The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-04-19

she stumbled into the wrong path and
went on deeper and deeper into the
woods. When she could 60 no farther
she sank down upon some pine droppings
under great tree, and looked about her.
Nothing was familiar she was in spot
where she had never been before. Sud
denly it came to her mind that she was
lost, and then he cried aloud in a way
that it was distressing even to the wild
little creatures of the woods. She
thought of home, and father and mother.
and feared she should never see them
again, and she kept crying on until her
head ached so that her eyes weuldnt
keep open, and then che lay down Just
where she was, and went right to sleep In
an instant.
In the night, while Betty slept, some.
thing came tramp, trampng through the
wood 1t was great black creature,
and he came tramping and shifting along:
and by.and-by he smelt the little girl,
and, following his nose, came straight to
the spot where she was. Then he stood
quite still, shifting very hard, with his
nose close to her. When he had ma de up
his mind about her, he threw himself up
on the ground close by her side, put his
great heavy paw over her back to hug
her up, and seemed quite contented and
happy.
After while Betty woke up and re-
membered that she was lost in the woods
just at that moment she felt the great
paw over her shoulder, and saw a mon
strous black bear lying close by her
side. Her first thought was to get away,
but when she tried to move the bear
growled and put his paw down more
heavily upon her, and so, from very
| fright, she dared not stir. But she
couldn't help crying and Trembling dread
fully. The bear seemed to understand
her case perfectly. Perhaps it was IL
mother bear who pltied her as she would
one of her own little cubs who had lost
its way.
She patted her with her paw, licked
her face and hands with her tongue, and
did everything in her power to calm the
poor child's mind, and soothe her off to
sleep again. Strange to say, she did 90
to sleep and was calm and almost happy
too.
But where was Tommy all this time
With his pals and berries Tommy
trudged along at a "dog trot,D thinking
of nothing but how quickly he could get
home, and what nice bowl of bread and
milk he should have. When he reached
the house he showed the full pals to his
mother, and she praised him, and set
them away for the night
Where's Betty ," at last asked the
father.
Down the road piece. She's COM
ing" answered Tommy.
But it grew darker and darker, and
Betty did not come.
"Tommy, go and find your sister," said
his father quite sternly.
Tommy hurried down his last bit of
bread and milk and ran to the bars. lie
went over with one spring and ran up
the wood-path, calling "Betty Betty !"
No little sister answered, and then the
boys heart, which was all in a futter be-
fore, began to beat fearfully, and he felt
that his own selhshness was the cause of
all this, and that little Betty was lost
lie FASTENED back to his home with a
sad heart, and told his parents that Bet
ty had lost her way-for he now felt quite
sure of it.
No time was to be lost. Father couldn't
even stop to reprove the thoughtless boy,
who perhaps, after all, was beng sufficient
ly punished by his own thoughts
Pierre Jerome is the man to help
mel" said the distressed father, seizin 2
his gun and hurrying from the house.
! Pierre was a hunter and trapper, a
queer, though kline. hearted man, Who led
a lonely life, living quite by himself in a
small log cabin mile from the nearest
neighbor. He had retired for the night
when his friend reached his hut, but he
sprung from his bed of spruce boughs as
he heard the sad story, seized his gun, put
on his moccasins and hat, and the two
men fastened away together.
They followed the usual path to the
huckleberry field, watching carefully by
the way for something to reward their
search. Nothing was seen of Betty in all
this long walk, and the father was almost
thinking with despair, when Pierre told
him that they must search the forest
especially go to the parts most visited by
animals, the ponds, and little lakes, for
possibly some wild creature had found
the child and dragged her to his retreat.
This was distressing to hear, but there
was nothing to do but search as rapidly
and thoroughly as possible.
Nearly an hour passed in this way
when at last, coming towards a great pine
tree, the men were startled by seeing an
immense black bear lying upon the
ground, with something near him, upon
which he seemed to be feastipg. A sud
den faintness came over Pierres compan
ion, and he would have fallen had not
the hunter grasped him resolutely and
babe him have his gun ready.
Creeping slow( y up towards the tree,
the form of little Betty was distinctly
seen, and Just at that instant the bear be.
came aware of intruders and sprang to
her feet. Selling the child in her mouth
she ran upon log which lay across lit
tie pond, and turning around angrily and
deiantly, faced the two men.
| 1t was moment into which great deal
was crowded.
1t was not time for taiDting or weak
ness on the part of the men, tut one into
which was crowded all the Judgment,
GOODNESS, and determination of lifetime.
The poor father instinclively raised his
gun, but Pierre resolutely made him put
it down, while be himself, with every
nerve strained, instantly took one stop
forward, raised his gun, aimed as only he
could, fired, and the bear fell dead into
the water. With loud cry, the father
rushed to the spot, plunged into the water,
and seized the beloved child She was
| !