MISCELLANEOUS. 245 



in a brown study about how I should slay the deer, bears, 

 buffaloes, and other large animals when I got "big." I was 

 so absorbed in my reverie that I did not notice a hog that 

 had his snout under the dry leaves, and was eating acorns 

 just here, under this large oak. He did not see me until I 

 was within a few feet of him, when he happened to raise his 

 head. He was wild, and with a loud "woo," broke away 

 through the dry leaves at a rapid pace, making a great racket. 

 I didn't wait to see what it was, but thinking it surely a bear, 

 or some other wild animal, just in the act of springing upon 

 me, I turned and fled, screaming for help at every jump, and 

 ran until I was out of breath before I looked around to see 

 how close it was to me. Then, when I found it was not fol- 

 lowing me, I stopped and listened. I wondered what it was, 

 and finally, after thinking the matter over a while, and call- 

 ing to mind what kind of an animal I had often heard make 

 such a noise as that, I concluded that I had made a fool of 

 myself, and went on about my business. 



On another occasion as I was passing near the same place, 

 I alarmed a flock of wild turkeys, and they flew into the trees. 

 I had my pockets full of rocks as usual, and commenced 

 throwing at them. After several misses, I happened to hit 

 one on the neck and killed it. It was about two-thirds grown, 

 and I carried it home in great glee. I have my doubts now 

 about their having been "wild," sure enough, for there was a 

 farm-house not far away where they may have belonged, but I 

 was honest in my belief then that they were really wild, and 

 so my conscience has never upbraided me for killing it. But 

 wild turkeys don't generally sit and let a boy throw stones at 

 them very long ; neither do tame turkeys usually take to trees 

 when frightened, so it is still a question as to whether they 

 were wild or not. 



How strangely familiar this old road looks ! Here is a 



