The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-04-01
Ben's Bear.
FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS.

FOR TIE EuYS AND GIRLS.
Thirty years ago my father, hal-pay cap
tain. emigrated to Lower Canada. H bought
a farm in the vicinity of Stanstead, where b
settled with a family of three boys and Is
maay girls. There were two MANY Of US for
his toeans in Englvnd, where boys often cost
more than they are worth-and possibly this
is sometimes true with girls. Ben was nine
teen when he went into the bush-a brave
boy, and good leader for his younger broth
ers, and good protector for his sisters, who
were younger still.
We had lighthouse, as most settlers had
then, to begin with. 1t was quite an aristo-
cratic edetce for that region, having three
large rooms, while most log houses had but
two rooms and many but one. It was cel.ed
with hemock bark, smooth side toward the
rooms, for We wert u spend one winter IN II.
We moved 20 our opening the first Of May,
and '.ad the summer before us. We were
fu;i Il sprj and hope. y new country and
a aaw lie, with all before you to conGler,
al ! the consciousness of strength to make
the conquest, is a constant inspiration.
Bens bear was tn first winning in the
game which he ned set himself to play with
the wild nature of the woods. was then
ten wears Old. and that bear is the one thing
y ch stands out most clearly in the dim
distance o. thirty years ago. Ben had shat
the mother bear, and the same ball that kill
ed her killed oHe OF her cubs the other he
brought home in his bosom. Poor little
fellow . he aali, he is too young 70 mourn
lor his mother, and intend to be mother
to him." And he kept his word.
The small beast slept with Ben, always
laying It's nose over Bens shoulder. He
grew apace {: | used to think we could see
him grow. He vas very fond Of milk and
butter. and he ate bread and milk, with avid.
itv. Daring the first winter, his was a numb
! ed sort of half life In the early spring he
was a happ! bear, going everywhere with his
master. and only miserable i. he lost sight OF
him. He was entire " obedient to my broth
er. and alwavs woke him in tho morning -
As nv father was about to build a frame
house. he sent Ben 10 bay material Of man
who had saw mill in the next town. This
was bruins first atfliction, for lie could not
accompany his master. Ben stole away from
him. and when the bear knew that he was
gone, he began to search for him. He wen'
to my brothers bed, and beginning at the
head, insertes; his nose under the sheets and
and blankets, and came out at the foot then
he turned and reversed the process. This
strange search he would keep up by the
hour, if he were not shut out of the room
He took possession of his masters clothes
and other belongings, and used them sc
roughly, still seeking for their owner-in-
sertipg himself into legs Of trowsers and
sleeves of coats, that my mother locked
everything in wardrobe Nothing of Bens
, was left out, except large folio bible, which
rested on the top Of the wardrobe, six OIL
seven feet from the floor. Up this the beal
contrived to climb, and taking the bible IN
. tender embrace, he curled himself up ant
} dropped to the floor with it. My mother at
tempted to take it from him, but for the frs