The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-09-30

Good Words.
AN EsCAPE.-George Percy belonged
to one of the mountain settlements o.
Virginia. On moonlight night in
September he went out with gun and
dogs.to hunt opossums. While he was
climbing tree, axe in hand, to dislodge
some unwilling game, a big black bear
disturbed by the dogs, ran up directly
behind him, and there he was!
Here was pretty situation. Up a
tree, with snarling bear between him
and the ground. For a few minutes
George gazed in horror at the animal
who, slightly growing at the dogs which
now surrounded the root of the tree,
seemed to interpose terrible obstruc.
ton between him and all that was dear
upon earth.
After experiencing the terror of not
being able to get down, his next
thought was, the bear might be able to
get up. In fact, there was nothing on
earth to prevent him if he felt SO in
clined.
In little while, however, Georges
extreme fright passed away-for he was
quite brave boy-and he put himself
astride the limb he had stood upon. with
the axe in both hands, prepared to kill
the bear, or at least to try to do 80, should
he attempt to ascend the tree. Although
he tried to move with as little noise as
possible, the bear heard him, and turn
ing his head around, looked straight up
at him.
George thought that never before in
his life had he seen such ugly eyes. The
bear seemed astonished at finding that
he was not the only occupant of the tree,
and, ceasing to pay any attention to the
barking dogs, he gazed steadily at
George, without, however, making any
attempt to 60 up to him.
For some time the situation continued
thus, George sitting with the axe in his
hand, ready for blow, and the bear,
with his head upturned, watching him
with the greatest interest.
The North American black bear will
seldom attack man unless brought to
bay, although he is a very unpleasant
companion when really at close quar-
tiers.
One thing was certain, he could not
climb over the bear. Therefore the bear
must be made to get down first. How to
manage this was a question indeed. If
the dogs would but 60 away, perhaps the
bear would vacate the premises of it's
own accord, but they maintained con-
tinual barking and bowling.
Things went on in this way for half
an hour or SO, although George thought
it must be nearly midnight. At last, in
wondering what on earth he should do,
he happened to remember some matches
he had in his pocket. Perhaps the bear
did not like fire.
Happy thought! Putting his axe in
a crotch of limb above him, where he
could easily get it if he should need it,
he lighted match on the heel of his
boot, and after leaving it burn for a few
seconds, dropped it on the bears head.
That worthy animal gave distinct
start and Rrunt, and shifted his position
little. Then George dropped another,
but it went out before it reached the
bear. This was the fate Of the third and
fourth.
As he had but few more, he thought
of an economical plan. He had piece
of newspaper in his pocket. He woald
light that and drop it on the bear. But
the paper was not heavy enough to drop
straight, and SO George put an old knife,
the only heavy thing he had about him,
in the paper, rolled it up, lighted it, and
dropped it fairly and squarely on the
bears back.
The blaze was 30 large that the ami
mails hair caught fire, and George said
that the flames for an instant seemed to
shoot along his back.
The old bear wanted no more of that
fun. Turning quickly around, he slipped
backward down the tree in less time than
it takes to tell it, and. with bound, was
off in the bushes, with all the dogs in full
cry after him.
George dropped his axe, and went
down the tree very little slower than
the bear. He never stopped running un-
til he got out in the open fields Then
he whistled long and loudly for the
dogs. Pomp came back first, and then
Rover returned limping.
Bill never came back. 1t is likely he
suffered death for too much bravery.
ALWAYS LOVE Your MoTHER--DoN'T
FORGET.-My little boy wakes early,
and delights to creep slyly into bed and
wake me with kisses. One morning,
coaxing him to lie still awhile, l fell
asleep again. When / awoke he was
looking very sadly at me; perhaps my
closed eyelids had made him think of
neighbours child he had seen sleeping the
sleep of death.
Signing, he said softly, 4" Mamma,
what do little boys do when their man.
mas 90 to heaven and leave them be.
hindu
My own mother left me so when was
nine years old. While now my boys
anxious face lay close to mine on the pill
low, there came over me smothering
memories of the lonely days that came
after, when she was not there to help me
off to school, nor welcome me at night
those motherless nights, when first SER
want put me to bed.
wish, Harry, neither you or any
little boy or girl need ever know how
hard it Is to live without a motherl"
So said to the little fellow; but to
you older boys and girls can't help CIV
ing an older wish; that you who have
mother love her carefully. Be as good
as ever you can be, and you can not
equal her goodness to you. Girls, be
quick to save her steps about the house
she has taken miles Of steps for you be-
fore you could stand alone. Boys, you
will always be in debt to your mother;
money can not hire such faithful service
as hers has been; it can barely be paid
for in pure heart-coin-Love!
TELLING A LIE WITH A FINGER.-A
little boy for a trick pointed with his
finger to the wrong road when a man
asked him which way the doctor went. |
As result, the man missed the doctor,
and his little boy died, because the doc
tor came toolate to take n fish bone. from
his throat. At the funeral, the minister
said that the boy was Killed by lie,
which another boy told With his finger.
81 suppose" says uncle John, "that
the boy did not know the mischief he
did," OF course, nobody thinks he
meant to kill a little boy when he
pointed the wrong way. He only