The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-06-23


Thirty years ago, my father, halt.pay cap
tain, emigrated to Lower Canada. He bought
q farm in the vicinity OF fStanstead, where he
settled with family OF three boys and as ma
ny girls. There were too many of us for his
means In England, where boys often cosl
more than they are worth, and possibly this il
sometimes true of girls. Brother Ben was
nineteen when we went, into the bush: a
brave boy, and good leader for his youngel
brothers, and good protector fot his sisters,
who were younger still.
We had log house, as most settlers had
then, to begin with. 1t was quite an aristo
cratic edif1ce for that region, having three
large rooms, while most log houses had bui
two rooms, and many but one. 1t was ceiled
with hemlock bark, smooth side towards The
rooms, for we were to spend one winter in it
" moved to our opening the first Of May,
and mad the summer before us. We were fuII
OF spirit and hope. A new country and q new
life, with all before you to conquer, and the
consciousness OF strength to make the con-
quest, is constant inspiration. soF
Ben's bear was his first winning ia the game
which he had set himself to play with the
wild nature Of the woods. l was then tel
years old, and the bear is the one thing that
stands out the most clearly in the dim dis
tance OF thirty years ago. Ben had shot the
mother bear, and the same ball that had killed
brought home in his bosom. "Poor little fel
low" he said, 'he is too young to mourn for
his mother, and / intend to be mother to
him. And he kept his word. asssF
The small beast slept with Ben, always lay
ing his nose over Ben's shoulder. he grew
apace; / used to think we could see him grow.
He was very fond of milk and batter, and he
ate bread and milk and mush and milk With
great avidity. During the first winter, his
vuoc a mn hod of ho1f In fha ri
spring he was happy bear, going every
where with his master, and only miserable i
he lost sight of him. He was entirely obedi-
ent to NV brother, and always woke him in
the morning. ssktk& &&sB
AS my Iatner was about to build frame
house, he sent Ben to buy material OF .
man who had saw-mil ia the next town
This was Bruins first affection, for he could
NOT accompany his master. Ben stole ava,
from him, and when the bear knew that be
was gene, he began to search for him. Hs
went to my brothers bed, and, beginning al
the head, inserted his nose under the shsets
and blankets, and came out at the foot; ther
he turned and reversed the process. This
strange search he would keep up by the hour
Ii he were not shut out OF the roem. HI
took possession Of his masters clothes ant
other belongings, and used them SO roughly
still seeking for their owner--inserting himsei
III W lcEn vi dOWbCtb anu biDOFcb VI C0nbS-
that my mother locked everything in ward
robe. Nothing of Ben's was left out, except
large folio Bible which rested on the top o
the wardrobe, six or seven feet from the floor
Up this the bear contrlyed to climb. and tax
ing the Bible in tender embrace, he curles
himself up, and dropped to the floor with it
Ny mother attempted to take it from him, but
for the first time he showed fight Man,
blows from the broomstlck were administered
Al Loo ho11 So t...<.l
mother came off second best from the centesi
This was fatal to her authority, as we discov
cred afterwards. sBggA aa
When Ben came back, the bears Joy knev
no bounds. He lost his love for the sacre
volume, and had no care what became Off,
He showed his dlsrespect for my mother b,
taking the butter from the tea-table and eai
ing it before her eyes. Ben gave him drut
bing for the robbery, and he submitted to Ben
authority, but butter and honey, and sweets
all kinds, we're appropriated, If Ben was nc
at hand to enforce good behavior. Ny mctl
er was very unhappy, between her love fc
Ben and her fear of Bruin. She grew miseri
bly, afraid of the bear, and what was worse ii
bear knew it, She complained to Ben; but
only said, "Mother you have only to be res'
Lutte with him. Ellen can drive him avs
from the table, because she is not afraid
him." AAak
"But am afraid Of him,n said my mothe
sand think he will do me harm yet
"GiVe him a taste OF tha hot poker, m0the
and 1'll answer for him afterwards lG
II would not try it for the world,' said NJ
mother.
The bear had his own way very completed
till circumstance occurred which resulte
more favorably for the peace of the fami
than my mothers mild lemonstrance. w
had neighbor, Mr.. Bennett, who had a ver
lovely daughter Of seventeen. Ben fell In loV
with her, as in duty bound, she being the pre-
tiest girl In the New World. He had bee
unable to get aHy clue to her sentiments Il
ward him. She had spent considerable poi
tion of the past year with a married sister
Stanstead, and Ben and the brother-in-law b
ing friends, 1t was there my brother had see
her Her GOODNESS toward him was a gre;
torment to an impulsive lover. believe Be