Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-09-08
nlistellaneous.
The Fatal Trick.

| oPo" o"o evening, u party or cOlleglanS and
young bloods Of the town, had met together a,
my rooms to play and carouse. In fact, it was
a regular meeting Of the hunters, who assembled
twiceiin every week. we kept il up iollily un.
Ill midnight. t,..--.r~e--ss Auuaged to gel
full of Bacchus, when SOmers proposed that we
should sally forth and sstonish the town by some
well-planned and well-directed mischief. With
out any one of us having a very clear concep
ton of our actions or intentions, we hailed the
proposition with drunken rapture, and started
forth. A travelling menagarie had arrived IN
town the day before, and among the wonders,
was young bear. The poor animal had been
so beaten, that he became very humble and &C
quired number Of amusing tricks. OF this we
were all aware, having visited the menageIie
the day before. just as We passed the spot
where the animals were confined, it occurred to
me what rare sport it would be to capture young
Brun and place him in the chemical lecture
room to astonish, on the next day, the professors
and class.
No sooner had made a proposition to this
effect than it was adopted, and all volunteered
their assistance in carrying it into execution
The tent or pavilion which covered the beasts,
was erected in the great yard of The principal
avern. The clges, each containing one or
more animals, were iron grated boxes, standing
on wheels, by means of which they had been
dragged into. town. They were ranged around
the nterief'of. the tent, forming circular array
of woodland iron. Not imagining that any one
would'dfstuib the ANIMALS, the showmen and
keepers had retired to rest along with the in.
mates Of the tavern, leaving the tents entirely
UNIV atched. Thus we were afforded clear
field in which to execute our scheme. After
several of our number had been posted as sen
tinels, we crept in under the canvas and entered
the arena. 1t was some time before we could,
in the deep darkness of the place, identify the
cage in which our friend Bruin had beeu placed
to sleep. After stumbling over divers thircs
that lay scattered about, and peering here aud
there in the dark, we found the object of our
search there, in substantial cuge, was the dim
outline Of the animal, his white eyes flashing
drops of fire, a, being aroused from his sum.
Der.
The next difficulty that occurred 10 US was
the mode of conveying him into the college,
which was several yards distant. Some OF the
jewellers proposed that we should throw halter
around his neck, and so drag him along. We
rejected this, not from any personal fear, since
we had arrived at that point which makes one
oblivIous OF danger, but lest we should be seen
by some sraggler and have our fun spoiled. A
better plan was, after much schelning devised,
and was one that met with universal acquies
cence.
In the tavern yard stood a water hogshead,
with sliding lid, fastened by means of hasp
and staple. We had only to roll this in, slide
down the box from the wheels, open the door i'm.
nedialely in front of the hogshead, and drive the
animal in. We could then push down the lid
Of the cask, secure it by means OF u rope passed
through the staples, and roll our prisoner to the
college.
No sooner was this suggested than VIC hasten
ed to put it in execution. The cage, with our
united efforts, was slid quietly down from the
wheeIs-Brun growing all the while with an
ger-the hogshead rolled in, md the open end
placed in front of the cage, and the animal
stirred up with our canes. With terrific yell
he rushed in, and we closed the lid suddenly
down upon him, fastening it at the same time in
secure manner. The yell of the bear had
reused the other animals, and our ears were re-
galed for the next ten minutes with a variety of
hideous sounds that wakened tearfully the sleep
ing echoes of the night. The animal in the
hogshead growled, and his voice came like dis
tant thunder, so deadened was it by the wood in
which he lay. His fellows had no incumbrance
to their voices, and they howled as clearly as
though they had been free in their own native
forest.
Fearful of being discovered, we remained
quiet for time, holding our breaths in suspense.
But no one disturbed, or thought OF disturbing
US. The animals often started chorus of
strange noises curing the night, and the keepers
thinking nothing unusual to De the matter,
merely cursed the unruly beasts for destroying
the unity of their rest, and turning back went
to sleep again.
As soon as quiet was restored, we slit hole
in the canvas, for we we're afraid to emerge by
the aperture which faced the tavern, rolled our
hogshead through the yard to the gate, which
we unfastened, and then passing into the road,
started. at quick rate for our destination. Over
and over went the hogshead, the animal within
growing at the rough treatment he experienced,
and we, nearly convulsed with laughter at the
noise he made.
AT length we reached the back part of the COL
ege, when one of our party climb over the wall
and unfastened the gate. We rolled our prize
to the back door of the laboratory which was the
place where our professor of chemistry lectured
We found that in consequence Of the narrow.
ness of the passage through the door, the hogs
head would not enter. Such being the case
we were about to start the animal through The
open door, when an idea more redolent Of fun
struck the fancy OF Somers. Back Of The lee
ture room was small apartment containing odds
and ends, and which was not visited but once
month. He said rightly, that if we placed
! Bruln in this apartment he would not be likely