Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-16
A Bear Story.

that belonged to Mr.. Hammond, and
amused with his tricks the mirth-lov-
ing people of Paris, in Oxford Coun-
ty, many years ago. He was captur-
ed 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 better to climb up into his mas
ter's lap, and receive his caress, or
understood the whims of his mistress
when begging for a choice morsel.-
his serious cOuntenance always gave
great effect to his antics and he seem
ed to understand when he caused
laugh among the household. AS he
was of prying disposition, and for
ever peeping into every hole, the fam
lily were obliged to lock up every
thing, even the closets where they
kept their clothing. When he took
1t into his head to make up nest, it
was all the same to him whether the
articles he heaped together were wool
en-, or fur, cotton or silk. If a hen
cackled when the egg was laid, Mr..
Bear understood it as well as any Of
the family or the fcathered tribe; and
If ne was not prevented, he would
find it and suck it ociOre the cackling
fowl had ceased her ~0ng.
One Sunday the family went to
church, and left the bear alone at
home. Bruin improved the opportu-
nifty, and rummaged all over the
house in search OF fun or something
to eat, Unfortunately, the good
housewife had left the cellar door un-
locked and ajar; and it was not long
before the bear discovered it and crept
down the stairs. Once down in the
cellar, he espied the molasses barrel !;
and if there was anything in the house
he was excessively fond OF, it was mo-
laSseS or honey. Bruin paved over
the ba rel, licked the tightly-driven
bung, ami was about abandoning it III
e8pair, when he espied the spile.-
Grasping it with his strong teeth, he
easily withdrew it, aud out came the
thick molasses in a steady stream. to
the grea delight of the bear, who
cIapped his mouth to the hole and
sucked away with grunts of self-8atis-
faction.
The molasses still flowed, and still
the bear kept his mouth to the orifce,
pausing now aud then to take a long
breath. 4. length he was full; his
stomach could hold no more; yet his
appetite was not satisfied. He squat
ted Oh his launches and viewed the
still running stream with disgust, to
think that the supply was so abund-
ant, and that, alas he could hold no
more. The molasses had now run
out in large quantity, and had form
ed a great pool on the floor; but Bru-
in dove into it. and rolled himself a
thousand times in the thick fluid. un-
til his shaggy coat was covered from
his nose to his tail, with moIasses, dirt
and gravel 5: ones
There he lay in the sweet pool, the
picture Of 8elf-Satisfaction, as the
cats roll and tumble in a field of the
catnip herb, All at once Mr.. Bear
became sick at the stomach and it
was a new sensation to him some
thing 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 bed, drawing the snowy
white sheets over his besmeared form.
There he lay groaning and grunting,
the sickest bear ever seen in that
part of the country.
When the girls arrived they were
Mortified al the scene, and were going
to lay the broomstick over Bruin, when
he started on the run for the haymow
with the sheets sticking to his back
1t was some time before the bear got
WELL and still longer before his mis-
tress forgave him.-Om Boys and
Girls.