised
mp, lid-fashion, and was fastened on
by eight big brass hinges Inside thar
was a chain lock to hold the cover
down, so TIE devil himself couldn't
raise It without pullin' the box to
pieces. Thar were two or three small
holes bored In the end O. the box for
and I'll be blamed Of that
Teller didn't ust to dump his buds in
he snow and crawl into that box when
ever wolves or painter or bar got ar
ter him, and thar he'd cuddle down,
as snug and peaceful as n kitten in
basket and let them critters paw his
,hist around ontil they got tired OF It!
Thar vst TO be scratches a quarter
Of an inch deep a" over that box,
where varmints he'd clawed It; and the
oarson has told me that sometimes he
ay thar for hull night or hull day.
Ill whatever critter was interested In
him got its curiosity kind o. wore of
nd left In s'a"ch Of softer vittles. More
han oncet he come within an inch Of
reezin', and would - froze eff 1t hedn't
ZEN for the blanket he had in the box
With him. But sartin sure no varmint
hat roamed the woods was able to
rack the Parsons hell, and he want
o hard shell Baptis neither.
Il s'pose he might "a gone on boxin'
II himself up that way till he got all
be choppers In the woods convarted. |
T II hedn't ben for an accident that |
isturbed his arrangements and kind o. |
emoralized his principles. I'll tell We |
ow II happened.
"Me and him was on the way TO tho |
ennings lumber comp. away up near
he head waters Of the Alleguash. Ii
'as spitef cold weather, in February.
nd we was anxious TO reach shelter
efore nlghtfall The Parsons box was
Kind OF hard draegin' up them hills.
ut he stuck to It and said It want
ny wuss than my pack, anyway
'hich was true enough. guess.
Wall II got to he along about three
clock IN the AFTERNOON. when I'll be
osh darned ef I didn't hear a wolf.
no or three miles back. give his long
rawn howl on our 'rail! Now. thinks
Mr.. Parson and Mr.. Rivers there's
Din to be plenty OF excitement for We
about an hour! The Parson knew
hat was comm as we'll as I. and lie
lys: I think thar's room for two in
~ box, Mr.. Rivers. VIII thee not
ne me thar, whep we are Obliged to
eek safety, ontil hese poor critters
ecome weary Of their thirst for HUI
AN blood?
Thankin' you for yer hospitality
arson. says ], II Will agree with nv
better, think, TO climb
zee and pick off them varmints. one
one, till the coast is clear for
arm supper and dry bunk
o Lord! says he, lookln' up with
ournful eyes, the bloodthirstlness OF
an, made In Thine image! Neverthe-
SIS, ! Will continue with the. nv
lend, ontil the peril Is cpon us.
hen, perhaps, thee will reconsider
I'd enter the box with me-
" That remains be seen. parson.
US |, for didn't want TO hurt his
Gins too bad al once.
I'm tho meanwhile The howl Of tn,
st wnlf heG ben answered by an.