try farm; while some love to roam through wild
forests, and make their homes in the wilderness. The man of whom I shall
now speak, was one of this last class. Perhaps you never heard of DANIEL
BOONE, the Kentucky rifleman. If not, then I have a strange and
interesting story to tell you.

If, when a child was born, we knew that he was to become a remarkable
man, the time and place of his birth would, perhaps, be always
remembered. But as this can not be known, great mistakes are often made
on these points. As to the time when Daniel Boone was born, there is no
difficulty; but people have fallen into many blunders about the place.
Some have said that he was born in England, before his parents left that
country; others that he came into this world during the passage of his
parents across the Atlantic. One has told us that he was born in
Virginia; another in Maryland; while many have stated that he was a
native of North Carolina. These are all mistakes. Daniel Boone was born
in the year 1746, in Bucks county, in the state of Pennsylvania.

From some cause or other, when the boy was but three years old, his
parents moved from this home, and settled upon the Schuylkill river, not
far from the town of Reading. Here they lived for ten years; and it was
during this time that their son Daniel began to show his passion for
hunting. He was scarcely able to carry a gun, when he was shooting all
the squirrels, rackoons, and even wild-cats (it is said), that he could
find in that region. As he grew older, his courage increased, and then
we find him amusing himself with higher game. Other lads in the
neighborhood were soon taught by him the use of the rifle, and were then
able to join him in his adventures. On one occasion, they all started
out for a hunt, and after amusing themselves till it was almost dark,
were returning homeward, when suddenly a wild cry was heard in the
woods. The boys screamed out, "A panther! a panther!" and ran off as
fast as they could. Boone stood firmly, looking around for the animal.
It was a panther indeed. His eye lighted upon him just in the act of
springing toward him: in an instant he levelled his rifle, and shot him
through the heart.

But this sort of sport was not enough for him. He seemed resolved to go
away from men, and live in the forests with these animals. One morning
he started off as usual, with his rifle and dog. Night came on, but
Daniel did not return to his home. Another day and night