Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-06-02

Il ssf'b mem trait Or Iitfis tanity %
fhefonislI or delight hiin-~sometin'es
/ nn ui,i00lted.fof tenderness toward me
Nenk, often d sweet. nnialned phIips.
Spiiy 0f life. or perhaps just lower.
ling Of her eyeIids IN which her eyes
would show Iuslrous through the
| Iashas. or some sweeping. exuberunt
gesture sta-tlingis graceful.
f.enn0x wakened one morning with
| the realization that this was one Of
the hardest winters OF his experience.
He began to be very glad Of the album
dant stores Of provisions that over
crowded HIS pantry hams and
bacons. dried venison, sacks Of pota-
toes and evaporated vegetables, and,
Of course. canned goods past count
ing. with the high fire roaring In the.
crate, the season held no Ills for them.
But sometimes, when the bitter cold
came down at twilight, and the moon
looked like thing Of Ice itself over the
snow, he began to wonder how the
wild creatures who wintered on the
Divide we're faring. OF course most
OF them were gone. Wool. long since.
had grunted and mumbled his way
into winter lair. But the wolves re-
NAMED. strange gray shadows on the
snow. and possibly few Of the
harder smaller creatures.
More then once sn those long win
ter nights their talk was chopped or
short by the song Of the pack on some
distant ridge Sometime, when the
world In old. possibly a man will be
born that can continue to talk and
keep HIS mind on his words while the
wolf pack sings But he Is certnInly
an unknown quantity today. The cry
sets in vibration curious memory
chords, and for moment the listener
sees IN HIS minds eye his ancient
home IN an ancient world--Darknes
and Fear and Eyes shining about the
cave. II carries him hack, and he
knows the wilderness as It really Is;
and 10 have such knowledge dries nl,
oil inclination 10 talk, as sponge
dries wntar Of course the picture
lNnt entirely plain II Ia more d thing
ruessed NJ. photograph IN como dark
part Of nm under-conscionsness that
has constantly grown more dim as the
centuries have passed, Possibly some
time II viii fade out altogether; and
then a man may continue TO discuss
The weather while the Song from the
ridge shudders IN AZ the windows fsut
fhe world VIII be quite cold by then,
and no longer particularly interesting.
And possibly even the wolves thsm-
selves viii then be tanned 10 play dead
md speak pieces-whIch means the
wilderness Itself win be tanned. For
as long rs the Wild lasts, the pnck viii.
run through II IN the winter. They
were here in the beginning. and in
spite Of constant war and constant
hatred on the pnrt Of men. they win
be here IN the end. The reason IN just
that they are the symbol OF the will
derness itself. and the idea Of II coz
tinuing TO exist without thcm is
strnneeF than that Of nation without
q nag.
II wasn't quite the name song that
Dan had listened 10 IN the frst days
Of fail. u had hccn triumphant then.
and proud with The wilderness pride.
on course II had hecn sad then. too.
but u was more sid now. And II was
stranger. too. and erept farther into
the Fouls ~ It's listeners. u wns the
song Of strength ihat cnuidn't avail
against the snow. possibly ~ cold and
the despair and courage o. starvation.
These three that heard Il were Injured
10 the wilderness: bus moment was
always needed after It's Inst note had
died to regain their gaycty.
They're getting lean and they're
getting savage Lcnnox said one
night. stretched on his dlvnn before
the fireplace He was stiii unable 20
walk bur the fractures were knitting
slowly and the doctor had promised
That the summer would md him well.
III we had dog. wouldn't offer
much for hia life. One Of these days
we'll find 'cm IN a big circle around
the house-and then wen have to
open up with the rsfleR.@
But this picture appalled, neither Of
bis two young listeners. No wolf pack
can stand against three markmnen,
armed with rifles and behind oasen
walls.
CONTINUED Next WEEK