A hunter's life, 335 



vered two and three bee-trees, and on one occasion five, in 

 one day. 



While I lived in the Glades, honey was no object ; and 

 if a bee-hunter found a tree near a neighbor's house, all 

 the family would be invited to take a share of the honey, 

 be it little or much ; and the same rule applied to venison 

 or wild turkeys, as seldom any charge was made between 

 neighbors. But this generous and hospitable practice has 

 been entirely set aside by the younger class of people who 

 have taken the place of those who resided there from 

 twenty to forty years ago. 



The season for hunting closed shortly after the bee hunt 

 just described, and winter put a stop to my sporting in 

 the woods. A cold winter confined my pleasures entirely 

 to my home circle, comprising my wife and children ; and 

 several of the latter, who had then reached the age of 

 puberty, were passionately fond of music and dancing. 

 Myself and wife being no less fond of seeing our children 

 enjoying a dance, the young people would often collect at 

 my house, and there spend an evening in merriment ; and 

 at other times they would join a dancing party at different 

 places in the neighborhood. 



We thus spent our time agreeably until spring ; but 

 when the birds began to warble their sweet notes among 

 the trees, the trap, the dog, and the gun, came freshly into 

 memory. I set the boys at the ploughs, while I traversed 

 the woods ; but it appeared as if bad luck met me at every 

 step I took. I had several fights, and was defeated every 

 time ; and as my dogs were much discouraged, I concluded 

 to depend on my traps. I had caught one bear, and going 

 to another trap a short time after, I found a large fellow 

 in it. In order to raise the ambition for fighting in my 

 twice or thrice whipped and discouraged dog, I shot the 

 bear through the mouth, breaking all his dangerous teeth, 

 80 that, ir he got the advantage of the dog, he could not 



