260 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



or two, we found her; but she was an old doe, that had 

 raised fawns, and was poor. We took only the skin and 

 the hams, leaving the balance for the bears. We carried 

 the haras out of the laurel, and hung them high up on a 

 tree, intending to leave them there until we returned again 

 to hunt ; after which, we roasted some of the most tender 

 pieces, and made a tolerable meal. 



We then started for home as soon as we could, and tra- 

 veled until we arrived at the place whore we had left the 

 horse ; and, stopping there that night, we made an early 

 start again the next morning. 



I stopped as I went out at the house of one of my 

 daughters, who resided on the road, at a distance of seven 

 miles from my home. She had a very interesting little 

 boy, who, when he heard I was going after bears, made 

 me promise to stop as I returned, and tell him about 

 my hunt. 



As I drew near the place, I turned in to see the little 

 fellow ; when, behold, as I came in sight, there lay the 

 house, which was one of the best in the neighborhood, now 

 a pile of ruins, with the fire still burning, and bones white 

 as chalk scattered around. 



My feelings I cannot describe. There stood a table, 

 with an article or two on it, which, together with several 

 fine fat hogs in a pen, were the only living things to be 

 seen. 



I called again and again, until I heard an answer, and 

 the eldest son made his appearance, to feed the hogs. He 

 related to me the circumstances of the heart-rending oc- 

 currence, in substance as follows : 



The workmen, having just finished the floor, with all 

 pertaining to the house, had gone, and the family then 

 seated themselves round a large fire. Tlie small children 

 played around on the new floor until all went to bed ; and 

 the whole family, old and young, had fallen into a pro- 



