Old Guide's Story / Merrill, Charles E / (HB/2006-2006/A-/USED)

*Condition Note: Book is new damaged with a dented corner.*

Reminiscences of Old Guide--Famed thru North Country.

In 1930 the Editor of the Malone Evening Telegram (Malone, New York) wrote:

"At rare intervals there comes to a newspaper office opportunity to print a manuscript of unusual interest and appeal.

Such a one is the reminiscences of Charles E. Merrill, for 30 years an Adirondack guide, a member of one of the oldest and best know families of the North Country.

Under the title The Old Guide's Story, the Telegram will print Mr. Merrill's book.

Trained in the great outdoors rather than in the school, Guide Merrill nevertheless has the born gift of writing. But more important than this, is that he has a real story to tell--the great epic of the struggles of the pioneers in the woods, the fight with the elements, the joys and sorrows of a primitive mode of life.

His father, Darius, of whom he has much to say in his story, was a famous guide in the early days when the Adirondack region was first becoming known to sportsmen. His grandfather was one of the first settlers in the Chateaugay Lake Country, in the northern foothills of the Adirondacks.

Mr. Merrill, the youngest son of Darius, naturally followed his father's profession and became one of the best known guides in this section.

Although sixty-five years of age he is as strong and active as most men in the prime of life.

In leisure time, he reads voraciously and ha has a keen understanding of men as well as of the wild creatures of the wilderness. He has a philosophy of his own, and it must be good, because it has brought him peace, contentment and the respect of his fellow men.

You will not want to miss any of Mr. Merrill's fascinating story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Charles E. Merrill (1863-1935), chronicler of much of the early history of Chateaugay Lake, NY, was a quiet, thoughtful, kind, and courteous gentleman, one of nature's noblemen. He loved the woods and lakes, and all the untamed and unspoiled things in nature. He loved to commune with the creatures in their native environment, and to walk his solitary way through the aisles of the cathedrals of trees where he was wont to worship.
He was a member of the pioneer family for whom the community of Merrill was named. His father was Darius Merrill, famous as a hotel proprietor, woodsman, and guide when sportsmen first began to invade the Adirondacks. Charles E. Merrill followed in his father's footsteps and likewise became known as one of the most reliable guides in the North Country.

Table of Contents

Illustrations
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1,
From New Hampshire to New York by Covered Wagon
New Homes in the Forest
Chapter 2,
A School
Darius Sells Idea of Sawmill to Smith Weed of Plattsburgh
The Log House
Chapter 3,
Winter Sports
Delights of Sugar Making
How Cross-gun Was Made
Chapter 4,
Trappers Build Deadfalls
Lumber Barons Arrive
Giant Pines Felled
Chapter 5,
Haying With Scythes
Moving Log House
Shingle Making
Chapter 6,
Boys and Girls Enjoy Husking Bee
To School in Malone
Chapter 7,
Hunting Trip Into Wilderness
Snow Blizzard
Darius Bivouacs for Night
Lost!
Chapter 8,
Midnight Attack of Screaming Catamount
Darius Falls Exhausted
Chapter 9,
Neighbors Hunt for Darius
Chapter 10,
A Long, Hard Winter
Building Stone Fences
Hewing Timbers
Barn Raising Bee
Chapter 11,
Darius Teaches His Old Schoolmates
They Throw Rowdies Out
Chapter 12,
Sunday Walks
The Old Trapper
Millwork
Making Candles
Chapter 13,
Threshing With Flail
The Bark Camp
Spearing Salmon
To New Hampshire For White Water Lily Roots
Chapter 14,
Darius and Fred Plan Trap Lines
Fire Without Flint
Chapter 15,
Darius and Fred Build Trappers' Cabin
"Treed" by Panther
Fred Names a Mountain
Chapter 16,
Darius Resumes Teaching
Romantic Complications
Minnesota Trip Ends Abruptly
Chapter 17,
The Runaway
A Lumber Contract
Chapter 18,
Seining Whitefish
Darius Buys Choice Tract
A Cry in the Night
Chapter 19,
Lumbering Around Twin Ponds
Darius Outwits Young Surveyor
Chapter 20,
Darius Rescues Big Lige From Old Charlie's Knife
Min's Narrow Escape
Chapter 21,
Indians Visit Sarah
Cave Discovered on "W" Mountain
Chapter 22,
Dick Shutts Drafted
Panther Covers Dide
Chapter 23,
Camp Becomes "Merrill House"
Iron Ore Discovered
Forest Fire
Chapter 24,
Wild Night on Averill
The Shutts Family
First Breech-Loading Gun
Chapter 25,
Darius, Unarmed, Meets Huge Bear
Breaks Through Ice of Lower Lake
Chapter 26,
How to Keep Spooks Away
Angell House Built
Chapter 27,
Buys Educate Pet Parrot
Fighting Commodore Bests Greedy Hunters
Chapter 28,
Severed Hand at Ragged Lake Camp
"Major" Pond Clears Up Mystery
Chapter 29,
Battle Between Bucks and Wolves
Dogs Disappear
Chapter 30,
Roughnecks Cut Seine
Midnight Raid and Pursuit
Chapter 31,
The "Nellie Tupper"
Hop Poles
A Discovery and an Accident
Lily Roots From Keeseville
Chapter 32,
Why "Owlyout"
Alice Never Forgot
Chapter 33,
Doctor's Icy Bath and Wild Shot
To School in the "ark"
Skating and Baseball
Lyon Mt. Iron Mines
Chapter 34,
Old-fashioned Square Dance
"Sugaring Off"
Three Tons of Maple Sugar
Chapter 35,
Lean-to Building
"Swamp Augers"
Debar, Meacham, Rainbow and Loon Lakes
Chapter 36,
Pet Deer
Two Weeks on Top of Lyon Mountain
Chapter 37,
Water Pipes From Tamarack Logs
Why "Merrill" Post Office
Bee Hunting
Chapter 38,
Last Deer Hunt with Hounds
Exploring Bear's Den
More Wild Pets
Chapter 39,
Ice Too Thin Again
A Hay Raft
Whipwrecked
The Chopping Contest
Chapter 40,
Last Sugar Season
Darius Stricken
Family Breakup
Chapter 41,
Fighting Forest Fires
Guided to Safety by Bear
Incendiaries
Nelse Pinned Under Log
Chapter 42,
Night Search for Hunter Lost in South Inlet Bog
Chapter 43,
A Memorable Hunt
Epilogue
Appendix

Used Book Information

For more information about used book grading (condition), bindings, etc. click here.