The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, July 5, 1889 Cuttingsville 7/5/1889 Will FISHER of Dakota is spending some time in town and surrounding localities, riding after Dan BUTTERFIELD's $1,000 pair of Nimrods. Mrs. CASS of Saratoga, the accomplished artist, is visiting at J. P. BOWMAN's. Mrs. O. L. MARTIN and daughter have been enjoying a carriage-ride through the Granite state, visiting the scenes of her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. George P. GALE made us a call a few days ago. They had in their possession decidedly the prettiest baby we have seen in just thirty years. Report of district No. 2: The following pupils have not been absent during the term--Bert and Mattie ADAMS, Maud and Lucy ACKLEY, Nellie BURSEY, Franc and Harry CARL, Rema EITAPENC, Grace GORDON, Eddie MALONEY, Guy RIVERS, Frank and Mary SORREL, Jessie SMALLEY, Alice, Emma and Mabel WILLIAMS; one-half day--Jessie FEE, Amelia LOVEJOY. The average standing for the last half of the term--Kate O'BRIEN 98, Mary BAKER, Amelia LOVEJOY, Eddie MALONEY, Paul EITAPENC and Jessie FEE, 96, Bert ADAMS, Addie WAITE, Hugh RIDLON, 95, Guy HUNTOON and George LARGESS, 94. Lois E. BRYANT, teacher. A mere commonplace report, as above, hardly does justice to teacher, pupils or parents. The term closed with a public exhibition in a shady grove on the river's band. The exercises included recitations, reading, and singing; and it is safe to say no district school could show more proficiency in their various studies or appear better in general deportment, showing evidently the result of first-class, careful teaching. The unanimity of good feelings existed between teacher, scholars, and all interested in the good work was manifested by a general request that D. K. BUTTERFIELD, the prudential committee, engage Miss BRYANT for the next school year. There were also croquet games on the grounds, and swings suspended from the overhanging branches of the big elms, affording cheerful, healthful recreation and amusement. At 4 o'clock the snow-white linen was spread for all, including many from abroad, and the boards well loaded with a bountiful repast, including all the luxuries, niceities and goodies the ladies could invent and vest with toothsome sweetness and attraction. DEVOURED BY WILD HOGS Lying between Russell's Mills and North Shrewsbury, in a wild and lonely spot, is a considerable body of water, known as Mud Pond. Mud eels, and hornpouts, are the only representatives of the finny tribe that sport in its waters, while the balance of its inhabitants is made up of mud turtles, lizards, frogs, snakes, tadpoles, and blood-suckers. In consequence of the swampy jungles that surround it, and the unsavory quality of its inmates, the angler's hook seldom disturbs it's dark waters; nor is his fly ever thrown on its drowsy surface. But on a recent Saturday night three of our village lads just merging into manhood indulged the happy thought that they would astonish their several families, Sunday morning, by finding at least half a bushel of the dusky denizens of "Mud Pond" dumped in the kitchens for breakfast; and to perfect their plan they provided themselves with all the necessary fishing-tackle, bait and bags, and reached the secluded locality by a circuitous route, just as old sol was gilding the tree-tops on the neighboring hills with his last golden rays. They found the denizens of the muddy deep much larger, and more forbidding and ferocious than they had ever dreamed of; they were not only ready to seize the proffered bait, but anxious to catch on to the donor! Darkness falls early in this dismal region, and night soon wrapped her sable robes around Mud Pond and neighboring jungles; yet pale Luna shed her silver rays through drifting clouds, furnishing a weird and fitful light that flooding the youths' minds with fearful and fantastic apparitions. About this time the birds of night--the cat owl, saw-whet, night hawk, and screech owls, struck up a bold anthem, with interludes and symphonies by the croaking bull frog, fluttering-voiced tree toad, and little peepers. It is evident that the young fellows' minds were wrought up to the highest pitch, for they declare they saw mud-turtles as large as half bushel measures, bull-padox as large as a peck, and mosquitoes big as jay birds. Having their sacks well repleted, they struck out on a bee line for home, which led through a large field bordering the pond kept as a piggery and breeding-ranch by a lazy farmer, where he turns out large herds of swine in early spring and gathers in ten-fold their number late in autumn. During the season, in this lonely place, the become dangerous and as savage as the wild hogs of Asia or India. In passing through a small ravine interlaced with hog-brakes, they run on to a part of the wild herd. The younger members having never seen man, set up a terrible squealing, scampering in every direction, which aroused their dames and they went for the intruders with a vengeance. The fathers and grandfathers of the colony joined in the attack, roaring, snorting, squealing, frothing and foaming at every jump. About this time a heavy cloud obscured the moon's friendly face, and a copious shower fell from its dark bosom. The fishermen had lost their bags and contents, fishing-tackle, hats, and everything, in their flight. One scaled a high rock, while the other two sought safety in some friendly shade-trees. The fish were devoured by the hungry porkers. The young men, perched in different positions, not knowing each other's whereabouts, yet hearing the growling, fighting, chanking, and chewing of the hungry swine, were in the greatest agony of mind, each one supposing that his comrades were being devoured by the ravenous brutes; but all answered at roll-call next morning, although it was a hair-breadth escape. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton mrgjb@sover.net Dummerston, VT