The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-04-10
How he Lost his Tail.

'Gontlemcn, SAID y Jall heHtuGkiin,
hauling up, and lcisurely taking his scat
in vacant chair, "don't make fun of that
dog, if you please" ard with face ofpro-
found melancholy and touching pathos he
added, "unless you want to hurt his feel
ings"
"Ofcourse not, sir, if You dislike it. But
pray, how did he become curtailed OF his
fair proportions?" ?"
"Well, gentlemen, I'll tell you" said
the Kcntuckian rcplcnishipg the spacious
hollow of his cheek with quid of to-
bacco.
"That thar dog was the greatest bear
hunter OF Kaintuck. a few years ago l
used to take my rifle and old Riptcarer, OF
an afternoon, and think nothing of killing
ten bears. One cold day in the middle
of winter, bcin' troubled good deal with
an old he bear that used to carry off f.our
pigs by the dozen, ! started with Riptear-
er determined to kill the old rascal, or die
in the attempt. Well, artcr We had gone
about two miles in the woods, we all of a
sudden came right smack OIL the old bear
with his wife and three cubs. | knowed
I couldn't shoot 'em all at once, and |
lSnowcd if killed either of the old 'uns,
t'othcr would make at me, for could see
they were mortal hungry. So says l,
rip what'll we do?" ri ip knowed what
was saying, and without waiting to hold
any contab about it, he guy growl and
pitched right in among them. With that
/ let fly at the she bear, cos knowed she
was the worst of the two when the cubs
was about.
cover she rolled as dead rs mackercl
Rip he hitched on the bear, and they had
a mighty twssel for about five minutes,
when the bear began to roar enough like
blue murder. | ran up and knocked his
brains out with the but end Of my rifle.
The cubs were so skeered and cold that
| killed 'em all in two minutes with my
knife. But Rip took on terrible about my
knocking the bar on the head. At tust |
thought he was going to tackle on me,
and says I, rip, that's down right un-
grateful With that he sncakcd off in q
huff, but 1 could easily sec that he was
terrible mad yet. We'll, left all the bears
on the ground, concluding to call back
with the neighbors tor 'cm as soon as
could let them know. On the way home,
Rip kept ahead of me. Every time he
thought how l killed the old bear, his tail
would stand right straight up on enl-hc
was so powerful mad. 1t was gettin' on
to night and began to grow freezin' cold.
About half mile from the house, Rip he
came to :. halt, thinking he'd have anoth
or look back in the direction of the bears
The scent of 'em raised his dander WIS
than ever. His tail stood right square up
as sti rs hoe handle. @;ust then it comes
on colder than ever, and Rips tail friz cX
actly as it stood. | was in Il bad fix
had no fire to thaw it. While was think
in what I'd do to get it down again. Il buck
deer sprung up and darted right over {;
fence about. fifty yards ahead. Rip did
not wait to be told wlar to go, bnt pitch
ed evil bent artcr the deer. | cracked
away with my rifle and just raised the
tilzz between his horns. AS soon rs Rip
got to the fence, he thought he'd make u
Short cut, so he dashed right through, but
his tail was so brittle that it broke off be-
tween the rails Poor old RIP was done
for good lie never had Il tail to show
after that--it broke his feelings rs well as
his tail, and that 5 how he came to lose it.
And now, gentlemen, I'm Gcttin' n little
dry, and if you've no objections, we'll take
horn"