Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-03-19
a Bear Story.

WE rember a very comical bear that be-
longed to Mr.. Hammond, and amused
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
the hearth stone, and nestled in cold
weather with the dogs before the fire.
None of the pet animals about the farm
were tanner than he; and none loved bet
ter to climb up into his masters lap and
receive his cares, 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 a prying disposition, and forever peep
ing into every hole, the family were
obliged to lock up every thing, 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 cackled
| 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 pre-
vented, he would find it and suck it before
Vic CdCklluS lOW1 1idC CCCbSOO AC1 GOhSos
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 some
thing to eat. Unfortunately, the good
housewife had left the cellar door un-
locked and ajar and it was not long be.
fore the bear discovered it and crept down
the stairs. Once down in the cellar, he es-
pied the molasses barrel; and If
there was anything in the house
he was excessively fond Of, it was
molasses or honey. Bruin paved
over the barrel, licked the tightlydriven
bung, and was about abandoning it IN des-
pair, when he espied the spite. Grasping
it with his strong teeth, he easily withdrew
it, and out came the thick molasses in a
steady stream, to the great delight of the
bear, who clapped his mouth to the hole
and sucked away with grunts of self salts
| faction.
| The molasses still flowed and still the
bear kept his mouth to the orifice pausing
now and then to take a long breath At
length he was full his stomach could hold
no more yet his appetitew not satisfied.
he squatted on his launches and viewed the
stlll running stream with disgust, to think
mat tne supply was so abundant, and that,
| 4
lasses had now run out in large quantity.
and had formed great pool on the floor
but Bruin dove into it, and rolled himself
a thousand times in the thick fluid, until
his shaggy coat was covered from his
nose to. his tail, with molasses, dirt, and
| gravel stones
/ There he lay in the sweet pool, the pic
| ture of self satisfaction, as cats roll and
tumble in aifeld 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 mistress, 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
ped, drawing the snowy white sheets over
his besmeared form. There he lay groan-
ing and grnnting the sickest bear ever
seen IN that part of the country.
When the girls arrived they were horri-
lied at the scene, and were going TO Law
the broomsticl over Bruin, when he start
ed on the run for the haymow with the
sheets sticking to his back It was some
time before the bear got well, and still
longer before his mistress forgave him-
Our Boys and Girls.