North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-07-07
Bear Story.

with his tricks the mirth-loving people Of
Paris, in Oxford county, many years ago.
He was captured when little cub, and
was brought up by hand as one Of the
family. He claimed the warmest place on
she hear:h-stone, and nestled in cold
weather with the dogs before the fire.
None Of the pet animals abo 1T the farm
were tanner than he; and none loved bet
ter to climb up into his masters lap and
receivelhis caresses or understood the whims
Of his mistress when begging for choice
morsel. His serious countenance always
gave great effect to his antics; and he
seemed to understand when he caused a
laugh among the household. As he was
Of prying disposition, and forever peep.
ing into every hole, the family were
obliged to lock up everything, even the
closets where they kept their clothing.
When he took it into his head to make up
a nest, it was all the same to him whether
the articles he heaped together were wool
len or fur, cotton or silk. If hen cack-
led when the egg was laid, Mr. Bear under
stood it as well as any of the family or the
feathered tribe and if he was not preven>
ted, he would find it and suck it before the
cackling foul had ceased her song.
One sunday the family went to church,
and left the bear alone at home. Bruin
improved the opportunity. and rummaged
all over the house in search Of fun or
something to eat. Unfortunately, the good
house wife had left the cellar door unlock
ed and ajar; and it was not long before
the bear discovered it and crept down the
stairs. Once down the cellar, he espied
the molasses barrel; and if there was
anything in the house he was excessively
fond of, it was molasscs or honey. Bruin
paved over the barrel, licked the tightly
driven bung, and was about abandoning it
in despair when he espied the spile.
Grasping it with his strong teeth, he easi-
ely withdrew it, and out came the thick
~olasses in q steady stream, to the great
iAelight of the bear, who clapped his
mouth to the hole and sucked away with
grunts Of self satisfaction.
The molasses still flowed and still the
bear kept his mouth to the ori6ce, pausing
now and then to take long breath. At
length he was full; his stomach could
hold no more; yet his appetite was not
satisfied. lie squatted on his launches
and viewed the still-running stream with
disgust, to think that the supply was so
abundant, and that, alas -he could hold
no more. The molasses had now run out
in large quantity, and had formed great
pool on the floor; but Bruin dove into it,
and rolled himself thousand times in
the thick fluid, until his shaggy coat was
covered from his nose to his tail, with mo-
lasses, dirt, and gravel stones ~
There he lay in the sweet pool, the pic
ture of self satisfaction, as cats roll and
tumble ia the field Of the catnip herb. All
at once Mr.. Bear became sick at the stom-
ach and it was new sensation to him
something he had never felt before. As
he grew worse, he thought Of his master
and uistress, and so crept up stairs to ask
for their consolation but they had not
returned from church. Then he crawled
up another story, and got into the girls
bed, drawing the snowy white sheets over
his besmeared form. There he lay groan-
ing and grunting the sickest bear ever
seen in that part of the country.
When the girls arrived they were horri-
fed at the scene, and were going to lay
the broomstiek over Bruin, when be start
cd on the run for the haymow with the
sheets sticking to his back 1t was some
time before the bear got we'll, and still
longer before his mistress forgave him.
Our Boys aud Girls.