The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-29
B ar story.

Living in the town of Rockingham VT, in
the last century, was family named Simonds.
Vermont, in the days of my story, was wild,
new country, to which people went as they
now 60 to Minnesota or the territories be-
yond, building huts of logs, and cutting away
the forest about them for acres; sowing, in
the place of the tall trees, wheat and rye, and
planting large fields of Indian corn. What
strange cries might have been heard by
night in these forests. Something more
than the call of the katydid and the whip
poo-will, the noise of frogs and the hoot of
The sullen owl. For psnthers, wolves and
bears lived in the dark of the woods about
these clearings; and sometimes the settler
would be startled from sleep by the squeals
of the distressed mother of family of pigs,
and then he knew that, without a doubt, a
great, clumsy, black bear had scrambled over
The side of the pen (which was, by the way,
built of logs, and thatched with hemloek
bark,l and possessed himself of one of her
young ones.
Bu: was going to tell you about the
family named Simonds. They had a nice
field of corn at little distant from the house,
and night by night bear had made havoc
in il. She broke down the corn, she tore of
The ears, she ate, she trampled under foot,
she wasted most inconsiderately. They set
the bear trap in the field, but il was carefully
avoided. One morning, two of the boys
went out as usual 10 look at the trap. There
it stood, with its huge jaws voraeiously open,
the cruel teeth holding nothing. They took
up the trap TO move it TO another spot.
What is that SO black on that tree, EhjahS
asked John, suddenly.
John was about eleven years old, while
Elijah was thirteen or fourteen. The boys
moved as fast as possible toward the tree,
carrying the trap between them. There were
two little cubs, only just large enough 10
climb, clinging among the branches.
'Brother,' said Elijah, in a most excited
tone, i have plan; one Of US must 60 up
and punch the cubs to make them cry, while
the other shall hold the trap down here, and
Catch the old bear in It when she comes
YES said John.
We'll, have your choice, John
I'd rather stay with the trap.
Without further words, up went Elijah to
tease the little bears and infuriate their
mamma Poor little bears they were great
ly alarmed at The sight of that rough, clam
bering boy, intrudins into their green draw
ing room: and they trembled and cried out
piteously for their mother. In a moment
something black was seen on the top of
hillock, and on rushed the angry, savage
beast, directly toward the nursery where she
had left her darlings-
What are YOU doing at the foot of my
tree, you ugly boy. Now III eat you right
up : said she by actions, which speak louder
than words
John was holding the large trap open be-
fore him, his back against the tree, when the
end of the trap resting on the ground, when
the bear dashed at him furiously, with mouth
wide open. Snap went the trap and poor
Mrs Bruin was fast. Home went the bows,
each of them carrying a cub Father, bro
ther Gardener we've caught bear"
Yes, held the trap, and The old bear ran
at me with her mouth wide open, and ran
her head right in The trap, and there she
was. See the cabs 4, Tue bear is in the trap
now
Impossible said Mr. SimOnds.
Impossible said brother Gardener.
But they went back with the boys, and
and there, sure enough, was the mother bear
al The foot Of the tree, muzzled with the
heavy trap. So she was shot, and her meat
filed the tork barrel. Even at this distant
day, i cannot but feel sorry in my heart for
rha. puor bear. But dare say all The boys
who read this story will feel altogether on
the side of Elijah and John; and to You
older ones, who will understand me, cannot
help saving that wish a certain other black
bear that We know of, a savage, malicious
beast, that has tramplel and deyoured and
wasted in Uncle Sans cornfelds to its hearts
content, were as etfectually trapped and gag
gei.-Siudel,t and .SchOOlmate.