Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-01-06
A BRAVE BOY.

the time, that don't know as can tell
the story straight"
ooh, yes, you can, Uncle Dick. That's
only an excuse" l answered, rather i'm
pertinently, for, being the only boy in the
family, was, of course, petted, pampered
and spoiled, as none but an 90 only boy"
ever is.
glanced up, rather anxiously, / con-
TESS, to see if my uncle was offended at
my unguarded speech.
| But he was as fond of me as the rest
and, seemingly, took no notice of my
rudeness.
Rubbing his nose, as he always did
when endeavoring to recall anything to
his memory he glanced thoughtfully out
into the distance, and then he commenced
the tale he had often promised and which
he always referred to as his bear story
1t was many years ago, he began, when
| was little shaver like yourself, not
more than nine years old, I 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 great
wagon and two strong horses, to take us
out there 10 live.
There was my mother, one girl older,
two boys younger, than myself, and the
baby, a roly-poly lump of fat that was the
delight Of us all. Such rare time was
probably never enjoyed by four rough
andtumble 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 week of this kind
of travelling to gain the new house which
my fathers energy mad provided for us.
Then, with the things lying heller SHELTER
about u.s. 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 awintry morning in merry
outdoor games and helping father trap the
game that ran so plentifully almost within
| 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 e-place 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,'' I 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 /
speak, and it seems as if but yesterday
had seen them all, and it makes me rather
prosy.
from his soft gray eye.
But, as I was saying, he continued, my
father had often to go out on very bitter
days, and one Of these mornings he called
me to him.
'sYou are getting to be a great lad,
now" said he, g and should be out as well
as myself; so get your things and come
along"
By no means displeased at the compi-
ment 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
were soon on the road 70 the woods.
Owing to the unusual severity OF the
winter, We had used an over amount of |
fuel, and it was for the purpose of re
plenishing the discriminating wood
pile that my father had started out that
morning.
It was clear, cold and still; not the
faintest breeze stirring among the leafess
branches of the trees, and the air heavy
laden and oppressive with the quiet and
intense bitterness Of the very depth of
wintry severity.