The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-05-27
A HOMECOMING.

was now on the last half OF the two mile, uphill walk to cSunset Ridge" his home on the sunny, western slope ] of the mountain, which runs the length of the famous Blue Mountain Forest. known to many as Corbin Park. Miles
 away the house is visible, for It is on higher ground than any other house in the broad landscape. Before it is reached, the road going east, almost runs into the park fence, but at this
 point turns sharply to the north, and follows an outline of the game preserve.
 Far away on the slope of the mountain, two deer are grazing on the edge of the woodland. As seldom see a deer in this forest now, without wondering if l it is "Acteon,' the one I reared from babyhood, and which turned back to his native woods very early in the l spring. I wonder now if one of these is he. I put my hand to my mouth, and give g. long, loud call, and both deer start and turn their heads towards me. For several seconds they stand thus, | like bronze statues, save that now and then they switch their broad, white I bordered tails. I call again, and one of the deer throws up his tail, shorts, and bounds to the cover of the woodland. But the other stands for another sec ond. then switches his tail once more, and then moves toward me, first at a trot. and then at bounding gallop. On he cannes, switching his broad tail from side to side, now and then giving an unnecessarily high leap over some bush or stone which happens to be in his way, showing that he has vitality to spare. Presently he stops, looks all ] around the landseape, as unconoerned as though he had never seen me at all; l then switching his tail, he breaks into a trot again, and as he hears me, he stretches out his neck and bleats, by 1 way of recognition, suppose. And I go up close to the fence and stroke his pretty head, while he licks my hand with his long warm tongue I have not seen him for several weeks, and he has greatly changed in appearance. He 4 is shedding his brown winter coat. The long hair has already fallen from his face making the muzzle appear long or and more graceful. Tn. fact the whole expression of the face is more dainty and refined. Most of the brown l hair of the body still remains, though ] it is loose and comes out at slightest pull, but in many places, noticeably along the top of the back and on the Hanks and shoulders-places apt, to, be rubbed in passing through the woods I--the thin, red summer coat shows through in patches. There is another change, too, for on, his head are. two budding antlers; dark, smooth Jumps Iabout an inch high, somewhat like Large inverted thimbles; firm but not hard to the touch, and having a l sprinkling of fine hair As I leave him land continue on my way, he follows along the fence with lowered head, we'll knowing that when he reaches the northwest gate, which is near my house, some one will come out and give him lunch of bread or raw potatoes sliced. s.- t<:.
 And now I turn a bend in the road and the house itself comes into full view. A large white, two-story-and- a. half house it is built a hundred years ago, and built to stay: The great hewn beams which form it's frame, securely fastened together with stout wooden lpegs, are as sound to-day as they were set in place, and barring accidents, they will yet live to see the birth and death of several generations of men,. On the opposite side of the road there is big gray barn built long, long ago. in the same thorough manner. The weather beaten boards which cover it have seen their best days, but the frame might have been finished but yesterday, so sound and stanch it stands. Tn a Igreen pasture just this side the barn, a large, blatk-and- white Holstein COW iraises her head to low softly at me, land walks up to the bars to have her lhead rubbed as I go by. A very im- portant COW is this; she supplies the milk sor two husky buffalo calves
 which I am bringing up by hand.
 Plenty of good rick milk she gives, and her vigorous foster children drink it every drop. >-~..~ <}
 In the open barn door, four puppies lare standing, all alert they have been
 watching me sharply ever since came in sight They are gray, with black chins and short brown ears, and and they be- Igin to bark rather nervously until call lthem. Come, poppets,, eeme!p and with wagging tails and smiling little faces my four young timber wolves. Death and "Dauntless. Fate and i"Vengeance," come ttlrnbling out to see me. Oh. how excited they get as they leap upon rle! and when I stoop
 down to pet them, how they struggle land whine in thcir efforts to lick my face! Good little pups they are at present, but what they wiiaturn out to
 be in a year from now, time alone will
 teH And Ronnulug, the prairie wolf,
 greets me like long-Icst cousin, seiZ-
 ing the sltists of my coas i'll his teeth,
 and walking along by my side as
 though ile owned me bodily y@@
 Two things miss o!. this henle-conl-
 Ing the matchless sm!la of my great
 little fox, ''rhe Sprite,'" and the rough
 but honest ilug of 'Ji:aHly." the black
 bear. But of their going I shall have more to say hereafter; in the mean
 time, thsre are the towny, vigorous, I 1,s- H.