The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-04-01

volume, and had no care what became of it.
He showed his disrespect for my mother by
taking the butter from the tea-table and
eating it before her eyes. Ben gave him
druboing for the robbery, and he submitted
to Ben's authority; but butter and honey,
and sweets of all kinds, were appropriated,
If Ben were not at home to enforce good be-
havior. My mother was very unhappy be-
tween her love for Ben and her fear for Bru-
in. She grew miserably afraid of the bear,
and what was worse, the bear knew it. She
complained 20 Ben; but he only said, "Moth-
er you have only to be resolute with him.
Ellen can drive him away from the table, be-
cause she is not afraid of him."
"But am afraid of him." sail my moth
er, and l think he will DO me harm yet"
"Give him taste of hot poker, mother,
and I'll answer for him afterward."
Il would not try it for the world" said
my mother.
The bear had his own way very complete
ly, till circumstance occurred which resalt-
eI more favorably for the peace of the fam
iiy than my mothers mild remonstranceS.-
We had a neighbor, Nh. Bennett, who had
& very lovely daughter of seventeen. Ben
tell il love with her, as in duty bound, she
being the pret,iest girl in the New World.
He had been unable to get any clue to her
sentiments toward him. She had spent a
considerable portion Of the past year with a
married sister in Stanstead, and Ben and the
brother in law being friends, it was there my
brother had seen her. Her great coolness
toward him was great tor ent 20 an lmpul-
sive lover. | believe Ben would have served
seven years, merely to know how she regard.
ed him. At last he lapsed into state So
unhappy and anxious, that even his bear
could not comfort him. About this time
Alice Bennett came home to remain, and in
neighborly Kindness she and younger sis
ser came to visit US. She had never seen
Btns bear, and did not even know Of its ex
istence Ben shu, Bruin into his bedroom
IN compliment 10 our guests, and the alter
noon passed pleasantly to all but the rriso-
ner When the time came for Alice and her
sister to 20 home, my brother and prepared
to bear taem company through tho woods to
their opening. Ben ircautiously opened the
bedroom door for his hat, never thinking ot
Bruin, and came lunning to catch US. The
liberated bear ran after hi, master, and jump
cd for joy upon him, hugsins him after the
manner OF bears. Alice turned and saw Ber
in the Go herl terrible embrace. She shrek
cd as girl with a good voice only can
shri~k. but, instead of running away, she
rushed UP to my brother, and tried to help
him ike brave girl, CRYING, Dear, dear
Ben, you will be killed."
Ny brother threw of the beas. and caught
the tainting Alice to his glad heart, saying
" Dear Alice he is tame bear; do not be
afr i'd"
The poor girl looked like broken white
lily, she was so frightened at hersel: and
bear She could hardly realize that the bear
was harmless, and she was ashamed Of hav
ing been BETRAYED into al avowal of ten
deiness for Ben. When she recovered her
wits. she said, "Oh, II! never come here
again.
Indeed you will, said Ben. "I'll bar
Isl Brain, or imprison him, or do anything
you wish"
It was surprising how clear-sighted Ben
became regarding faults on the bears part
that he heretofore made light of. My moth
er ha1 no need 10 complain of stolen butter.
OF highway robbery of honey on its way
from the pantry to the tea-table. Ben sud-
denly discovered that his pet was nuisance.
81 don't see how You have borne with him
so long mother" he said in the most cons:d-
crate manner, when he had taken a plum
pudding from T ate in my mothers hands,
and had made his way to the woods with it.
I'm glad you saw him take it," said
mother.
lie must have pris n" said Ben.
And so it came to pass that the poor bear
WIS chained in center of the space that had
been cleared and eveled for our new house,
with the light surveyors chain used to meas
ure land. The bear Immediately described a
circle, limited by the length Of the chain,
which he walked over and over, turning a
somersault always at one point, and only
stopping to eat, or pay attention to Ben, if
he came in his vicinity. Why he inaugurat-
ed this particular and peculiar exercise am
unable to say, but | have often noticed a
tame bear keep up the circle and the somer-
sallt hour after hour and day after day.
He did not tug at his chain nor quarrel with
it, as we poor mortals do with chains, but
apparently accepted it as provision of Ben's
superior wisdom. This view Of the case, if
he took it, was sure to be abandoned at bed
time when he would inevitably break his
chain TO get into his masters bedroom. His
indomitabie desire to lie at the foot of Ren's
bed, or to hug an old vest under it, was sure
to make him break away from any breakable
restraint. Therefore prison was made for
him. 1t was made of small logs "cobbltd
up" that is, the ends notched with an axe
snd the end of log fitted into each notch.
..oP .znc .nnda &C hnordc IL .