Year: 1865

Young man." said he, "when first


visited this town there were only three


families living in it. You who now live


at ease can never know the hardships and


perilous scenes through which early set


tiers passed Come with me-" he con-


tinued, land | will show yon the spot on


which the first hut ever erected in this


town was located"


followed silently. until the old man


reached the bottom of the west side of


Paris HILL


There, said be. ION this spot was


erected the hut. l shall never forget the
first time visited it, and the story l was
told


What is it 2 l asked.


Il will tell YOU When the first settler
moved here his nearest neighbor lived
twenty miles distant. in the present town
of Runford, and the only road between
the two neighbors was path that he cut
through the woods himself. so that in
case of want or sickness he might get
assistance One spring, think it was
the third season after he had settled here.
he was obliged to go to Rumford for
provisions. He arose early one morning
and started for his nearest neighbor.
People of the present day would think





miles for bag of potatoes, and on foot,
too. but such was the errand of the first
settler He arrived before noon, and
was successful in getting his potatoes
got some refreshment, and started for
home. But it was not easy to travel
with n load of potatoes and finally, at
sundown. he threw off his load, and re
solved to make shelter and spend the
night. | have been taken with him to
the exact locality of it, it was situated
just on the other side of the stream, on
which are mills in the village of Pin
hook. in w oodstock


HE built shelter, struck fire, and
took out a piece of meat to roast. Ah .
Young man. continued the narrator,
you little know with what relish a man
eats his food in the woods; but as was
saying. he commenced roasting his meat,
when he startled by cry shrill
that he knew at once it could come from
nothing else bat catamount l will
now relate as nearly az / can in the Ian
guage of the old settler himself:


Il listened every moment" said he,
AMI it was repeated even louder, and it
seemed nearer than before. My first
thought was for my own safety. But
what was l to do? I was at least ten
miles from home, and there was not a sin
gle human being nearer than that to me;
| next thought of self defense but had
nothing to defend myself with. In
moment / concluded to start for home,
for | knew the nature of the catamount
too well to think l should stand the
least chance of escape if l remained in
the camp l knew too, that he would
ransack my camp, and hoped the meat
oh I haA of haf mi irhf iSfx
his appetite, so he might not follow me
after eating it.


Il had not proceeded more than half
a mile, before l knew by the shrieks of
the animal that he was within sight of
the camp. | doubled my speed, content
that the beast should have my supper;
although declared would not run if
had nv trustv rifle with me. But there
could be no cowardice in my running
from an infuriated catamonnt, doubly
furious, probably, by being hungry, and
with nothing that could be called a
weapon save a pocket knife.


Il had proceeded. probably two thirds
of my way home, and hearing nothing
more of the fearful enemy, began to
slacken my pace. and thought I had
nothing TO fear. | had left behind me
about two pounds Of meat, beef and
pork, which | hoped had satisfied the
Just as had come the con-
clusion that / would run no more, and
was looking back astonished almost at
the distance | had travelled in so short
space of time, was electrified with hor-
ror to hear the animal shrek again.


Il knew then that my fears were re-
allied The beast had undoubtedly en-
tered the camp, ate, and followed after
me. 1t was about three miles to nv log
cabin. and it had already become dark
redoubled my speed, but thought l
must die. And such a death The re-
collection of that feeling comes to my
mind as wildly as though l knew the
animal was pursuing me. But / am no
coward, though TO be torn to pieces and
almost eaten alive by a wild beast was
horrible.


Il calmly unbuttoned my frock with
the determination to throw il off before
the beast should approach me, hoping
thereby TO gain advantage of him by the
time he would lose in tearing it to
pieces.


Another shrek. and tossed the gar
ment behind me in the path Not more
than FIVE minutes had elapsed before
heard shrill crv as If he came to it.
How that shrek electrified me- /
bounded like deer. But in q moment
the animal made another cry, which told
me plainly that my garment had only ex-
asperated him to q fercer chase.


20 God" / said. .and must / thus
die? l cannot, I must live for my wife
md children; : and / ran even faster than
[ had done before. and unbuttoing NV
waistcoat.I dropped it in the path as
proceeded The thoughts Of my wife
md children urged me to the most des-
perate speed. for thou yht more of their
state than the death l Was
.hreatend with-for should I die what
would become Of them!


I'm a moment all the events OF nv
life crowded through my brain. The |
satamount shrieked louder, and fast as |