Eastern times., 1855-10-04
G9e Storp TelIer,.
From the NewYork Atlas.
From the NewYOTk Alias.
A WINTER CAMP IN MAINE
Adventure with a Bear
BY LAWRENCE LABREE.

- BY LAWRENCE LABREE.
There are still few bears left in the state
of Maine. Twenty-Five years ago, they were
great annoyance TO the farmers in certain
districts, by getting into their grain and corn
fields; or by the occasional theft of sheep,
or the destruction Of calves Fifty years ago,
the present area of Maine was comparatively
a wilderness, inhabited principally by bears,
catamounts, wildcats, panthers. foxes, &C.,
and few remnant tribes of Indians, whose
settlements were TO be found on the'banks of
some of the principal rivers, and who obtained
meagre livelihood by hunting and fishing, or
the sale of a few petries, which, however,
were mostly disposed OF for New England
rum-one of the principal causes of their deg
radiation and decay.
The state of Maine is certainly delightful
country. 1t produces abundantly for its own
consumption, and sufficient for exportation.-
Its citizens are industrious, hardy and temper
ate its merchants honorable and enterprising.
So much by the way of preface; and now for
one of the bear experiences of my life.
Some twenty-five years ago, being then a
resident of Maine, and youngster of mettle,
l made up my mind, one cold November even
ing, while eating my bean porridge hot, be-
fore blazing wood fire, to pay visit to the
sources of the Kennebec, in company with
several lumbermen who were going up to
spend the winter in the vicinity of Moosehead
Lake. There was no opposition made 10 my
proposal from the male members of my uncle's
family; but the women, particularly my aunt,
opposed the idea with all the arguments they
could bring to bear upon the subject Pre-
posterous l was just fifteen years old, as
tough as pine Knot, plenty of muscle, weighed
just one hundrsd and foey pounds solid flesh,
bone and sinew, could hit bear in the eve
nine times out of ten at one hundred yards,
could endure any extreme of cold, and was
perfectly reckless to all danger. Conscious of
these qualities, paid but little attention 10
my aunt's arguments but must confess that
l felt slight misgiving of my manly resolu-
ton, when fair-hared and delicate cousin
approached me, and throwing her arms around
my neck, she kissed me, and said =
Don't go, coz !; will you? Let me coax
you to stay at home. How much more com
Portable it will be to sit in this warm corner,
during the long, cold winter evenings, reading
me wonderful stories of robbers and pirates
while am knitting you wooden stockings and
moccasins, than to be shut up in an old smoky
cabin, along with lot of log-drivers, with
nothing to eat but bear-meat, and have to bake
your own bread, and make your own barley.
coffee; and then the risk you will run of being
eaten up by great, big, ugly, nasty black
bear
This pathetic appeal came very near upset
ting me; butt brushed away tear tha
stood in the corner of my left eye, and sum
moning all my manhood to my assistance,
expressed my unalterable resolve to absen
myself from cousins and bean porridge, for a
least four months, bears or no bears. / ex
pected 10 see my cousin swoon in the arms o
her mother, but | was surprised to find tha
she bore the thought of my temporary absenc,