The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-28
See the Celebrated Schubert With Orchestral Att,
usual grin on his face. and the dogs clus-
tered around, thinking perhaps that they

morrow.
Now the fun began. though until I got
my bearings I thought it far from fun.
The men called out excitedly at the next
baying of the dogs. They are hot on a
coon: it is n smart Old one they cried.
land not a new coon in town.. he IL give
us a fine chase" With that theE were
off, and all tte men followed except Cous-
in Edmund. who felt the responsibility OF
looking after me heavy upon him. could
see that ne was impatient to get in the
lead, so I stumbled or IS fast as
could. through a forty-acre lot. down the
steep hill to the low-gfounds. The dogs
ran for half a mile or so in the open. ana
then took to the cliffs. How I ever clam
Sered up them l do not know, but hearing
the dogs so close ny anxiety to reach
item helped me to exert myself to the
utmost only got TO the top to- hear Bob
Steser's voice to the right OF me cry:
Mr. Edmund, YOU had better slide down
this rock it's the easiest way to set TO
that little chestnut tree: and sulti1% the
action of his words, he slid down with
seeming ease. Edmund helped me, and
we reached the tree to find all the dogs
barking ftriously around it. On casting up
the lantern light. we could see nothing III
the dark boughs. Bob solved the difficulty
by cutting the tree down with Il few strokes
OF the axe he had brought along, but
nothing rolled out from the tangled mass
of branches. The dogs by this time had
ga thered around another saplins. straight
and tall and. on using the lantern again,
to our surprise and Amusement we saw
seated in the first fork Il small white ant,
grey cat, regarding with an air of quiet
establishment the excited group OF men
and dogs The Steger boys were all for
cutting the tree down and letting the
! dogs tear the cat to pieces. in their great
NO. IaaD
my intercessIon saved the little creature
| OF course, the boys were naturally morti-
| fled that their dogs should have been so
| outwitted by q wee puSSy-cat. especially
| after they had Dragged so about them,
| and also their saying that they, the SteS-
ers could tell from the way that ths
! dogs bayed what they were trailing. |
| smoothed the matter over. think. by tell
| ing them that 1 had Rather enjoyed the
diversion and that knew that we would
! now get Il fine coon, and my prediction
| turned out to be a true one. for the dogs
! were quickly on the scent OF COON RE
| did not lead US as hard a race as the cat,
| but it was longer, and it was nearly mid
! night before we got him. Fortunately we
| were scarce a half mile from the house
| before he ran into a hollow tree. wherein
| was hi, hearth and home. He quickly
| disappeared from sight, and the huntsmeH
| nest and that there was only one way
| of getting him QUITO cut the tree down.
| If l had known of his young ones at nome
| told me that he had gone down into his
| T would never have given such an eager
| consent to this proposition. AS the tree
| fell Edmund flashed his lantern towards
: the ton, and just then Bob hoilered:
| at ook out the ole fellow is running for
| the butt, and will get away II you don't
| look sharp Grip had been much smarter
/! than we were, however, and was ready to
!! lump the coon as ne spranS IN to the I'M
/! derbrush With quick spring he fastened
| his strong white teeth into the breast of
/; the coon and the other dogs came piinS
(! on. with Trouble in the lead, and soon
I! made short work of the ever-strugSiinS
| coon Edmund called and asked me II I
! wanted another pet, and wonderinSly, |
/ turned TO see what ne meant, and. saw
| hanging from his outstretched hand by
| the nape OF his neck, the cutest little
| brown creature viii pointed nose and
/! bushy ring tail: its green eyes swapping
, with a miniturc frenzy When informed
/ that If took the two or three weeks old
J coon | could quickly tame aim so that
| he would follow me about and be gentle.
| 1 gladly accepted 1t and had him put into
| another sack Jim Steser told me II
| would nut a chain on the tiny coon for
! few days and feed him chicken heads
| and craytsh ne would get to know
(! me perfectly, and, if anything, become
! too affectionate.
! we then started for home with our three
| trophies and T. for one. was tired out,
| but tried not to show the white feather.
! AS we climbed Big House Hill the dogS
| struck the trali OF airott.er 'pcssum. but the
/ n en- did not pay much atteation. for they
knew that ne would strike for the Welt
| krcwn 'possum hole in that field under TIE
| big rcck. 1t turned cut as they SAID.
/! for when we reached the curve OF fhe
read there IN the moonlight were all the
! dogs, freeing III the ground 1he m
i ca,,ed them off. knowing well the futiitS
! OF trying 10 twiss' anything out OF this
/ renowned fastness
! We soon reached home, and Aunt LUCY
was not especially overjoyed at the pros
| psct OF another useless pei. Dat ever,
!. her heart has been softened by the eharn!-
| ing mischief OF little Pete. as We sal!
| him=rhe prophesy OF Tim Steser mas ossh
| fulfilled. for he has become the CHEZ OF
; ali our household fayoritss. and even as
write is seated on my shoulder m ite
impeding my progress by nibolins at the
| end Of my lead pencii. when ne seems 70
| take for the claw of some particularly
i 'epe'li oiS KITTY FOX.
Howardsviile .AIbemarle county Va
/