The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-03-16

to think that there is luck in odd numbers
foo, Tor three cubs will BE- oftener found will
an old she bear than any other number.
Vas once hunting for sugar plantation
on Cancy crock, in Matagordo county. The
summer had been excessively dry; all the
ponds had dried up, and SO had the small
streams, except here and there where deer
holes. ! had been accustomed both night
aud morning to seek large and deep lake
which lay in the forest about IL mile and n
half from the house. 10 this lagoon, wild
animals Of all descriptions resorted for
water, and had on each visit been able to
secure two or three deer, varied occasionally
10y wild COW or hog. 1t was on the Sd of
September, 1858, that | rode out to this
| place oNe afternoon about four o clock, and
| having tied my horse where he could not be
observed, repaired to my usual place Of con.
(! cealment to watch for game. The first ami
NAL that came within rifle range was an old
! Mexican boar, but as he was worthless for
; meat, allowed him to drink and depart in
| peace. Presently, the nuttcring of some
! robins, as they are called u kind Of migra.
| tory thrush, showed from their hurry and
| cluckag that some intruder had disturbed
| them. / had not long to wait to see what it
was, for ont rolled, with their peculiarly
| droii waddlc an old bear with her three,
| five, 81 six months old cubs. They were
about fifty yards from me, and right TO wind
ward, and while they were drinking. stretch
ed myself fiat on my stomach, resting the
rife in the fork of u peg had set in the
ground. AM, from which had made many
shots previously, and prepared to fire when
! ever the old lady should turn her head to
me, SO that could get 4 fair shot at her
! eye. 1t may seem to those not acquainted
| with the subject, that the eye Of bear is n
livery small mark 10 shoot at, and SO it is ;
but the orficc in the skull is very large, al
/ though the eye itself is small--a ball, there.
! fore, placed in or near the eye is certain, it
| fired from the front, to find the b.1,in. She
! soou turned her head and taking very
, careful aim, | shot her through the corner of
! her right cyc--thc bullet, as | afterwards
discovered. passing out at the base of the
! left ear. She fell without u struggle. not
even kick Of her legs. The cubs did not
! seem to be aware that anything particular
had happened, as had hoped would be the
case if | made good shot aud proceeded
to load 81 that could dispose Of them at
my leisure. Those who have never loaded
a rife when living flat on the ground can
form no idea of its difficulty; | have very
often had to do this, and speak from expe.
ricncc. succeeded in killing the three cubs,
and then rode into the plantation, to have a
cane cart and mules sent ont 10 bring in the
game. The house was full of company
several young ladies staying there from
neighboring plantations, for dance which
was 10 he given the next evening. Proud
enough was as | rode in at the head Of my
prizes, for even in Texas it is not often any
one has the luck to bag four bears Of an
evening. The mother was not in very
prime condition, but the cubs were perfect
lamps of grease and wonld have delighted
Poll Sweedlepipc's father or Mr.. Finch. -
Many bottles were filled with bears oil for
the ladies hair: and much rejoicing was
heard in the negro cabins at the prospect Of
4 good feast Of lat " bar meat for next to
posSQm, the negroes love that deicacy.-
For myself, know Of no better food it is
y cross between very nice pork and tender
beet, some of it being as white as chicken,
while other portions are dark in color when
cooked. The paws and liver are esteemed
the da'ntiest tit.bltS.
1t is now many years since, that'a party of
.us were eucamped On the edge of canc brake
for the purpose Of bcar.hnnting. The leader
., of our party was an old gaunt trapper, with
head as smooth, as polished, and as dest.
tute Of hair as Il pumpkin. though his nous.
tacre aud beard were of enormous dimcn.
sions, which gave him, when without his
coon'skin cap, very singular appearance.
One of the party at last asked him what had
made him loose all the hair from the SCALP.
. Boys, taid he, = look a hyar | somehow
guess it were an old bar shot once in the
spring of the year, and | put some of her
lie on this child's har. reckon she were
Il shedding her coat, and her grease wur no
account, for artcr I'd bin a,using on it, my
har began to spill out, and lost every dog
and bristlc on it. 1t mout hcv bin that, and
then, aein, it moutnt. Boys, just hand us
the whisky gourd; it most qlluz makes nc
dry when thinks ON it. I'll turn in now,
for we'll hcv to be stirring pretty pcart in
the morning"
The following anecdotc goes far to prove
that bear has only room for one idea at q
time in his head. A party of overland chi
grants on their way across the plains from
St. Louis, Missouri, to Ell Passo, and thence
) to California, had arrived somewhere on the
) Green river. From this train hunter had
straycd off in search of game, aud came up
on bear in Il creek bottom, who was up q
! pcrsimmon.trce loaded with ripe fruit, which
he was busily eating, while a wild.boar wa,
reyclng in the over.ripe daintes which fel
in showers from the bear clumsy operations
in the tree. 1t was evident from the glances
bruin threw below from time to time that he
was jealous OF the hog, and by no means
relishcd playing providcr even involuntarily
for the other aud he often expressed hi.
d.approbation by short and savage growls
which the boar only answered by an occa
sional satisfied grunt. The hunter noted all
these signs, and saw that very little more
,u.,,1l H., 10 N, In ('nH,oy N