The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-04
Grandfather's Bear Story.
A STORY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

OF all grandfather's stories, we liked
the one about the big watch and the bear
best. If could tell it as he did, sitting
In his corner by the fireplace with his
old fashioned cane held in both hands,
and his funny wig half jumping from his
head when he got we'll into the story,
am sure that the eyes of every boy who
listened now, would sparkle as ours did
then. Perhaps we liked this story best,
because grandfather showed us just where
it all happened, and used to bring out the
same queer Old watch for us to look at
once in while aud sometimes let one of us
take the rusty old Queens arm rifle, about
which he could tell more stories than we
could listen To In all winter.
A few little knots and some of the rust
is all there is left of the wood part of the
old rifle. / have the watch yet, dumb
and queer looking to children as ever.
The story teller is long since dead. This
is the way OF il, rs nearly as l can re-
nember.
Il can't remember the first bear that
ever saw. Bears were almost as plenty
about, when | was a boy, as foxes are
now, and | liked a lamb for supper as
well as fox does a chicken.
but can remember we'll enough the
first bear that | ever saw ont Of trap
and on his feet There was no meeting
house here then, aud after dinner Sun
days l could 10 what pleased till
chore-time. Well, after dinner one Sun
day | slipped some apples into my
pocket and started for the hill. 1t was
near the first Of May. and mother al
ways liked TO have me bring home a
good handful of Mag -fowers. Besides,
my partridge snares were along the
brook, and though I would not have
dared NEEDLE with them Sunday. | al
ways liked to see what had caught.
This watch, that uncle Julius sent me
from England, kept me good company, so
did not feel lonesome. Mother would
give it 10 me Sunday morning to carry
till night, then put it away in the bead
case In the sitting room through the
week.
''The day was as warm as summer, and
the May flowers on the south side of the
hill were redder and larger than now-a-
days. found shady, warm spot, and
tried to see how many flowers l could
pick without going beyond my length.
II got large handful and fell to watch
ing a squirrel till fell asleep. don't
know whether it was a sound or the sun
shining on my face that woke me. But
before | was we'll awake heard strange
loud stirring in the leaves just across the
brook. Aud what do you think made
itl A big bear hunting for last years
acorns or beech nuts Just as | have
done many time. 1t didn't take long
to get wide awake, then, The bear didn II
see me, though he was very near, and l
was surprised not to find IN yself fright
ened. would have given my new coat
if l could have held gun in my hand
However, | crept off as quietly as pos
sible, aud the bear was so busy beech
nutting that he did not observe me.
'When ! got we'll out of sight | start
ed for the house a. fast as if was show
ing my homely friend the way. MY
heart began to thump then and did not
stop any, when, of sudden, made the
bold resolve of getting the rife from the
kitchen wall where it always hung, and
coming back to find my bear This was
. bold idea, aud though it almost made
me tremble with excitement, firmly re-
solved to put it in execution. Itwas al
opportunity not to be overlooked.
James Bates, a son of one Of ou
neighbors, had killed bear alone, til,
fall before, and though he was three o.
four years older than /, he had been
hero all winter. The fact is, had BEEF
for long tine DESTROYS of such an ad
venture, and the grand idea of killing
bear all alone, was too great for an
thought of fear or prudence to overcome
at is doubtful If l should have bee
allowed to carry out such an attempt a
any time, and I knew that if l shoul
ask for the rifle on that day, it woul
surely be refused me. had TO trust t
stuck" Chance favored me, for bcfor
reaching the house, l saw father in tn
barnyard feeding the cattle. slippe
into the kitchen and got the rife quickl
and without being observed. kne'
that there was good lead ball in it, an
had no time to look about for more
Then run with all my speed back owe
the hill, past the maple woods and o
through the sheep pasture; more slowl
now q came near the brook.
I.set the rife against tree, and NOR
from habit than anything else, va
sbout 10 look At my watch, when foun