American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-01
Bruin as a Dentist,

at had three teeth taken out rather
cIriously once" said the stranger raising
his bearded lip, showing the vacancy oc-
casioncd thereby. "And as we've got to
wait for the cars quite while yet, for, like
yourself, | was unaware of the change of
time, I'll tell you the story:
When was young man of twenty.
two my father emfgrated to the Far West
we arrived there in the fall-and from
that time until the middle of the winter 1
had continued, unrelenting toothache and
if the front teeth, which caused the pain,
had not been removed they might have
ached to this day, for aught l know.
became so nervous and cross that l was
perfectly uncomfortable to myself and
friends.
Zone day, scarce knowing how to pass
away the long, dreary hours, / shouldered
my rifle and entered the woods. For an
hour or more l wandered listlessly about,
the pain from my teeth occupying my
attention. When discovered the distance
l had travelled, L wished myself back home
again, and regretted my folly, thinking
that l might have been more comfortable
by the tireside.
81 turned to retrace my steps, when
heard a low grOwl close at hand. Looking
about me, l soon discovered the form of
. an almost famished she-bear. My pain
was forgotten in moment. l raised my
rifle and fired; the animal fell and, in my
folly, l rushed forward. When within a
few feet of the bear she rose upon her
launches and turned her blazing eyes full
upon me; her mouth was opened wide,
her tongue protuding, and the froth and
blood streaming therefrom.
III take you down from that, thought
1, as l raised the butt of my rifle high
above my head and struck at the bear; but
she parted the blow very neatly with her
dexter paw and sent my rifle flying from
my grasp, beyond my reach.
. was little taken aback atthis spcci-
men of skill; my fist was clenched and
struck at Mrs. Bruin. She succeeded in
clawing off my cap, and drew her long
nails through my hair, making not very
agreeable comb. My blow took effect on
her snout, staggering her a little. She
gathered herself and stretched out her
paws ready to give me a hug in case 1
came near enough; but was on my guard.
Boxing was a favOrite amusement of
mine, and smart was the man who could
get the best of me. Of all the antagonists
was the most scientific. I was in
pretty predicanrent. l tried running,
but the bear was the fleetest, and when l
paused she stood on the defensive. I be-
came more fatigued every moment, while
my four-footed antagonist appeared good
for an hour to come. She now changed
her tactics, as if she had discovered that
my strength was failing. Walking along
on her hind legs she would near me and
then spring forward, and had to be pretty
lively to elude her grasp.
s. watched my chance, and when next
she sprang, l planted my foot against her
stomach and sent her reeling over. My
foot caught in the underbrush and l fell
with her. We were both up at once; l
struck her under the ear, and she brought
her paw upon my mouth with such force
that fell headlong. l felt the uprooted
teeth in my mouth, and spat them out the
blood was streaming from my nose and
mouth in a small torrent; felt the hot
breath of the bear upon my face; fierce
growl of triumph, and she tore the clothes
from my back, taking fair share of skin
along with them That was an agonizing
moment for me; gathered all my strength
and attempted to arise, but l was not al
lowed to gain my feet, for the fierce beast
felled me to the ground again as often as l
tried it.
We'll, mister, thought my time had
come. The blood was streaming from my
wounds; the bear had one paw on my
breast, which prevented me from arising
The burning eyes We're looking into mine;
the bear struck me on the temple. l heard
the report of a rifle, and then was lost to
all around me.
"When l recovered, an old hunter
named Bill Harris stood over me-the
bear lay stiff and dead little ways Off
and he said:
"' Me and Jim Kirk has been huntin'
arter this bar fur long while; she ar
bout starved, an knew she'd fout like
all natur, an if hadn't cum along jest in
the nick of time shed fixed you You
see seed how matters stud, an so bored
into her-tuk her ri ght in the heart-she
drapped.'
"Ihat's the way l became minus three
teeth. Tile Field.