The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-08-25

cenec.
IL the tavern yard stood waller
hogsbcad, With a sliding I'D, fastened
by means Of hasp and staple. We
had only to roll this 10, slide down the
box from the wheels, open the door
Immediately in font Of tie hogshead
and drive the animal III.
We could ,hen push down the lid Of
tue eask, secure il BY means Of rope
passed throagh the staples, and roll
our prisaues aaa prisos hoa@c % tAe
college.
No sooner was lhis suggested than
We FASTENED to put il into execution.
Tie cage, with our united efforts, was
slid quietly down from the wheels
Bruin growing all the While with an
ger-the hogshead was rolled in and
placed upon end in front Of the cage,
and the animal stirred up with our
canes. With terrific yell he rushed
in, aud we closed the lid suddenly
down upon him, fastening it at the
same time in secure manner. The
| yell of the bear reused the other ani-
mails, and our ears were regaled for
the next ten minutes with variety OF
hideous sounds that wakened fearful
| y the sleeping echoes Of the night.
The animal in the hogshead growled,
and his voice came like distant thun-
der, SO deafened was il by the wood
in which he lay. His fellows had no
incumbrance to their voice, and they
howlcd as clearly as though they had
been in their native forests.
Fearful Of being discovered, we re-
manned quiet for some time, holding
our breaths in suspense. But no one
disturbed or thought OF disturbing US.
The animals often started chorus Of
strange noises during the night, and
the keepers, thinking nothing unusual
to be ;he matter, merely cursed the
unruly beasts for destroying the unity
Of their rest, and turning back went
TO sleep again.
As soon rs quiet was restored, we
slit hole in the canvass, for we were
afraid to emerge by the aperture which
faced the tavern, rolled our hogshead
through the yard to the back gate.-
This we unlastened, and passing into
the road, started at a quick rate for
our spot Of destination. Over and
over went the hogshead, the animal
/ within growing at the rough treat
ment he experienced, and we nearly
conyulsed with laughter at the un-
couthness Of the noise which he made.
Al length we reached the back part
Of the college when one oil our party
climbed over the wall and unfastened
the gate. We rolled in 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 narrowness oI
the passage through the door, the
hogshead would not enter. Such be-
ing tie case, we were about to start
the animal through the open door
when an idea more redoent Of fun
struck the fancy Of Somers. Back oI
the lecture room was a small apart.
ment containing odds and ends, ant
which was not visited, perhaps, more
than once a month. He said rightly
that if we placed Bruin in this apart
ment he would not be likely to be dis
covered until some time during the
lecture of the chemical professor, whei
the noise he would be apt to make at
tracing attention, tlieplot would read
lily be brought 10 a crisis. We joinet
our strength, and upon our shoulder
up went the hogslead until il wa
placed on level with the window. =
A light young fellow, the smallest 0
the party, climbed up, hoisted up th'
window and sided up the lid Of ih'
cask. We shook the hogsbead sio
lently, but at first TO no purpose. Tn
animal was thoroughly frightened, ans
lay still, or with only an occasiona
growi. We shook it again and i,
started. There was crash u glass
howl, and then the terrified apima
crouehing IN the corner, remained s.
lent. Oar little companion closed ib
sash aud leaped down. We rolled Ii
hogshead up into a corner Of the yard
: and returning 70 our rooms, cou,inuel
cur revelry I'LL near daylight.
II was about noon when | awokc
I hurried OF my clothes, passed a we
: towel round my head, swallowed som