The Van Buren press., 1871-01-31
MISCELLANY.
Worse than a Bear.
BY BRuIN.

"And YOU won't he'll Cissy to carry
the basket, Roddie = repeated his aunt
"No, ! wunt," declared Roddie,
stamping his foot, anG looking very an
CRY indeed AN wun't lend her my
new v'locipede, an III tell Alice Clair
vile how she told a taie on me-
"Sewcd you right, you little bear
growlcd his uncle John, patting Cissy on
the head, as, casting sorrowfG! and timid
glances at her angry brother, she trotted
along with the basket Of plums under her
arm. "Why did yoi climb cut on the
roof? You shan't hare Il single plum
when we get home"
Il aiut a bear, an | Iwun't be called a
bear, uncle,' said Rodlie, stamping his
foot on the grass, and nearly crying with
passion. "lll tell my ma, | will"
"You are little hear, and want a
thorough good liclling,' repeated uncle
John.
mo, John, he is nei bear" said
Roddie's aunt Bears help one another,
and Roddie won't help his sister
Bears don't help one another con
tradcted the naughty boy +" they eat one
another they do and they'd eat Cissy,
they would. Miss Thompson, down to
Orion, told me SO.
/" But bears do help one another, Rod
lie" asserted his aunt. Uncle John
knows all about them, and he'll! tell you
what say is true
Yes said his Uncle grayely, " bears
are much kinder to each other than Rod
die is to his sister. Let us sit down un.
der this tree, and win tell Cissy some
thing that have seen bears do, so that
she will see how much nicer they are than
her brother
Roddic sullenly took up apostion be-
hind the tree, while the rest of the party
sat down in front Of it, facing the farm.
He had felt very much offended at being
called bear, but to be accounted worse
than II bear increased his bad temper to
such pitch of moral ugliness, that he
determined to 90 without dinner, and
make his mother miserable all day.
Il wun't listen, any way he thought,
as Uncle John coughed to clear his
throat before commencing the story;
but, although Roddic put his fingers in
his ears, q word or two reached him. and
few as they were, they so interested him,
that he was soon as attentive as Cissy
herself,
81 called Rcddea bear just now be.
gan uncle John, bat think did a
great injustice to the bear. Bruin may
know nothing about etiquette; but he
certainly seems to understand the old
fashioned courtesy Of kindness.
~ was once q traveller in Russia, and
| became acquainted with the method oI
catching bears in that country. To en-
trap them, pit is dug several feet deep /;
and after covering it over with turf,
leaves. etc, some food is placed on the
top. The bears, if tempted by the bait,
easily fall into the snare; but, if four or
five happen to get in together, they will
manage to get ont again"
GLOW is that?" asked Cissy Roddie
was going to ask the question, too, but
he remembered, just in tune, that he had
determined to be sulky all day.
"Well. you see, Cissy," resumed un-
Gle John, they form a sort Of fladdcr oy
stepping on each others shoulders, and
thus make their escape .I. L
" But how does the bottom one Get
out q inquired Roddie, eagerly, 50 in
tercsted that he had momentarily forgot.
ten his resolution. The instant after, he
remembered it, and blushed up to the
roots of his hair with false shame.
"Why, Rodde," answered his uncle,
kindly, but gravely, these bears, though
not possessing a mind and soul, likeyou,
can feel affection, and experience a wish
to help each other. Scampering off,
they fetch the branch of tree, which
they let down to their poor brother, en-
abling him to speedily rejoin them in
freedom, in which they rejoice And
now, let us get home, and show mother
the p!ums."
AS they rose, Roddie ran to Cissy's
side. "I'll carry the basket Cissy. !
gucss you must be tired he said. in a
low voice, 20 that his aunt and uncle
would not bear him.
"Oh, Ro tdic," SAID Cissy aiu't
tired much, but Pm 50 glad you amt
mad amy more. Ma said you'd fah and
be killed. il you climbed out on the roof,
you know"
"That's So" declared Roddie, sturdi.
ly, feeling SO jolly, now that his bad