Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-07-30
DAMS ADVENTURE WITH THE
a1rafl II BEARS.
BY CARRIE M'MILLAN.


eaAl.s BEARS.
BY CARRIE M'MILLAN
Daniel Morrison was a farmers son. and
ne lived IN the western part of Maine He
was eleven years old at the time of which
| write-the oldest of five children. From
the time he was small boy he had been
accustomed to help his father, and was as
smart and energetic boy as the country
could afford
His father had learned the carpenters
| trade, and at intervals when the hurry of
his teamwork was over, he would get Jobs
i in the neighboring towns, coming home
Saturday night to spend the Sabbath with
his family
Times were hard then as they are now,
and the ready money obtained in this way
was OF great assistance to him. The work
at home was all left for Dan to do. It was
no small charge for mere boy, but he felt
| the full responsibility of the situation, and
MIXED, drove the COWS to and from pas
ture, looked after the horses, sheep, pigs
and hens, sawed wood and drew water,
and cared for his mother and the little ones
as faithfully as if he had been man
grown.
One Saturday afternoon he hurried
through his chores, and, saddling the
horse, he rode over to Il to meet his
father, and thus save him a long walk
after his days work. Taking the horse,
the father rode on ahead, while Dan, who
wished to visit some mink-traps at the
mill-pond, followed on foot with the big
| black dog Bru-short for Bruin-for com,
pany. -------~-. f@
The autumn gala-dress of the forest was
i ernf INN CnnI< I<|JI rr.r1~o -
OF wind cast showers of this dis
mantled finery at Dams feet. The squir-
rels, busy in the oaks and hazel bushes.
chartered at him with the most provok-
ing sauciness as he passed; and now and
then partridge rose from before him and
flew off with a loud ac]ss7rsng; for this
beautiful, shy bird of the forest was far
more common then than now
Once great yellow fox crossed the
road, so heavily laden that he could hard
ly walk When Dan gave chase he drop
ped his booty, though with evident reluc-
lance, and going on a little way stopped
and waited to see what would happen
Coming up, Dan found full-grown wood
| chuck, SO heavy that he did not wonder
Master Reynard found it hard work to
carry him. Not wishing to deprive the
fox Of his meal, he left 1t where it had
been dropped; and long before he was
out of sight the cunning old fellow, know
ing that he would not be molested, was
dragging it off again.
! AS Dan was turning sudden curve in
the road, he came upon bear playing
with two great cubs. At sight of the in
truder the cubs scrambled up the trees,
while the old bear stood her ground
| growing fiercely and showing her white
teeth. "a A sass s34a
Dan started back, and whistled for Bru,
who was Oft chasing something in the
woods. He came running up, and seeing
the bear attacked her at once. With one
| blow OF her paw she sent him headIong
several feet; but nothing daunted, he arose
and went at her again
Without waiting to see the result of the
combat, Dan hurried on for assistance
Neighbors were few and far between, and
the nearest house was more than mile
away. He found that Mr.. Brown was not
at home, though his wife said she expect
ed him every moment. He then asked
for the loan of his gun, hastily telling
what he wanted Of it. The good woman
got it for him, begging him all the while
to be careful, and not run any risk; and
she looked after him as he walked off,
thinking what brave, manly boy he
was, and how badly his mother would
feel if anything should happen to him.
Dan, when he got back, found that the
good dog had succeeded in freeing the
bear, and was keeping watch underneath.
He aimed carefully and fired, and the
bear fell to the ground in her death strug-
giles. The cubs were not so easily killed.
One Of them had nearly succeeded in
getting away, but Bru detained him until
his master gave him quSetus in the shape
of leaden bullet. The other, slightly
wounded turned ON the dog, and fought
SO savagely that Dan feared he would Kill
him. For time he dared not fire, for
fear of hitting the dog as well; but at
length he found an opportunity to dis
charge the contents Of his gun in the
bears side. He slowly relaxed his
I grasp, and fell back motionless.
Just as all was done, Mr.. Brown came
riding up, having been dispatched to Dams
aid by his anxious wife as soon as he
reached home. And if Dan was glad that
| he had not arrived before, who can blame
/ him?g5
Dan was great hero for long time
People came in crowds to see the bodies
! of the bears, and the fame of the exploit
spread far and near Dan disclaimed all
credit, and gave all honor to Bru, who, he
said, had by far the worst of the fight.
But in spite of that the people still
thought as | think, that Dan showed great
courage and presence of mind for boy
only eleven!
The old dog was terribly scratched, but
genuine bears grease" proved an excel
! lent remedy in his case. He carried the
scars to the day of his death, however. 2
Dan realized something more substan-
| tial than all this honor and glory, how
ever. Besides the bounty given by the
State for every bear killed in its limits,