The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-10-18
Grandma Belden's Bear Story


daughter Lois.
They were on horseback, of course.
Most OF the people went on horseback
in those days. There were few wagons
and carriages, and not many roads had
then been constructed in the country.
In many localities there were only
rough bridle-paths, winding through the
dense forests.
Mrs. Stephens sat on pillion at
tached to the saddle upon which her
husband rode, and little Lois sat in front
of him.
AS they drew near their dwelling thew
heard the believing of kline in the direc-
ton OF the mountain pasture" Mr..
Stephens, saying there was trouble of
some sort among his stock, hurried up
the handsome dapple-gray horse, and at
swift yet easy gallop the party soon
reached home.
AS Mrs. Stephens was dismounting
from the horse, in front of the kitchen
door, there came running down the
hillside bridle-path, her pretty speckled
heifer. She ran like deer, bounding
down the rocky, tortuous passage as fast
as her slim legs could carry her, her
soft, silky ears erect, her great brown
eyes wild with fright, the hair bristling
straight up on her back, and her long
switch tail in the air.
She gave deep, quick below of re-
lief when she saw her mistress, and, run
ming swiftly past her, leaped the high
barnyard bars at bound, and fled into
the fasthest darkest corner of the low
shed, where she crouched trembling
and painting.
"There must certainly be a panther
or bear on the mountain" said Mr..
Stephens. "Wife, you and Lois hurry
into the house, and hand me my gun
and ammunition, and will ride up as
quickly as / can, and see what's the
matter, and find out where the old white
COW is I'm afraid she's having a tussle
with bear, Judging from the peculiar
cries L hear up there"
1t did not take Mr.. Stephens long to
make his preparations, and soon the
good dapple-gray horse was taking him
along at an almost break-neck pace up
its steep, stony path.
Before removing her Sunday bonnet,
Mrs. Stephens took down the big din
ner-horn from its nail behind the
kitchen door, and, stepping upon the
greensward in front of the house, gave
a loud blast which reverberated off
among the hills, apprising the neigh
boring families, who were also vending
their several peaceful ways from church.
along the pleasant wood and pasture
paths, that there was trouble up at the
Stephens.
AS the brave farmer rode briskly on
he heard palmer and palmer the dis
tressed bellowings of creature, at short
intervals, and soon the sharp and mo-
notonous ding-dong, ding-dong of a
cow-bell came to his ears.
Presently, looking up at the steep
pitch above him, he saw the large old
white cow coming down with labored
swinging trot, her immense udder sway
ing to and fro, the rich milk streaming
upon the ground at each step, while the
bell attached to her neck by leather
strap changed and ratified from side to
side as she ran.
Directly behind the poor creature,
and keeping at an average even pace
with her, was an immense black bear.
Gaining little on the COW, so as to be
within reach of her, he would then raise
one of his ugly paws, cat-fashion, and
strike her on the rump, with each blow
of his sharp claws tearing away piece
Of flesh, causing the blood to stream
down her sides.
At each blow the cow would give a
below of pain, while the bear. being
retarded little in his progress in re-
gaining his feet, and for an instant
shifting eagerly at the blood on his paw,
would make an extra effort to get within
striking distance again.
1t is well known that the bear has
natural fear of man, but this vicious
old fellow, made ravenous by the smell
and taste of blood, and disliking to re-
linquish his expected feast, at sight of
the farmer stopped short and set him
self npon his launches as much as to
say: Come onl I'm ready for a
rough-and-tumble fight with you or
anybody else"
The old COW gave her master a CRATE
full look, very touching to see, but she
kept up her unbroken pace until she
reached the welcome refuge of her
masters premises at the foot of the
hill.
Mr.. Stephens approached the bear
as near as he thought practicable, and
then, raising his gun, deposited the
contents into the brute's black breast
Bruin was so taken by surprise that he
dropped upon his forefeet, and, impelled
by fright and pain, ran as fast as his
legs could carry him into the depths OF
the forest. The heavy charge of the
farmers gun had not, of course, reached
any vital part.
Mr.. Stephens now turned his horse
and galloped back to his house. where
he found number of his neighbors
were assembling.
Headed by him, they Immediately