A hunter's ltfk. 347 



bnck, which I pursued a long time, until at last he entered 

 a prodigious bleak place, where the wind was so cold that 

 I had determined to leave him, and go home out of it, 

 when, as I moved a few feet more on his tracks, I saw his 

 head within ten steps of me ; the wind having been blow- 

 ing so hard that he had not heard me approach. 



I carefully took my gun from my shoulder, turned it 

 slowly until I brought it to bear on his head, and sent my 

 ball through the middle of it. I laid hold of and drew 

 him to a place where the wind could not strike me, skinned 

 him, and hung him up ; thus, working hard, I soon became 

 warm ; after which I went to the house, where Jeremiih 

 was to be at noon 



After dinner, we agreed to hunt through the woods 

 home, as the deer therein were few, and very wild. As 

 we proceeded on our way, we found the tracks of four 

 deer, which we pursued, as their traces were very fresh ; 

 and, taking the leeward side of them, we would run round 

 to get before them ; but they always managed to be before 

 us. The third time, seeing them passing again, I fired 

 quickly, and killed a very fine doe, of which we each took 

 half, and carried her home with us ; but in doing so, suf- 

 fered much from the cold. 



My time was passing heavily away, and, having three 

 of my youngest sons and one daughter, Sally, still with 

 me, I determined to keep them together ; but, not being 

 content to work at home, I put the farm into the hands of 

 the boys, and hired a girl to help Sally. 



The following winter, some friends having recommended 

 me as a suitable person, I was appointed, together with 

 two other gentlemen, to assess the taxable property of 

 Allegany County. 



Experience had taught me that my children were not 

 equally competent to carry on the business of my farm ; 

 and I also remembered the advice of my departed Mary, 



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