Wolf Scalps

Probably uot many of onr readers havo liad occasion to uso the phrasc, " to keep the wolf from the door," whieh so i graphically exprcsses the labors of a family to prevent hunger from enteiiuf the Iiorne. The phrase could only havo originated in a community wliore wolves were abuudant and tiercé. Formerly in ' New England tbey were so numrrous I that a bounty was paid fur wolf-soaips, iu order to encourago. the, dcstruetum of the animal who love treek lnmb, and is not averse to young children. It is said that the dishonesty of tho hünterá was such as to eompel the town oflicer, who paid the bounty, to slit the ears of the, BOftlps, so that they might not be stoleu and offered again. In the oíd Colonial ! days the heads of tho wolves that had j been killed were placed on the outside of I the meeting-house, between the wiiidows. In Missouri, where wolves are f-iill immerouR, woif-scalpB are feoaved in I payment of State taxes. Kecently, n lagislativo committee burned 1,200 scalps which had accumulated daring two ycars, worth, at 5 a head, the omoiint ifl&wed in taxes for each scalp, 6,0ÖQ. The reaeon of thoir ftoemmilation vt thev werp the Treasurer's votlchera ti bucU an amount of taxea bad Deen re eeived.