The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-04-15
Gales, shsteBrs, 5netOotts, 1T.
ODD BEAR STORIES.

a writer in the March issue Of Serb
nerS Uagasdte gossips readably About
Bears" He considers bruin to be an
animal in whom we have as instructive
an interest from boyhood onwards as we
have an Inherent horror of snakes or love
Of dogs.
Looked at from an intellectual point of
view, the animal can hardly be consider
ed success. lie lacks the keen instinct
Of the dog and the pondetous sagacity of
the elephant. He is as serious as the ass,
and far more stupid
Numerous stories were told US in early
youth touching this lack of common
sense, such for example as that of the
man in the wilds of the West who was
experimenting a saw-mil While SIT
ting upon the log that was being sawed,
and eating his frugal repast, huge black
bear suddenly bounced in and invited
himselfto dinner, The proprietor politely
withdrew, clambering into the rafters
above, while bruin took his place upon
The log and continued the meal. In few
moments the approaching saw touched
the rump of the bear, and he edged for
ward. 1t again rasped him and he re-
sented the indignity with growl The
third time he resented The indisnity in like
manner. The fourth time he turned furi-
ously ard hugged the saw. And then a
contest ensued that was very lively but
exceedingly brief: AT the end the modest
sawyer descended to find a remnant of
his dinner and considerable bear meat
tI, IL,
mon way of killing bears in Hardin for>
ests was to suspend log by grapevine
to a bee-tree. Bruin, who is fashiona-
bly, fond Of honey, in ascending the tree
would knock the log aside with his paw.
The log returning, would hit and infuriate
the bear, and, a contest arising between
the two, would bring the poor beast to
gr,ef-for TIE harder he would strike the
more severe would the log rebound =
Not bad fable Is that TO illustrate the
evil which comes to the individual who
creates strife in his own heart through
hate, envy, malice, and all unchartitable-
| ness.
This fondness for sweets is only equal~
ed by bruins taste for infant pig. He
cannot resist the squeal of the young pork>
er, and will run his stupid head into all
sorts Of traps baited with the living ani-
NAL.
There is a certain lumpish activity
about the bear that is extremely diverting.
One must not count too positively, how
ever, on his lack of dexterty The late
witty and eccentric Judge Tappan once
had a realizing sense Of this.
He, with two or three companions,
was boating on Lake Erie, near Sandus-
| KY, at an early day, when they observed
a bear swimming from the mainland to-
ward an island. The party, armed only
with an axe, rowed in pursuit. As they
approached their prey, the Judge stood
with axe in hand, intending to hit bruin
on the skull. But the animal, cycling his
enemy warlly, was prepared, and as the
axe descended he turned suddenly in the
water, and with one swift stroke of his
! paw sent IT flying from the grasp of mis-
foe far into the lake. Then brun pass
/ ed from The defensive to vigorous at
tack, and began climbing into tho boat.
To take such passenger aboard was
exceedingly unpleasant, and, armed with
oars, the party used due diligence. Il
! proved impossible to keep him cot, bot by
quick concerted action they succeeded IL
/ passing him over into the water again
! The bear returned TO the charge and was