The Portland daily press., 1870-04-16
Selected story
Betty's Night with the Bear
A TRUE STORY

the bright laced mother, and The WllQ chill
dren, and after while, the tall, sunburnt IA
Their, you made up your mind this was almost
village. Then few rods on, and the wood
opened out to the clearing, where day after
day the father worked in his great field of
corn and potatoes, which hardly needed scare
crows, because the blackened stumps, still
standing, each seemed to be one. Then the
lake, aud the brook which emptied into it,
and, on the other side, the maple wood, where
sugar was made in the spring, when the In
dams came down from the upper lakes:
In the winter the woods were filled with
lumbermen, who camped only mile or two
from them, and through the summer they
amused themselves in ways you would never
dream of. And SO the years went on, ana lltile
Betty, the youngest, came to be Iour years
old.
It was August, hot, bright day. and the
very height of the huckeberry season.
snow. children, want you to do your pref
test to-day Mrs. Brewer said early IN the
morning. If you want your fill of buckle
berry pie this winter, you've got 10 get me a
bushe mole afore they are gone"
al found place yesterday" said Jack. 81
bet there's halt bushel anyhow. Put Betty
down in the middle, an she might fill two
quart pail without getting up"
swell, bling home all you can," said the
mother; - AID here" are your dinners in this
"She'll look out for herself: she's cute as
Injln this minute"
And Jack picked up his basket and started
on, followed by Sarah and Betty in Indian
file.
Five OR six miles to the best huckleberry
held would seem long way to you, but the
children's brown, bare feet never tired.
Before long, they passed little lake, stop
ped there moment to drink, and soon reach
ed the opening where the berries grew thick
est.
What with finding better and better places,
and stopping sometimes to watch the scod-
ing squirrels, and then to eat dinner, the day
went swiftly by, and it was almost sunset
when they turned toward home with heavy
pals and basket. Betty Jagged behind, for
she ached with long STOPPING, and Jack and
Sarah grew more and more impatient.
"Now, Betty, we'll just leave you if you
dent hurry. "You've got the littlest pail.
Come along quick" said Jack.
II can't. won't 60 quick if 1 don't want
to-" and Betty halt cried.
'Come along, said Jack hurrying on and
Betty, indignant sat down on log and wait
ed till they were almost cut of sight.
II know the way just as well as they do"
she thought, and walked on leisurey
sack turned once or twice, and seeing her
following slowly, concluded she would soon
overtake them. and went on.
Now aud then, Betty stopped, the last time
till they were entirely ont OF sight, determined
to show that she didn't depend upon them at
all.
The shadows heightened; the wood had
never seemed so dark; and at last, little
frightened, Betty called loudly:
Jack! JackE
Nc answer save the echo, and now Betty
ran on, hoping al every moment to see the two
before her, She did not notice that she had
taken trail leading off from the one they had
gone over in the morning, and only stopped
on coming to a swampy spot she did not re-
member. 20 Jack~ she sobbed, tuning
once more, but now the darkness was closing
in upon her. The forest was thick and close
and try as she would there was no finding the
ether ira |. Overhead an owl hooted She
stumbled on, startled at the sudden sound,
then tripping over root in the way, spilllng
the berries all about; picked herself up, only
to tall again caught at the air as she felt her
self going rolled down steep incline, and
lay at the bottom in a little heep.
1t was nearly eight o'clock when Jack and
Sarah walked into the little house and set
their pals on the table.
"Where's Betty" said the mother.
"Just behind; she wouldn't come along
with us"
And Mrs Brewer, satisfied, told them to
sit down and eat their suppers.
where's Betty?" said the father, presently
coming in.
'She's coming; she wouldn't keep I'D with
up" said Jack, privately, little uneasy in his
mind at the long delay.
linen 60 out now and help her along in
said Mr.. Brewer. "Its a poor way for a bow
to do, to leave little gal alone in the woods.
even II she does know the way"
Jack, with slice of Tread in his hand.
went out little sulky, and Mr.. Brewer stood
in the door leading down TO the trail. Half
an hour went by.
II don't see what's the matter" said Mrs.
brewer. I'm sort OF worried, Johl. Ant
you mind to 60 out?'
For an answer, Mr.. Brewer took his pun
and started. For an hour or more Mrs. Brew
er waited, growing more and more anxious.
linen the walked down the trail, calling now
and then, coming suddenly at last mon her
husband and Jack.
Heres Jack, done beat out" he said. stake
him home, wife. I'm going for old Pierre
Beauchamp. He knows every turn and
crook ea, OF the woods: Keep the fire going, for
we bring her in, aud don't fret;;" and Mr..
Brewer turned down the old trail to Pierre's
cabin.
can hardly tell you how the night went
5y to the poor mother, waiting and watching.
or TO the father, with old Pierre, who scour.
ed every foot OF the woods on each side of
the trail, and by the light of their pine knot
torches searched each hollow tree, thinking
Inc cnlld might possibly have crawled into
for shelter. They shouted and called: Int
morning dawned at last with no sign of Betty.
and the father, exhausted and almost DESPAIR.
ing, sank down under one OF the tall pines.
and hid his face in his hands. Suddenly he
lifted his head.
dat vey," old Pierre said, as his quick ear
caught slight sound, and Mr.. Brewer dart
ed on to the left, but stopped short, and stood
with such CHASTITY face that old Pierre. too
paused moment. Not stones throw from
them flowed wide deep creek, one of the
tributaries OF Gull Lake, and crossed here bv
an old log thrown over it long ago by the In,
dams. A white birch grew by its side. and
under it lay Betty, resting partly against
huge brown bear, apparently asleep. At the
slight cracking in the brush it raised its head
ana growing low, put one paw on the chiIds
dress; then, as If seeming danger, turned
about, saw the two faces looking toward it,
and with fierce loud growl caught Betty in
ms mouth and started towards the log.
vat you do? Vat you do?" said old
Pierre as Mr. Brewer levelled his gun. "You
shoots now and MAIDS de bear, den de chile all
gone; wait one minute. Hold you still-not
cry; keep you mooch quietw he called to
ter" " w W"
AS he spoke the bear had reached the mid
ele OF the log, and turned now to see if he was
lonowed The small, fierce eyes rested sec.
ond on the pair, and in that second. old Pierre
tne pest shot in Minnesota, fired. Without
struggle or sound, the bear reeled from tbe
Ioe 10 tne dark water below, and in one mo.
ment MIR. Brewer had dashed in and se;zod
the screaming child. anu 'e'Neu
de prettiest shot dis bon pun did o,,ou
ME" old Pierre shouted, husgipe his onn and
dancing wildly about, while Mr.. Brewer hna-
ged flerre and the gun and Betty ali st
once, ana then ran on toward home. forget.
ing all WEAKNESS in this great ioy.
=. There was happy family that DAVIS nc elf.
LIE, LIZ aoout the bed where Betty lay in state
oney 1rled to make her tell when the bear
came TO her and how she felt.
{. rolled way down somewhere y said Rottv
,, anu sort OF went to sleep, and then cried
VIII WIZ woke up because was all scra,cbeJ
any san!arty. Then heard somefn comm,
sm,e rau un y, cry any more, an if came .n3 |
so,,,s all round me. l thought mauha ~
Mouu eat me up, but couldn't orr III,
sui VI whispered, Now lay me. am IL ~,
slneilns me. Then it lay down and - i;ole ep
me. LIS tongue was all rough and scrotoi
IL nurt me. But when tried to Get a,rsn;,
grow'ed. Then kept still, and Was CO ,;sy.n y
ana we went to sleep, an l didn't reno ueu,
I'LL IL picked me up an made me crv co1 .Sa
teeth pinched me, an then I heard G p;o .me
boiler, and you got me out O. the wafer
DO you think this can't be true, bows and
glrle? know it is, for Betty herself told me-
fIn