The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-01
THE 'POSSUM
How Some Birmingham Girls and Boys
Caught One

They had been talking of an opossum
hunt for several weeks. The boys had
boosted so often and so loudly of the fun
they had in catching them that their in
tention of joining the next party of hunts
men who should engage to capture one 1t
was some time before they could prevail on
the ruling power--the mater famiias--to
give her consent for the girls to engage in
what she chose to call "a wild goose
chase" even after having been informed
that 1t was to be only "a 'possum chase"
After repeated persuasive arguments,
though not convinced that itHwas desirable
or even allowable, she finally yielded only
so far as to say she would withdraw her
objection provided chaperone could be
found who would undertake to go with
such haydens
This pyoviso which to her seemed an in
surmountable obstacle did not allay the en-
thusiasm of the young folks for they
CHANGED to have an acquaintance who had
served them frequently in the capacity of
chaperone summers camps and other
wild frolics. Knowing her powers of en-
durance and her inclination to participate
In sports of this, nature, they sent a mes
senger with a notification that her giddy
juvenile friends desired her to join them
In this new adventure.
About 1880 the same evening the three
girls and the boys with lanterns. axe, horn,
bag for game and a pack of nine hounds
announced themselves to her. Suitably clad
in bicycle garments they started.
OPossums don't stay in cities' They gen.
orally manage to find residence beyond
the corporate limits of a town and so our
young friends discovered to their amaze
ment many weary miles had to be
traversed before reaching the scene of ac-
ton They were thoroughly convinced, too,
of the significance of the remark "it is
very dusty" which the frequency of its
occurrence has rendered less foreible of
late. Following boys and hounds In the
dust did not serve to check the ardor OF
this rolicking set and when the swamp,
where they were to find 'possums by the
score. was reached they were as eager fer
the sport as ever, notwithstan one OF
the boys had prophesied failure-because
of wind drouth and girls. He agreed to
"set up to peanuts if they were success
full, so on they went,
Over logs. stumps rocks, bitches and
branches through bamboo briars and I'M
derbrush they scrambled and stumbled In
the attempt to follow the dogs upon the
several false scents, until at 1ast Roc. the
surest of the pack. announced with his
deep bass bark that he had 'treed. with
renewed zest on they rushed. uphill and
down. sometimes running sometimes crawl
ing. few times rolling down HILL until
they reached the tree round which the
dogs were grouped barking and bay1ng IN
triumph. ...--.
The saping was cut down, while the
girls stood about eagerly watching the tiny
coon as he stood waiting for an oppor-
tunity to eude his pursuers. The trees
were so close together that ere the impa-
tient hounds could rush upon the pitiful
little animal or the boys capture him, he
had sprung lightly to another. He Kept
this up till some of the girls, worn out with
o1,ac nfad
upou their backs on the ground laid them
selves and gazed through the thick, leafy
branches of the trees at the myriads OF
twinkling stars that were shedding their
scintilous beams upon them in so friendly
q manner. The group about the tree was
not lacking in elements of beauty. Inc
largest of the boys had removed his coat
and was cutting away at the base or the
tree while one girl stood by and held his
coat and horn the nine dogs in semi
circle sat upon their haunches IN eager ex-
pectation of the prize, one boy held the
lantern and bag, the others looked on soil
citous for the result. After repeated at
tempts to capture the lively creature the
disappointed sportsmen forsook the spot in
disgust and renewed their efforts in an
other direction.
Continued rough tramping for several
hours longer resulted only in a repetition
of disappointments and towards midnight
all disheartened. tired and sleepy, they
agreed to turn homeward without trophy.
Home? Yes, but where and how? Lost!
Not one of the weary young folks knew in
which direction to go. The moon was
beginning to rise and with it as guide on
they tramped till after what seemed hours
they came to a road. Then, somewhere
away off the dogs began to bark and pro-
claimed that again they mad treed some
thing. OF course, no one thought of leav-
ing Just at that moment. On Fastening to
the spot sure enough this time insthe boil