CHAPTER XI 



The ** 'Coon Hunters* " Club 



QJINCE pioneer days 'coon hunting has been one 

 ^ of the favourite sports with the country boys 

 in fall-time. In some districts in Canada there 

 were regular 'coon-hunting clubs organised, the 

 members of which would sally forth 'long about 

 October to harvest pelts and bottle up, for winter 

 use, a few gallons of 'coon oil. In the top-boot 

 period this 'coon oil was in much demand as a 

 dressing for footwear. 



The possession of a good 'coon dog was, in ear- 

 lier days, said to give the owner of such a canine, 

 a standing in the community in second place only 

 to that occupied by a good fiddler. 



WITH THE 'COON-HUNTEBS' CLUB 



I was a member, in good standing, in a 'Coon- 

 Hunters' Club and I recall an occasion one fall, 

 when the corn was on the ear and the woods were 

 said to be full of 'coons. The President had is- 

 sued an invitation, or rather, an edict, summoning 

 his force of hunters to convene at a certain cross- 

 roads to embark in the delectable enterprise of 

 hunting the ring-tailed denizens of the corn patch. 



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