BL00MF1ELD, PA.. JUNE
WARNER'S BEAR STORY.
SO MANY conflicting accounts have
nppearcd about my casual encounter
with an Adirondack bear, last summer,
that In justice to the public, to myself,
and to the bear It Is necessary to make a
plain statement of the facts. Besides, It
Is so seldom I have occasion to kill a
bear that the celebration of the exploit
may be excused.
The encounter was unpremeditated on
both sides. I was not hunting for a
bear, and I have no reason to suppose
that a bear was looking for me. The
fact Is that we were both outblackberry
ing, and met by chance, the usual way.
There Is among the Adirondack visitors
always a great deal of conversation
about bears, a general expression of the
wish to see one In the woods, and much
speculation as to how a person would
act if be or she chanced to meet one.
Hut bears are scarce and timid, and ap
pear only to a favored few.
It was a warm day In August, Just the
sort of day when an adventure of any
kind seemed Impossible. But It occur
red to the housekeepers at our cottage
there were four of them to send me to
the clearing on the mountain back of
the house to pick black-berries. It was
rather a series of small clearings, run
ning up Into the forest,much overgrown
with bushes and briars, and not unro
raantic. Cows pastured there, penetra
ting through the leafy passage from one
opening to another, and browzing
among the bushes. I was kindly fur
nished with a six-quart pail, and (old
not to be gone long.
Not from any predatory instinct, but
to save appearances I took a gun. It adds
to the manly aspect of a person with a
tin pall if he also carries a gun. It was
possible I might start up a partridge;
though how I was to hit him if he start
ed up Instead of standing still puzzled
me. Many people use a Bhot-gnn for
partridges. I prefer the rifle; it makes
a clean job of death, and does not pre
maturely stuff" the bird with globules of
lead. The rifle was a Sharpe's, carrying
a ball-cartridge, 10 to the pound ; an ex
cellent weapon, belonging to a friend of
mine who had Intended for a good many
years back to kill a deer with it. He
could hit a tree with it, if the wind did
not blow and the atmosphere was just
right and the tree was not too fur off",
nearly every time; of course the tree
must have some size. Needless to say
I was at that time no sportsman. Years
ago I killed a robin under the most hu
miliating circumstances. The bird was
in a low cherry-tree; I loaded a big
uhot-gun pretty full, crept up under the
tree, rested the gun on the fence with
the muzzle not more than ten feet from
the bird, shut both eyes, and pulled the
trigger. When I got up to see what had
happened the robin was scattered $bout
under the tree in more than a thousand
pieces, no one of which was big enough
to enable a naturalist to decide from It
to what species it belonged. This dis
gusted me with the life of a sportsman.
I mention the incident to show that,
although I went black-berrying armed,
there was not much Inequality between
me and the bear.
In this black-berry patch bears had
been seen. The summer before, our
colored cook, accompanied by a little
girl of the vicinity, was picking berries
there one day, when a bear came out of
the woods and walked towards them.
The girl took to her heels and escaped.
Aunt Chole was paralyzed with terror.
Instead of attempting to run, she sat
down on the ground where she was
standing.and began to weep and scream,
giving herself up for lost. The bear was
Jewildered by this conduct. He ap
proached and looked at her ; he walked
around and surveyed her. Probably he
had never seen a colored person before,
and did not know whether 6he would
agree with him. At any rate, after
watching her a few moments he turned
about and went into the forest. This is
an authentic instance of the delicate
consideration of a bear, and is much
more remarkable than the forbearance
towards the African slave of the well
known lion,' because the bear had no
thorn in its foot.
, When I had climbed the hill, I set up
my rifle against a tree and began pick
ing berries, lured on from bush to bush
by the black gleam of fruit that always
promises more in the distance than it
realizes when you reach it ; penetrating
farther and farther, through leaf-shaded
!0w-paths flecked with sunlight, into
clearing after clearing, I could hear on
all sides the tinkle of bells, the crackling
of sticks, the stamping of cattle that
were taking refuge in the thicket from
the flies. Occasionally, as I broke
through a covert, I encountered a meek
sow, who stared at me stupidly for a
second and then shambled off into the
brush; I became accustomed to this
dumb society, and picked on in silence,
attributing all the wood-noises to the
cattle, thinking nothing of any real
bear. In point ot fact, however, I wag
thinking all tike time of a nice romantic
bear, and, as I (ricked, was composing a
story of a generous she War who had
lost her cub, and who seized a Binnll girl
in this very wood, carried her tenderly
off" to her cave, and brought her up on
War's milk and honey. When the girl
got big enough to run away, moved by
her Inherited instincts, she escaped and
came into the valley to her father's
house (this part of the story was to be
worked out, so that the child would
know her father by some family resem
blance, and have some language in
which to address him) and told htm
where the War lived. The father took
his gun, and, guided by the unfeeling
daughter, went into the woods and shot
the bear, who never madeany resistance
and only when dying, turned reproach
ful eyes upon her murderer. The moral
of the tale was to be kindness to ani
mals. I was in the midst of this tale, when
I happened to look some rods away to
the other edge of the clearing, and there
was a bear! He was standing on bis
hind legs and doing Just what I was
doing picking black berries. With one
paw he bent down the bush, while with
the other he cluwed the berries into his
mouth, green ones and all. To say that
I was astonished Is Inside the mark. I
suddenly discovered that I didn't want
(oseea bear, after all. At about the
same moment the bear saw me, stopped
eating berries, and regarded me with a
glad surprise. It is all very well to im
agine what you would do to under such
circumstances. Probably you wouldn't
dolt; I didn't. The bear dropped down
on his fore-feet, and came slowly toward
me. Climbing a tree was of no use
with so good a climber in the rear ; if I
started to run, I had no doubt the bear
would give chase, and although a bear
can not run down hill as fast as he can
runup hill, yet I felt that he could get
over this rough, brush-tangled ground
faster than I could.
The bear was approaching. It sud
denly occurred to me how I could divert
his mind until I could fall back upon
my military base. My pail was nearly
full of excellent berries much better
than the bear could pick himself. I put
the pail on the ground and slowly back
ed away from it, keeping my eye, as
beast-tamers do, on the bear. The ruse
succeeded.
The bear eaiue up to the berries and
stopped ; not accustomed to eat out of a
pail, be tipped It over and nosed about
in the fruit, ''gorming" (if there besuch
a word) it down, mixed with leaves and
dirt, like a pig. The bear is a worse
feeder than the pig. Whenever he dis
turbs a maple-sugar camp in the spring
he always upsets the buckets of syrup
and tramples round in the sticky sweets
wasting more than he eats. The bear's
manners are thoroughly disagreeable.
As soon as my enemy's heod was
down, I started and ran. Somewhat out
of breath and shaky, I reached my faith
ful rifle. It was not a moment too soon.
I heard the bear crashing through the
brush after me. Enraged at my duplic
ity, he was now coming on with blood
in his eye. I felt that the time of one of
us was probably short. The rapidity of
thought at such moments of peril is well
known. I thought an octavo volume,
had it Illustrated and published, sold
fifty thousand copies, and went to Eu
rope on the proceeds, while that bear
was loping across the clearing. As I
was cocking ray gun, I made a hasty
and unsatisfactory review of my whole
life. I noted that even in such a com
pulsory review it is almost impossible
to think of any good thing you have
done. The sins come out uncommonly
strong. I recollected a newspaper sub
scription I had delayed paying, years
and years ago, until both editor and
newspaper were dead ; and which now
never could be paid to all eternity.
The War was coming on.
I tried to remember what I had read
about encounters with bears. I couldn't
recall an instance in which a man had
run away from a bear in the woods and
escaped .although I recalled plenty where
the War had run from the man and
got off. I tried to think what is the best
way to kill a bear with a gun, when you
are not near enough to club him with
the stock. My first thought was to fire
at his head, to plant the ball Wtween his
eyes ; but this is a dangerous experi
ment. The War's brain is very small,
and unless you hit that the bear does
not mind a bullet in his head that is,
not at the time. I remembered that the
Instant death of a War would follow a
bullet planted Just back of his fore leg,
and sent into his heart. This spot is
also difficult to reach unless the bear
stands off, side towards you, like a tar
get. I finally determined to fire at him
generally.
The bear was coming on.
The contest seemed to me very differ
ent from any thing at Creednioor. I
had carefully read the reports of the
shooting there, but it was not easy to
apply the experience I had thus acquir
ed. I hesitated whether I had Wtter
fire lying on my stomach, or lying on
my back and resting the gun on my
toes. But la neither position, I reflect
ed, could I see the bear until he wag
upon me. The range was too short, and
the bear wouldn't wait for me to exam
ine the thermometer and note the direc
tion of the wind. Trial of the Creed
moor method, therefore, had to be aban
doned ! and I bitterly regretted that I
had not read more accounts of ofT-hand
shooting.
For the War was coming on.
I tried to fix my last thoughts upon
my family. As my family is small, this
was not difficult. Dread of displeasing
my wife or hurting her feelings was up
permost in my mind. What would be
her anxiety as hour after hour passed on
and I did not return V What would the
rest of the household think as the after
noon passed and no black-berries came V
What would be her mortification when
the news was brought that her husband
had Wen eaten up by a War V I can not
imagine anything more Ignominious
than to have a husband eaten by a bearl
And this was not my only auxlety. My
mind at such times Is not under control.
With the gravest fears the most whim
sical ideas will occur. I looked beyond
the mourning friends and thought what
kind of an epitaph tbey would be com
pelled to put upon the stone.. Something
like this :
HEItE LIE THE REMAINS
OF
EATEN 11Y A JUIAIl
Aug. 20, 1877.
It is a very unheroie and even disa
greeable epitaph.. That "eaten by a
bear" is intolerable. It is grotesque.
And then I thought what an Inadequate
language the English is for compact ex
pression. It would not answer to put
upon the stone simply "eaten," for that
is indefinite, and requires explanation ;
it might mean eaten by a cannibal. This
difficulty could not occur in the German
where esxen signifies the act of feeding
by a man, and frcmen by a beast. How
simple the thing would be in German:
Hi KB LIEGT
HOCKWOHLQEllOREN
IIEHIt ,
GEFRESSEN
Aug. 20, 1877.
That explains itself. The well born
one was eaten by a beast, and presuma
bly by a bear, which animal has a bad
reputation since the days of Ellsha.
The bear was coming on. He had in
fact come on. I judged that he could
see the whites of my eyes. All my sub
sequent reflections were confused. I
raised the gun, covered the bear's breast
with the sight, and let drive. Then I
turned and run like a deer. I did not
hear the bear pursuing. I looked back.
The War had stopped. He was lying
down. I then remembered that the best
thing to do after having fired your gun
is to reload it. I slipped in a charge,
keeping my eye on the bear. He never
stirred. I walked back suspiciously.
There was a quiver in his hind legs, but
no other motion. Still, he might be
shamming. Bears often sham. To
make sure, I approached and put a ball
into his head. He didn't mind it now,
he minded nothing. Death had come
to him with a merciful suddenness. He
was calm in death. In order that he
might remain bo, I blew his brains out
and then started for home. I had killed
a bear I
Notwithstanding my excitement, I
managed to saunter into the house with
an unconcerned air. There was a cho
rus of voices :
" Where are your black-berries "
" Why were you gone so long V"
"Where's your pailV"
" I left the pail."
" Left the pail I What for V"
"A War wanted it."
"O, nonsense I"
" Well, the last I saw of it a bear had
it."
"O, cornel You didn't really see a
WarV"
" Yes, but I did really -see a real bear."
" Did he run V"
" Y'es he ran after me."
" I don't believe a word of it. What
did you doV"
" Oh, nothing particular, except kill
the bear."
Cries of " Gammon !" " Don't believe
it!" "Where's the bear
" If you want to see the bear, you
must go into the woods. I couldn't bring
him down alone."
Having satisfied the household that
something extraordinary had occurred,
and excited the pothumous fear of some
of them for my own story, I went down
into the valley to get help. The great
bear-hunter, who kept one of the sum
mer lodging-houses, received ray story
with a smile of incredulity, and the in
credulity spread to the other inhabitants
and to the boarders as goon as the story
was known. However, as I insisted in
all soberness, and offered to lead them
to the hear, a party of forty or fifty peo
ple at last started off with me to bring
the bear in. Nobody Wlleved there was
any bear in the case, but everybody who
could get a gun carried one, and we
wen,t into the woods armed with guns,
pistols, pitchforks, and sticks, against
all contingencies or surprises a crowd
made up mostly of scoffers and Jeerers.
But when I led the way to the fatal
spot, and pointed out the bear, lying
peacefully wrapped in Lis own skin,
something like terror seized the board
ers, and genuine excitement the natives.
It was no mistake a bear, by George,
and the hero of the fight well, I will
not insist upon that. But what a pro
cession that was, carrying the bear home
and what a congregation was speedily
gathered in the valley to see the bear!
Our best preacher up there never drew
anything like it on Sunday.
And I must soy that my particular
friends, who were sportsmen, behaved
very well, on the whole. They didn't
deny that it was a bear, although they
said It was small for a War. Mr. Deane
who is equally good with a rifle and a
rod, admitted that it was a very fair
shot. He is probably the best salmon
fisher iu the United States, and he is an
equally good hunter. I suppose there is
no person in America who is more de
sirous to kill a moose than . he. But he
needlessly remarked, after he had exam
ined the wound in the bear, that he had
seen that kind of a shot made by a cow's
horn. This sort of talk affected me not.
When I went to sleep that night nijf
last delicious thought was " I've killed
a bear."
Charles Dudley Warner.
A Clever Fox.
ON a summer day a gentleman was
lying under the shelter of some
shrubs on the banks of the river Tweed,
when he saw a large brood of ducks,
which had been made to rise on the
wing by the drifting of a fir branch
among them. After circling in the air
for a little time they again settle down
on their feeding ground.
There was a pause for two or three
minutes, and then the same thing took
place again. A branch drifted down
with the stream into the midst of the
ducks, and made them take to flight
once more. But when they found that
the bough had drifted by, and done no
harm, they flew down to the water as
before.
After four or five boughs had drifted
by in this way, the ducks gave no heed
to them, and hardly tried to fly out of
their way, even when they were near
to being touched.
The gentleman who had Wen observ
ing all this now watched for the cause
of the drifting of the boughs. At length
he saw higher up the .bank of the stream
a fox which having set the boughs adrift,
was watching for the moment when
the ducks should cease to be startled by
them.
This wise and clever fox at last seem
ed satisfied that the moment had come.
So what did he do but take a larger
branch of spruce fir than had yet been
used, and, spreading himself down on
it so as to be almost hidden from sight,
set it adrift as he had done the others.
The ducks, now having ceased to fear
the boughs, hardly moved till the fox
was in the midst of them, when, mak
ing rapid snaps right and left, he seized
two fine young ducks as his prey, and
floated forward in triumph on his raft.
The ducks flew off in fright, but did not
come back.
That fox must have had a fine dinner
that day, I think. The gentleman who
saw the trick pitied the poor ducks but
could not help laughing at the fox's cunning.
In the Street.
A gentleman visited an unhappy man
in jail awaiting his trial, "Sir," said
the prisoner, tears running down bis
cheeks, " I had a good home education.
My street education ruined me. I used
to slip out of the house and get off with
the boys in the Btreet. In the street I
learned to lounge ; in the street I learn
ed to swear; in the 6treetl learned to
smoke ; in the street I learned to gam
ble ; in the street I learned to pilfer and
to do all evil. Oh , sir, it is in- the street
the devil lurks to work the ruin of the
young."
We have some boys in this town who
should profit by the above.
ttThe Rev. Mr. . after several
years of married life, was at last blest
upon a Saturday by the addition of a
fine boy to his family circle, which had
hitherto consisted of himself and wife.
Upon the same day the church at which
he officiated received a timely and much,
needed donation, over both, of which
events the reverend gentleman was
very much elated, as he communicated
them to memWrs of his congregration
on bis way to church on Sunday. It
chanced that in big prayer he alluded to
the financial event by returning thanks
" for the arrival of a little succor," and
was consequently much scandalized
when asked after service whether he re
ferred to the money or the baby.
It cannot be too deeply Impressed
upon the mind that application is the
price to be paid for mental acquisitions,
and that it is as absurd to expect it
without it as to look for a harvest with
out seeds.
VBGETINE
IS RECOMMENDED BY ALL
rilYSItUNS,
M Valley Btrcam, Queens Co , Long Inland, N. V
Mr. II. K. Htevens:
.mSfLnS"1 .tal", t,,e Plf,B'""-e ot writing you a
small certificate concerning Vegetine prepared by
you. I have been a sulterer with the Dyspepsia
i,T.,.?I,.f.r.10,.y"lr"ja"d have ht the Chronic
plarrh.ua for over 6 months, and have tried most
everything: was given up to die. and did not ex.
poet to live from day to day, and no physicians
could not touch my case, i saw your Vegetine
recommended to cure Dyspeusla 1 ramniHimil
using It, and I continued thing and aTnow a
well woman and restored to perfect health Al
who are afflicted with this Wlble 5 "ess I
would kindly reoommeud to try It lor the benefit
of their heatih. and It Is excellent as " a blood
purifier. By T. B.Fohiirs. M. D.. for
MRH. WM. IL FORBES.
VEOETINE. When the blood becomes lifeless
and stagnant, either from change of weather or
of climate, want of exercise, Irregular diet or
from ,ny other cause, the Vegetine will renew
the blook. carry on the putrid humors.cleaiise the
W!tol,elaw,!eeb5fl9 and "
VEGETINE.
for cancers and
CANCEROUS HUMORS.
The Doctor's Certificate.
READ IT.
Ashley, Washington Co.. 111.. Jan. 14, 1ST8.
.M; P-it "evens-Dear Sir: This is to certlMy
that I had been suffering from Rose Cancer on my
right breast, which grew very rapidly, and all mv
friends had given me up to die, when I heard o'f
your medicine, recommended for Cancer and
Cancerous Humors. I commenced to take if, and
ISVihVAVL' P,""'K,betterl my health and
spirits both felt the benign Influence which It ex
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menced the use of the Vegetine, the Cancer came
out almost bodily. CARRIE DeFORKKST.
I certify that I am personally acquainted with
Mrs. Dehorrest, and consider her one of our verr
best women. DR. S. H. FLOWERS.
ALL DISEASE80F THE BLOOD. -If Vege
tine will relieve pain, cleanse, purlily. and cure
?ii.21r;?ses feltor.e ,t,,e Patfet to health after
try ng different physicians, many remedies, suf
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medicine performing such great cures? It works
In the blood, In the circulating fluid. It can truly
be called l ie Great Blood Purifier. The great
source of disease originates In the blood; and no
wni.mmn inn, uui, uirecuy upon it, 10
?ubl'ca'tt1edntionrVttte,,,a8 "Dy JuSt c,ar,n upon
VEC3-ETI3STE.
I regard It as a Valuable
FAMILY MEDICINE.
. January 1, 18"8.
Mr. H. R. Stevens-Dear Sir I take pleasure in
say wig, that I have used Vegeltne in my family
with good results, and I have known of several
cases of remarkable cure effected by It. I regard
ltasavaluable family medicine. Truly yours
REV. WM. MDONALD.
The Rey. Wm. McDonald Is well known through
the U. 8. as a minister in the M. E. Church.
THOUSANDS SPEAK. - Vegetine Is acknowl-
icwiiiiiicnucu uy pnysicians and
apothecaries to be the best purifier and cleanser
of the blood yet discovered, and thousands speak
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VEGETIN-E.
THE M. D'S HAVE IT.
Mr. n. R. Stevens Dear Sir I have sold Vege
""J niiis,uno,nuu iiiiu it ki vri must excel
lent satisfaction. 8. D. DE PRIEST. M. D.
Druggist, Hazleton, Ind. June
VEGETINE
Prepared
H. R. STEVENS, Boston, Mass.
Vegetine Is Sold by all Druggists.
jyjUSSER & ALLEN ;
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
Now offer the public
A HARE AND ELEOANT ASSORTMENT 0
DRESS GOODS
Consisting sf all shades suitable for the seasoi
BLACK ALP AC CAM
AND
Moamina Goods
A SPF.PTAT.TTV I
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHEI
MUSLINS,
AT VARIOUS PRICES.
AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF PRINTS!
We sell and do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPl
And everything under the head of
GROCERIES!
Machine needles and oil for all makes
Machines.
To be oonvinced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPES
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK.
No trouble to show goods, -Don't
forget the
CENTRAL STORE
Newport, Perry County, Pa
3. M. Gutvw.
J. H. Gibv
J.M.GIRVIN&SON.,
FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED & PRODUl
Commission Merchants, '
No. 64 South Gay, St.,
BALTIMORE, MD.
We "will pay strict attention to the sale of
kinds of Country Produce aud remit the amou
Drttmiitlv. jL Ivr '
J. M. GIRVIN A BONi
EVPP iri? I If 0011 ' foil want some ch
N IVrSK foods tor Pants and 8ui
110 II LillU It you do, don't fall to
amine the splendid assortment for sale by
jnunnaicu. iou can suit yourself lnntviu
J price. 1 .