Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-03-22

Il is well known that the bear hy course
Of severe discipline, can be taught to carry
long pole in his paws or u pert monkey upon
his back to dance TO the music Of pipe and
drum, and to perform tricks which the sol
cnn gravity OF lis demeanor. his clumsy mo-
tions, and shaggy hide render the more
amusngly grotosque. lie may also be seen,
in the den Of Il mrnagerie, 10 leap through
comparatively small ring encircled with flame,
associated, during the performance only. with
leopards aud hyena though the uncouth-
ness and reluctance with which he accom-
plishes the feat. contrlsted with the graceful
and ready spring of the leopards. is enough to
make the hyenn laugh: while, OF all the per-
formers. he has evidently the most intracta-
ble temper. and is least trusted by the spaugled
damsel who presides with the whip
Yet when young, the bear is not altogether
devoid of amiable qualities, as the following
narrative will prove. The account was com
muuicatcd to the pr, sent writer in 1861. by
Swedish acquaintance residing at Mora, in
Dalecarlia the bear being then living and the
property of gentleman at Silsnas, in Nenjan,
an adjoining parish, having been taken when
about three weeks old from the adjacent for
est, in February. 1850. Being fed with warm
milk, young Bruin throye satisfactorily, and,
when large enough to enjoy liberty, he usual
ly sojouned in the yard with the bcar-dog
"Jepp,." playing al y ging about his
companion like "a cat. IL, NIs also much at
tachod to his master, delighting to accompany
him, not only 10 the forest, where he often
clamhercd up trees. but also into the house.
where removing chairs and tables from one
room into another appeared TO be his fayorte
occupation. Strangers who visited Siknas al
ways received his attentions but as these
were somewhat brusque, and expressed in a
sHrly tone, they tended rather to repel than
attract
To Swedish punch IA luscious compound Of
urrack and sugar. he was extremely partial
and partouk of IT, whenever invited. ont Of a
glass, like woll-hred gentleman. but after
ward showing his loutish and lumpsh nature
in a drunken fit. concluding with heavy sleep
and loud snores.
One day. while Bruin was yet of tender
years, "A kitten came into the yard and imme-
diately drew his surprised attention upon her
self but young Puss, not admiring his looks
first cast upon him an angry glance, and then
sprang and tiXedherclaws in his head, excit-
ing such alarm that he trotted of in Il nervous
perspration' and ensconced himself in an out
house. subsequently he always fed at the
sight Of this cat though she was the only one
of which he showed fear.
Bruin took a daily bath in the river, which
flows within stone's-throw of the house
swimming across and back again. He then
lTollcu 10 an lct-ctlldT, lhc Ipoi ol WHICH was
easily accessible and covered with deal boards.
one of which projected considerably beyond
the rest toward the end of this he used to
creep warily to enjoy the swinging motion
that resulted II was mode of recreation of
which he frequently availed himself.
Whenever he could intrude into the kitchen
he bemeancd himself like an officious and
meddlesome husband, disordering affairs,
greatly to the veXation of the domestics. to
whose castgations with stout knob-stick he
payed little regard One day he laid hold of
a coffee-pan that stood on the hearth, and was
conveying it in his paws to the yard, when
the hot contents, overlooking on his bosom,
provoked him to cast il on the ground and
| hattcn it with a stroke of his paw. He would
| also, when opportunity occurred sInuggle
| himself into the larder IA detached building),
| looking round first to see that he was not OBJ
| served, then bring ont some article especially
| a cheese, which hefound convenient TO carry I;
! but on one occasion he made free with n tub
of cloUted milk and cream, handling it, how
| ever. so uwkwardly that the ropy tenacious
| contents streamed down the front of his erect
/ ed corpus, and as in the case of the coffee
| pan, brought vengeance on the tub, After
| fruitlcss eudcavors, with tongue and claws, to
| clear the yiscOuS mass from his best fur coat
| he betook himself to the river, aud then solac-
/ ed himself with swing
This partalty for swinging or rocking rem
dered him an undesirable companion in a boat;
yet he constantly followed his owner to the
riverside, and, if not admitted as passenger,
would swim after the boat grunting like a
hog During one riyer-eXcursion which he
had been allowed to share he enjoyed as usual
his rocking, till the boat, gliding down the
river entered stormy rapid, when he be-
came quite agitated with fear, trembling in
every limb, aud holding ON each side of the
boat so long as it remained in the weltering
force. When indulged with ride by land,
he would sometimes leap on the shafts of the
vehicle, and, placing hind-leg on each, rest
his fore-paws on the horses back.
As he grew older it was found necessary to
impose some check upon his movements, and
for this purpose a chain, with n log at the end
of it, was attached 10 a collar round his neck.
Such badge of servitude and interference with
the liberty of free-born bear was not to be
borne. At first he tried to strike of the log
with his paws then he dragged it to the riy.
er, but was vastly iritated to find that, after
every attempt to sink it, the audacious log
came TO the surface again. Finally he dug a
hole, put the log into it, and replaced the
earth, stamping or pressing it down then, ap,
parently satisfied with his work, he attempted
to move OH, but found himself in worse fiS