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sto:GOLDEN DAYS:+o =>
November 25, 1882.
GOD KNOWS,
BY EBEN E, REXFORD.
When things go wrong, and vex us,
As many a time they will,
What Uncle Daniel told us-
Is fresh in memory still:
“Now, boys, don’t get discouraged,
It isn’t wise to fret,
For Goa, who made this world of ours,
Knows how to run it yet.”
We think, in times of trouble,
If we could have our way,
There'd be no cloud or shadow,
But sunshine all the day.
We say this thing ought not to be,
And that thing isn’t right,
And doubt the wisdom of the God
Who keeps it all in sight.
God's hand is at the helm, boys,
As since the world began,
Trust the Eternal wisdom
Tocarry out its plan,
We may have times of trouble,
The sun be out of sight,
But God knows what is best, boys,
And what Ile does is right.
AN
EXcITING WILD-CaT HUNT.
BY JOHN WILLIAMS.
“I say, Sam, suppose we go a-cat-
hunting in the morning.”
“Wal, 1 ’spects as we mout
if it ain’t gwine to rain.”
“T have not.the least idea
that it will rain. So we will
go—will we?”
“Yes, massa, I reckons I'll
had der go wid yer.”
The above conversation
took place upon a cool night
in January in my old farm-
house kitchen. I had come
down from the city to my
tarm to make arrangements
with my tenants for another
year’s crop, and having just
finished transacting my busi-
ness, was seated: by the
large, old-fashioned fire-
lace, thinking of returning
ome the next day.
However,at this moment I called
to wind the fact that I had not
taken a single hunt during my sojourn
on the plantation, Hence the above
sudden ejaculation. .
“My companion was an “ancient Afri-
can,”? who answered to the name of Sam
Willis. Although at least sixty years of
age, he was still in his prime, and his
vigor and activity would have done
credit to éven a younger negro. More-
over, he was the most noted hunter in
the country. .
“What time will you go and who will
accompany you?” I inquired.
“T sea’cely knows; but I ’spects dat
boy Hilliard am about de best we can
git. He am a powerful good hand to
keep up wid de dogs.” .
“Bot, Sam, what sort of dogs have
‘ou ?*?
“Mine an’ Mars’ Jim's is de best in dis
country.”
Mars’ Jim was an uncle of mine, who
lived on an adjoining place. He was
very fond.of hunting, and, in conse-
quence, kept a splendid pack of well-
trained hounds.
“Well, San, I know that Uncle Jim
has a fine pack, but what of yours?” -
“My dog Lee am de_bes’ cat-dog in
dis here naberhood, and ’sides him, I’s
got several odder good uns. Now don’t
you trouble ’bout de dogs. I'll ‘tend to
dem, I ’spects I’d better yo and git
ready now." I'll come *bout an hour
‘fore day and wake you up.” .
After Sain leit, I went to ny room and
retired. .
I was awakened from my slumbers
the next morning by the blowing of
horns and barking of dogs. Hastily
dressing, I went out and found Sam and
“dat boy Hilliard” with eight or ten
hou
Having made all necessary prepara.
tions, we set out in single file; Hill in
front, with the large lightwood torch,
Sam and I bringing up the rear. -
It was still very dark, and had it not
been for the torch, it would have been
impossible to have made any progress
whatever.
after trudging along a few minutes in
silence.
“We is gwine to strike into de swamp
‘bout de ‘debbil’s garden.’ at’s a
mighty good place fur cats.’
ter tramping nearly three miles
through the mud and slush, we reached
the ‘happy hunting-grounds.”
* Now, Mars’ John, you jis’ look out
and you'll hear some putty music soon,”
said Hill.
Just after day broke, a dog opened.
glanced at Sain and saw that he was mad
about something.
“Hill, what for you fotch dat cur dog
long?” he angrily asked the boy. -
i “T fotched him to whip de cat,” said
Till.
Sam was on the point of making some
further remarks, when old Lee, his brag
dog, opened on a cold trail about a half-
mile up the creek. Directly we heard
Grant, then Belle, and finally the whole
pack joined in,
“Whoopee, dogs!’ yelled Hill, and
away he went at full speed.
t was soon evident that the trail was
getting warmer, and I hastily followed
Sam in the direction of the sounds, pass-
ing through about the thickest cane-
brake that it has ever been my misfor-
tune to enter.
By this time, the hounds were almost
out of hearing, but we steadily con-
tinued our course up the creek.
Suddenly, however, it seemed as if the
trail had turned, for
barking of the dogs became
more distinct
every moment.
**De cat is on i
de odder side 0’
de creek, so we had
better cross on dis
log.”” .
- We crossed and had
continued our course up
the creek scarcely fifty
yards, when I heard Sam
exclaim: °
“What a whopper ?”’ - x
“What is it, Sam?’ T inquir-
ed, as I looked around and
could see nothing.
** De cat crossed dat bery same log as
we crossed,”’ replied Sam, excitedly.
“Just then the dogs came rushing by,
led by Belle, a young hound, and the
whole pack went past the Jog about a
hundred yards before they discovered
that they were off the track. Old Lee
crossed the stream, while the rest of the
pack were circling, and was the first to
regain the scent. He was soon followed
by the other hounds, which entered into
the chase with more spirit than ever.
illiard kept close upon the dogs,
while we, in breathless haste, recrossed
the creek and passed through an old
field to the canal.
Here the cat troubled the dogs consid-
erably, having ensconced itself in a
cane-brake, exceedingly difficult to pene-
trate. It clung to the reeds and deferred
chase as long as possible; and no won-
der, for the hunt had now been con-
tinued about an hour, and it was getting
ct
ired.
“Pleg take dat cat!” said Sam, “TI
wish dem dogs would make haste, and
git him out 0’ dere; don’t mind—he’ll git
“Where are you going?” I asked Sam,
away from dem.”
“No, he won’t, Uncle Sam,” remarked
Hill. ‘Dat cur dog ob mine is gone in
dere, and when Pomp and old Lee gits
arter him, dere ain’t no danger o’ his
ittin’ away.”
“Dedickens you say! What dat cur
dog good fur, anyhow ?” exclaimed Sam,
with great scorn. .
“Whoopee! old dog, go for him!” was
the only reply he received.
“Well,” said I, “Sam, I am indeed
sorry for the rest of the dogs in this coun-
try, if yours are the best.”
*¢Mars John, I nebber seed dem dogs
*have so in all my.born days. I’s per-
fectly exgusted wid dem. I b’lieve
they’s arter Old Bob, de biggest and cun-
nin’est old cat you ebber heard of. Ef
dey git him out o’ dar, he’s a goner.”
~ About this time we heard a rattling of
canes on the right, and turning, saw the
cat emerge from the brake, and dart
across the field toward the creek; but
before it had made much headway, the
dogs saw it and brought it to bay. The
whole pack
attacked it
in a lively
manner,
but knock-
ing over
woorthree
of the bold-
er hounds,
it again
A CLOSE PURSUIT,
struck out for the creek. Noticing
both of the negroes had provided thon
selves with sticks, I inquired what the:
intended to do wich them, y
“We got dem fur dat cat,” replied S;
“De dogs can’t whip it Widout some ee
dem gittin’ hurt. Come on, ef you's
gwine wid, me. De dogs is got de cat on
dat big blair, what’s twenty foot hich.
We hurried on, and soon reached the
scene of the tight, where we saw the cat
lving on its back, with its feet ina buneh.
Whenever a dog attempted to inflict a
bite, it would strike out with the utmost
precision, andin an instant the offender
vi e rolling on
howling with pala. he ground and
“Look out dar, Hilliard! rf
gits a chance, put in a li coe
claimed Sam, excitedly. Sood Tek Pex.
called out to the negroes to wai i
I had seen some of the fighting belocs
they interfered; but the dogs, maddened
on account of innumerable bites and
scratches, excited the sympathies of Sam
each time the
struck and lacerated one of their nun
The contest continued uninterrupted
for about fifteen minutes longer, and it
was evident that the hounds were being
worsted, .
Just at this moment one of the dogs,
Pony by name, enraged by a blow of the
cat’s paw, which nearly opened her side,
made a lunge at it and clutched its
throat. At once the pair commenced
rolling toward the edge of the bluff, and
in an instant dropped into the water be-
low. .
Unfortunate ly for Pony, the cat fell on
top, and she was compelled to relax her
hold, while the cat retained its grip, and
held the powerless hound beneath the
surface of the stream.
I was beginning to get enough of the
fight, and turned to go down to the
water’s edge. In order to do this, I was
compelled to go down'the creek several
hundred yards, and before I reached the
place the cat had drowned poor Pony,
and was off again. But the dogs, ever
on the alert, were on its track in an in-
tant, and soon brought it
to bay. They attacked it
simultaneously, and when
we reached the spot were
fairly making the “fur
Approaching Pomp, I en-
couraged him on. e
was there in good time
and well performed his
sox part, being entirely
fresh, and having pre-
vious to this taken no
part:'in the fight what-
ever. Besides, he was
~~ larger than the hounds,
~, and more able to cope
<, with his feline antago-
( nist, already well-nigh
~* exhausted.
While the cur dog
was ‘making an attack in the
front, the hounds were as-
saulting vigorously in the
flank and rear, and it was
not long before the body of
the cat lay prone upon the
- It was game to the last, and
successfully baffled its canine pursuers
for one and three-quarter hours.
Sure enough, as Sam had predicted, the
cat- proved to be Old Bob. Times with-
out number it had been chased, but on
all former occasions it had eluded pursuit
and given the dogs the “slip.” .
We carried the body to the quarter,
where all the negroes went into ecstasies
over its final capture. When placed on
the scales, it was ascertained ‘that its
weight was thirty-three pounds.
I had enjoyed the fight hugely, but
poor Sam was most unfortunate, and be-
wailed the loss of Pony. He was incon-
solable until I promised bim a fine
blooded hound, when he grew calmer,
but said:
“Thar’ll nebber be sich anodder dog
as Pony. But it’s no use to ery ober
spilt milk; and be sure and git mea blue-
speckled hound.”
-I consented, and departed, having de-
rived a great deal of pleasure from our
thrilling cat hunt.
a
IN AN AUSTRALIAN FOREST. -
Morning and evening the Australian
forest is awake; at noon itis asleep. No
greater contrast can be imagined than
between the morning hours and those at
mid-day, In the former the very flowers
seem to possess an active existence.
Myriads of such load the air with the
sweetest scents; imagnificent tree-ferns
wave their fronds or branches in the
light breeze; on old stumps of trees
great green and yellow lizards lie watch-
ing for their prey; the magpie throws
her voice from the wattles, and possibly
the lyre-bird in the denser scrub, and in
the tall gums numberless parrakeets,
parrots, rosellas, cockatoos, butcher
irds, love-birds, ete., are screaming and
darting to and fro.
_But by-and-by the intense heat will
silence all these, and nothing will be
heard but the chirp of the grasshopper
and the shrill sound of some unseen in-
ct.
LD
2
_At twilight again there is a revival of
life, but not of so cheerful a description.
The cicadas shriek by myriads their
deafening “ p-r-r-r-r;”” drowsy opossums
snarl in the gum-holes; flocks of cocka-
toos scream as some great gray kangaroo
bounds past them like a belated ghost.
f there is marshy ground near, the
deep boom of the bittern, the wail of the
curlew, and the harsh ery of the crane,
mingling possibly with those of a re-
—___N
~~