American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-08-02
DAMS ADVENTURE WITH THE
BEARS.
BY CARRIE M'MILLAN.

| BY CARRIE M'MILLAN.
| Daniel Morrison was farmers son, and
| he lived in the western part of Maine. He
| was eleven years old at the time of which
! 1 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 farm-wOrk was over, he would get jobs
i'm 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 1t 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 a man
grown.
One Saturday afternoon he hurried
| through his chores, and, saddling the
horse, he rode over to l. to meet his
father, and thus save him long walk
after his DAYS work Taking the horse
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.
The autumn gala dress of the forest was
getting decidedly shabby, and every gust
of wind cast showers of this dis
mantled f1nery at Dams feet. The sqIIir-
rels, busy in the oaks and hazel bushes,
chartered at him with the most provOk-
inr ha
then partridge rose from before him and
flew off with loud sohirring;: tor this
beautiful shy bird of the forest was far
more common then than now.
Once a 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 Il little way stopped
and waited to see what would happen.
Coming up, Dan found a 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 a 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.
Dan started back, and whistled for Bru,
who was off 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 headlong
several feet; but nothing daunted, he arose
and went at her again -f
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 Il 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 a 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 Il guiefus 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 a time he dared not fire, tor
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
! grasp, and fell back motionless.
| fa
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
| him9
Dan was a great hero for Il 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 Il boy
only eleven.
The old dog was terribly scratched, but
| "~enuine bears grease" proved an excel
| Ient remedy in his case He carried the
sears to the day of his death, however
| Dan realized something more suhstah-
tial than all this honor and glory, how
ever. Besides the bounty given by the
State for every bear killed in its limits,
The skins were valuable, and the meat was
in great demand. For II nice lender bear
steak is great luxury TO lovers of wild
meat"
The boy is father TO the man. and by
his own pluck and perseverance Dan
went through college, and out into the
/ world to do IA mans work there. But IN
| the homestead the fathcr-old and gray
/ haired now-lovcS to show the great
/ shaggy bear-skin, and tell of what his son
Dan did when he was II bOy.-Ldtte Cor
porat.
A You've Lady ut Portland Oregon, re
Gently broke her engagement because her
| lover while taking her to ride, quarrcled
| with a gatekecper over the amount OF toll.