Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-12-08
DANCE OF THE DEER
The OLD DOES GRACEFUL ANTICS
WITH HER YOUNGSTERS.

ThE OLD DOES GRACEFUL ANTICS
WITH HER YOUNGSTERS
Charming and Unusual Spectacle
That Was Witnessed by a Hunter.
A Novel Cfrcu. In n Fairy Ring.
The Young Lord of the Woods.
The first time I saw him was in the
company Of his mother and a sister,
whom lie much resembled, says Hugh
VI. Warrand in BIackwood's Magazine.
lie was playing and nibbling along the
soft edge Of a little tarn- What
dainty. nimbIe, unconeerned looking ht-
Tie person he was. i sat hidden on a
hllock about 30 yards distant watch
Ing the trio. His mother was very
large old doe, whom I had known By
sight for several seasons, but this was
the only one in which she had been sue
cessfui in rearing both her infants to
such an age Of semi-independence
II might have been a week later ere
/ saw the old mother doe out again
with her family, when again l found
her feeding By the little tarn in the
hollow. She appeared totally unaware
Of my presence, and what she was
about could not imagine, for she
strolled backward and forward as
man might who was making up his
mind about something.
Suddenly she sprang forward yard
or two into a round open space in the
heather. hitherto unnoticed by me, and
began running round and round As
IL from out Of the very earth and al
most at the same moment into the cir
Gle jumped Master Buck and his sis
ter, and before had time 10 guess at
what was going 10 happen found NY
self the solitary spectator Of certainly
the most novel and graceful circus
had ever seen or may ever hope to see
again.
Round went the old doe faster and
faster, her children after her. Then
she faced about, chasing the latter this
time. Again she turned and was fol-
lowed, and 80 the game went on Pres
entity all three were out Of the ring.
led By the doe, and bounding away
through the heather, over the ridge and
out Of sight
I thought that had seen the last OF
them for one day, but not 60 Back /
beheld the performers coming ct full
gallOp, and this time they had another
performer with them. Last years
fawn had Joined the troupe. On they
all came without a stop and into the
fairy ring, where / was treated to
another graceful performance, which
seemed rather more complicated than
the first / wish had studied it bet
ter, but I was 50 surprised at the
whole thing and IL was over 30 quick
Iy that / really had not fair chance
TO grasp every detail.
In few minutes the ring was emp
ty, the performers out Of sight, and I
left alone TO wonder II what I saw was
real or imaginary. Real IL certainly
was, for when my astonishment had
worn of little / got UP and went for
ward to view the fairy circle. where
found abundant traces Of my fairies,
and few yards away I found another
circle, which was evidently in use, and
farther on another, which appeared old
and disused. In one stood a tree, in
another two gtumpg Of trees cut down,
the latter being the one most in use, to
Judge by the state OF the ground.
I went home happy that evening, for
felt that hEd been q witness to a
spectacle few spOrtsmen have had an
opportunity Of witnessing.
From the time when I first saw my
young lord Of the woods playing IN the
fairy ring with his mother and sister
I saw him frequently each year and
usually about the same spot. He was
really grand beast The full deep
coronates, stout dark horns, rough az
ancient birch trees, with long curved
points above, formed a head such as /
have never seen on any living buck
before. IL was head TO dream Of.
Ny brother, friend who had never
seen a buck and / took a walk one
Sunday afternoon 10 visit loch on the
hill which had lately been stocked with
trout We lay for long time In the
heather watching the fish rise, and
finding the hour, when we rose 10 go,
was later than we had imagined, we
took short cut back through the big
fir woods, which short cut led US
through my lords domain. Our friend
was particularly anxious TO gee "A good
buck, no led the way first by track
where happened fo know nice beast
was often 10 be seen, but Of course on
that day he was invisible.
Proceeding bomewarA we entered q
little valley 10 the east OF the part Of
the wood that my lord was supposed
10 have selected as bis own and where
had not seen a roe that season. AZ
we came out at the far end, there, ly-
ing down on tie slope before US. was
my lord himself. lie must have seen
us before we gaw him, but had allowed
us 20 approach 10 within sixty OF seven
ty yards We oil three stood stiII gaz
In. at him In rnIt nstonighment, while
he gszcd inquiriDgly back Mt us with q
look which said, "Is not the gabbath
my own 10 restT Then he rose, and
with two loud sharp barlzs disappeared
over the bill.
have never seen him since
sought him many times. but his pow.
crg of eyasl , ere superior 20 mine
Of pursuit At times / almost wonder
ell IL be was not some uncanny phan-
tom, the ghost Of great buck OF the
pleistoccDe age. But, no; II Is hc whom
! knew from babybood, grown now 10
be great lord of the forest, and a
master Of woodcraft. Are not the
marks of his horns OH every sapIing
within hls domainf Everywhere there
n evidence OF material body-and Of
mischief md temper. can only wish |
that be may 70 scot free all bis dayg |
His grace IN his own. bis charm per