American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-15
A BRAVE BOY.


1T was so many years ago." said m
uncle, land was such little fellow d
the time, that l don't know as l can tel
, the story straight
: Oh, yes, you can, Uncle Dick. That
only an excuse" l answered, rather i'm
pertinently, for, being the only boy in tn,
family, l was, of course, petted, pampere,
and spoiled, as none but an g only boy
ever is.
l glanced up, rather anxiously, l con
TESS, to see if my uncle was offended a
my unguarded speech.
But he was as fond of me as the res
and, seemingly, took no notice of m,
rudeness.
Rubbing his nose, as he always die
when endeavoring to recall anything tc
his memory, he glanced thoughtfully ou
into the distance, and then he commenced
the tale he had often promised and which
he always referred to as his g bear story y
1t was many years ago, he began, when
| was little shaver like yourself, not
more than nine years old, should say
and just as mischievOus and unruly as you
| are-that my father removed to the wilds
OF what was then known as Upper Can
| ada
After clearing farm and erecting a
one-story house, the like of which you
have never seen, he came, with a great
| wagon and two strong horses, to take US
out there TO live.
There was my mother, one girl older,
two boys younger, than myself, and the
baby, roly-poly lump of fat that was the
delight of us all. Such rare time was
probably never enjoyed by four rough
and-tumble youngsters as we enjoyed that
moving.
With the great wagon piled to its ut
most capacity with our household goods,
a comfortable place being reserved for
my mother and the baby at the rear, and
the rest of us, including Tabby, the cat,
bestowed like steerage passengers wher-
ever we could find place for ourselves,
we moved slowly and majestically along.
1t took us exactly a week of this kind
of travelling to gain tie new house which
my fathers energy mad provided for us.
Then, with the things lying helter-skelter
about us, we proceeded to investigate our
surroundings.
They were splendid, we thought, and
while our elders were setting things to
rights and preparing the evening meal
we children laid out our plans for future
pleasure.
What splendid times we would have,
nutting and gathering acorns for the pigs,
berrying in the cool, shady woods, and
fishing in the beautiful little lakelet with
in walking distance of our new home.
And true enough, as time passed on,
many of our dreams were realized.
The nutting dream certainly was, and |
we passed many wintry morning in merry |
outdoor games and helping father trap the |
our very reach.
But at last the weather grew terribly
severe and we were glad to remain in
doors and eat the nuts we had gathered in
the fall, and toast our feet at the great
open fireplace in the kitchen.
Our father would doubtless have en-
joyed season of comfort and repose,
as well as we youngsters, but the neces-
sites of the family had to be met, and
he was often compelled to face the bit
ter winds and drifting SHOWS of the mid
winter season in order to provide them
for us.
Yes; but ,uncle,'' ventured to inter
rupt-'' how about the bear?'
Well, I'm coming to that now you see
the picture of the old house, the old
times, and my mother, long since gone to
dwell with angels, rises before me as l
speak, and it seems as if but yesterday |
prosy.
And here my Uncle Dick wiped tear
from his soft gray eye.
But, as | was saying, he continued, my
Iather had often to go out on very bitter
lays, and one of these mornings he called
me to him.
"You are getting to be great lad
aow,'' said he, land should be out as well
IS myself; so get your things and come
ilong.'
By no means displeased at the compli-
nent of being thought large enough to
accompany him, at once arose to obey
him.
Placing our feet in our snow shoes and
wrapping up in our warmest garments, we
we're soon on the road to the woods.
Owing to the unusual severity of the
winter, VIC had used an over-amount of
uel, and it was for the purpose of re-
the discriminating wood
bile that my father had started out that
1t was clear, cold and still; not the
branches of the trees, and the air heavy
aden and oppressive with the quiet and
intense bitterness of the very depth of
yintry severity.
1--WE will not be able to stay out long"
aid my father, "for this is the kind of
weather. which puts a fellow to sleep, and
nee fairly off there is no awakening
rom its overwhelming influence
| very soon felt that what he said was
oIICtt, lOI VIC "CiC boeh hE,CliCu w GA | ,
TT ourselves briskly he with his ak and l +,
nth my hatchet, on the logs before us to
eep off the soporific influence of the at
losphere.
A number of sticks had been added to
he pile, and my father was just saying he i
fought that would do for the day, when /;
re were both startled by sudden snap :
ing of the frozen twigs, as if by heavy !
coping object just directly behind us. }
Turning quickly in the direction of the
)und we were mortified to find ourselves
close proximity to one of the largest O
lack bears to be found in that portion of G
lie country. G
We both made an attempt to dodge out L
his way. g
But l alone was successful, my father 9
eing caught in his terrible embrace be- $
re he could spring away beyond his $
ZACH. Il
My father always carried his rifle, no v
latter what the occasion might be, and b
a this morning, as usual it had not been a
IT behind; but in the bitter intensity of il
lie cold he had no thought that it would II
e required and so left it standing against c
tree at some little distance from where ?
e were at work. L
Intense indeed must have been the long
~ for food to bring bruin out on such a
corning, for it was too cold, one would i,
ave thought even for a bear C
But there he was, as large as life and "
nd fat |