90 F O R T Y - F O U R y E A R S f ) F 



would let him have it, if we could agree on the terms. In 

 a day oi* two he came to see me ; and we had no trouble 

 in making a bargain, by which Mary became the mistress 

 of an excellent cow, which yielded us as much milk and 

 butter as we wished to use. This made all right, as we 

 then had, in abundance, meat and bread, milk and butter 

 of our own. It is probable that a happier man and wife 

 were nowhere to be found. 



And so we continued, models of happiness and content- 

 ment. I planted corn and potatoes, had a garden, and 

 our three acres of wheat were very fine indeed. About 

 the first of October, as I thought it was high time to take 

 ray dogs and gun a little, I asked Mary if she would stay 

 at home by herself, or would go to my mother's and stay, 

 while I went hunting ? She said she had plenty of work 

 to do, and did not wish to leave her home, when she had 

 anything to do there. I promised to return home before 

 dark ; and was about to start, when Mary said to me : "I 

 feel afraid on your account, for I know you have neither 

 fear nor care of yourself when among the wild beasts ; 

 and some day you will be crippled, if not killed. What 

 would you do if you got in the claws of such a bear or 

 panther as you killed last fall, or in the trap this spring ? 

 Meshach, they could tear you as easily as a cat would a 

 mouse ; and I beg you to take care and not get into their 

 clutches." 



I assured her that I had plenty of powder and balls ; 

 and that, if they attempted to run on me, they must take 

 care of themselves ; or, as they raised up to take hold of 

 me, I would be sure to let out a part, at any rate, of wha^ 

 they had inside of their black wallets. She said : " Ma; 

 God protect you ! " and I started. 



I knew where there was a swamp of black haws, which 

 bears are very fond of; and off I started for the swamp. 

 When in sight of the place, I went round to let my dogs 



