The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-03-14

Dave good ume With The boys N you are
J pa,ient. mean TO try to be patient, aud
not mind more than half what tkosc boys
J say when they make remarks.
-
PLAyINo Roksk wITH HEAR.
Onee there WAS = man whose life had
been spent 10 going west. His father and
mother bad moved from New England to
Michigan when be was baby, and set.
tied six miles from any neighbor. Bat
before The farm was AI cleared other set
Tiers cAtnes aud the family moved on.
4 Don't want to be crowded, the old man
said, | heard rifle and an AZ that wasn't
mine yesterday. Aud be went further
west every year, til BY the time the boy
I'm telling you Of was grown up man
they bad got clear TO the west part Of
Oregon, on the Pacific coast. And as
the old man couldn't move west any lar.
ther without getting into the ocean, and
neighbors had moved within two miles Of
him, he gave Il up, went TO bed slck, and
died. Taina no use, he said, they're
bound 10 crowd an old man onter the
world, ] can't bear TO tech elbows with
folks, nohow. Aud 20 be died with his
nearest Beighbor two miles away
But was going TO tell you OF bis sons
scrape With bear. They built their first
log house at the foot of q hill, bat II was
90 low and damp that James-for that
was bis name--stsrtcd TO build a bigger
one higher up, half mile of, near a
mountain brook, with grand old trees
around the spot, and fine view OF the
country. lie took Off the two front wheels
of the old emgrant wagon that they had
crossed the great plains in and made him
a good strong.wheeled cart with box ON
II aud In this he drew back and forth his
carpenter tools, and bis dinner, and chlps
for the fire, over rough road that be
bad cut through the woods.
lie used to take little nap after his
MONDAY meals aud one day when be was
sleeping on splendid bed OF evergreen
boughs that be bad fixed near the timbers
be was at work on, he was awakened by
loud rattle Of the tin dishes in his cart.
He looked around quickly, and what do
you suppose he SAW A big, black bear
paving over the luncheon he had left, and
smackiug his chops over a piece of wild
honey and some corn cakes that James
hadn't eaten up.
This is pretty fix, said James to him
self, quick as flash. Ny rifle and ak are
both in the cart, and that ugly beast
would claw me TO pieces before could
get 'em out. He was afraid the bear
wonld chase him If he ran, and corner
him If he stayed, and so he set his wits
at work TO get him out OF the scrape.
Good bright wits are too much for bear,
or hard lesson or tough job of any
sort, II they are only kept at work, with
no | can't, | don't want to, or Oh
deari TO hinder them. II dido't take
James wits so long as I've been telling it
to you to make plan for him.
He jumped 10 bis feet quick as a fash,
grabbed the tongue of the cart before the
bear could say Jack Robinson, If he
had known how-and started on keen
run down The hill, drawing the cart and
the bear after him.
Well, suppose there never was bear
so astonished since the pair saved from
the food stepped out OF Noah's ark and |
found tue whole world drowned. He |
bad never had ride before and be didn't |
want one now; but the cart was going so |
fas, that be dare not jump out, and 80 be |
just clung on, and looked from one side
to the other, and fairly howled as the cart |
bumped over the roots and stones. James
had been TO the city once and seen The |
street cars, and when he found he had the
bear caught, the fun OF the thing made
him laugh. When the bear roayed once
be halloed back: Ali full inside take
the next carl Aud when the bear gave
q terrible growl, he said: Move up in
front, please--and don't grnmble. This
is through car. Git up, there land be
buckled down to il and just the way car
drivers make the horses do, when they
are late, and pretend they don't see lit
tie boy crooking his finger for 'em to stop
on the crossing. The tin dishes In the
bottom Of the cart ratified like q peddIer's
wagon on the pavement; the az and gun
bounded on the bears toes, and be looked
as II be didn't know which was The worst
his mad or his scare.
down the steep hill James ran, straight
for the corner Of his log house. lie had
bis plans oil made, and as be turned The
corner be ran the cart sgainst log, and
Iiped IL right over, bottom side up, with
Mister Bear on the under side. Hlsolher
rife hung over the door, In the house, and
be grabbed that down in q hurry, AID ss
the bear stuck bic head out from under
the cart be shot him righ, between the
eyes, saying, There, that settles the
question.
What question: asked his wife, who
zane running ou, to see what the noise
meant.
Why, the question whether | bad
saugbt the bear or be had caught me.
Mercy sakesl sbe said, As she saw the
lead bear. Then be told her the story
ADd abe kissed him, and laughed and
Ind cried Ut The same time. And be bad
N overcast made OF The skin, to remem-
Der the Time when be gnYe . bear free