Connecticut western news., 1874-10-09
At the Swamp,

day, he spoke out abruptly
 "1,ve hired my help for the season"
 "You have?" said his wife. "Who have you hired ?"
 "David Locke and Jim Thompson"
 "Have you? Well, David Locke is smart enough, but guess Jim Thomp. son ain't much"
 Farmer Stanton was a shrewd, ob- serving man. Rising from the table, he remarked,- Es "I'H wager Jim Thompson is the smartest of the two," and went out.
 Mary Stanton, the farmers daughter sat at the table, and heard the conver- sation. Mary was rosy-cheeked girl of sweet sixteen, full of life and anima- tlon, and much admired by the young swains of the nelghborhood. David Locke and Jim Thompson were both well-known to her.
 David was dashing, showy fellow, with plenty Of conceit. Jim was just the reverse of that. He was very re- tiring, bashful to fault, and never dis posed to assume anything. In the presence of young ladies, particularly, Jim always had his "worst foot for ward," and appeared to great disad- vantage. Naturally enough, the lively Mary voted him downright ssstupid," and her mother agreed with her. A week later found the two boys in stalled in Farmer Stanton's family. Davld and Mary were at once on the best of terms, for Mary was fascinated with his brialiancy and wit. But Jim, although he admired Mary more than any other girl he knew, had not enough assurance to assert himself, and he re- celVed but little attention from Mary.
 One evening Farmer Stanton and his Wife went off to the Green on business. The weather was chilly, and Mary and the two young men sat round the fire. Dav1d Locke, as usual, led the conver- satlon, and presently he commenced telling bear adventures, taking care to | figure himself in them as the chief actor, and hero of the first mark.
 Jim and Mary listened to his boasts, little thinking how soon the opportu- n1ty would come to test him. Still less did David dream of being put to the proof of his courage, even while he was boasting about it. But before he had finished telling his gallant ad- ventures, great uproar was heard at the barn.
 Mary thought very likely some wild animal was about, for the night was dark, and favorable for prowlers. Turn ing to David, she exclaimed:
 "Take the lantern, David, and go to the barn and see what the matter is. ,
 To her surprise, instead of hastening to do her bidding, as he always had done, David turned pale, sat still, and forcing light laugh, said:
 There's nothing the matter at the barn, Mary"
 "But I tell you there is, and you know it., persisted the young lady, with a meaning look. She was beginning already to see how thin David's preten- slons to courage were.
 Turning to Jim, she said:
 " YouU go, won't you?"
 Jim colored to the very roots of his hair, but he replied, firmly: | "No, David is the man to go, oi course. He may have another heroic adventure"
 "Ho, ho; you needn't ask Jim, ' cried David, hastily. "He's afraid there's someting out there P
 "I know that's the reason why goa won't start. "Tisn't may reason, by g long shot,"
 "Well, why don't you go, then?" "H Miss Stanton had asked me first, as she did you, I would have gone."
 70 fol-de-roI for you You're COW, ard, Jim."
 "So be you."
 With flashing eyes, Mary Stanton sprang up and reached for the lantern.
 You are both towards" she ex. claimed. "I'll go myself"
 The resolute girl lit the lantern, and got herself ready before the young me1 could so far forget their own quarrel as to notice what she was doing but just as she opened the door her father drove up. l Taking the lantern from Mary't ) hand, he went to the barn, where he ) found that one of his oxen had broker t loose, so it proved the disturbance hac not been caused by wild beast at all F That little evening episode lowered the two boys greatly in Mary Stanton'l r esteem. She had never expected mucl
 of Jim, but for David to fall from hel
 good opinion, was certainly 8 disap
 pointment. . z--.--- -,-...
 Thus matters stood for long time
 long time to Jim Thompson's think : ing at least. Both the boys saw by 3 Mary's changed manner what sht thought of them. David didn't seen to care for her good opinion, but Jin worried considerably in secret, and h. l more than once regretted h1s refusal tt go to the barn, The foolish pique of . moment had lost him fine chance tt t prove his courage courage enougl Jim certainly had.
 3 One day, after dinner, Farmer Stan ton said: ..... .-..-.---.. } "Boys, I am going to the Green While I am gone David will chop at thu wood-pile in the door-yard. You, Jim may hitch the horse into the wagon After I get of, go down to Neighbo1 5 Chamberlain's and ask the loan of hi 3 inch auger, long enough to mend tn, 3 harrow. Then come back and worl with David till I get home. Farmer Stanton and his wife rod away, and Jim started across lots to d, the errand, leaving David chopping ; Some twenty rods below the hous U there was swampy piece of woods t, , pass through. Jim had scarcely enter D ? ed the woods when he suddenly cam :. upon bear, digging dragon root. Tn y bear was backed up to a small tree
 with his head down, grubbing away S T intently that he did not hear Jim's ap proach.
 , Jim was clear headed, and knew wha |. to do in real emergency better tha 5 many a more brilliant young man. Be z z sides, he possessed remarkable strengt U of limb. 5 5 Quick as thought, he sprang forwar U " and caught the bear by his hind legs . Jerking his feet from under him, h s pulled them backwards and, in
 second, twisted them round the body C
 the tree, where he held them with tn i grip of vice. The astonished bea
 found himself standing on his fore