The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-03-20
BY HUGH WILSON AND w. C. BENET.

Little Roxie ceased her useless tears
and kneeling upon the ice put her hand
together and prayed, adding to tn
petition she had learned at her mother
knee some simple words of her owl
great need.
A yet more piteous whine from til,
bear showed his terror as the ice-blocE
gave a sickening whirl, and crawling
upon his stomach he crept close up tx
the little girl, his whole air saying al
plainly rs words coula have spoken:
"Oh, I am 80 scared little girl, aren'
you? Let us protect each other some
how, or at least, you protect me-"
And Roxie, with a strange, light
! hearted sense of security and peace re
placing her terror and doubt, let the
shaggy creature creep close to her side
and nesting down into his thick fur
warmed her freezing fingers against his
skin, and with smile upon her lips went
peacefully to sleep.
She was awakened by tremendous
shock, and a struggle, and a fall into the
water, and before she could see or know
what had happened to her, two strong
arms were round her, and she was drawn
again upon the ice-cake, and her brother
was bending close above her, and he was
saying: ,.o,
"No, Jake, II believe not. Why,
why, what is it all? Where is this, and
and-oh, I know. Oh, Jake, Jake, !
was so frightened!" And, turning sud
denly, she hid her face in her brother e
coat and burst into passion of tears.
But Jake, with one hurried embrace and
kiss, put her away, saying: ,
"Wait just one minute, sis, TIL we
finish the bear; father will shoot him. y
"No, no, mol" screamed Roxie, her
tears dried as if by magic. "Dont kill
the bear. father! Jake don't you touch
the bear; he's my friend, and we were
both SO scared last night, and then l
prayed that he wouldn't eat me, and he
didn't, and you mustn't hurt him"
"Well, I'm beat now!" remarked Mr..
Beamish, as with both hands buried in
the coarse hair by which he had dragged
the bear to the surface, for it had gone
under when the ice-cake had been broken
against the jam of logs which had stop
ped 1t, he looked up at his little daugh-
ter's pale face.
"You and the bear made friends, and
said your prayers together, and ne can't
be hurt, you say?"
eyes, father. Oh, please don't hurt
him !"
"We might take him home and keep
him chained up for sort of a pet, If he
will behave decent" suggested Jake, a
little doubtfnlly.
"Wen II suppose we could" re-
piled the father, very slowly and reluc-
tantly. "He seems peaceable enough
now" -.
"And see how good he is to me, said
Roxie, eagerly, as she patted the head
of her strange new friend, who blinked
amicably in reply. "Oh, Jake, do 60
and get Rob and the sled, and carry him
home, won't you?
"Why. yes, if father says 80. and the
critter will let me tie his legs"
The ox-sled was close at hand, for the
father and brother had brought it to the
river before they began their weary
search up and down its banks, not know
ing what mournful burden they might
have to carry home to the almost frantic
mother.
And Bruin, most intelligent beast,
seemed to understand 80 well that the
handling and ride we're all for his own
good, that he bore the humiliation OF
having his legs tied with considerable
equanimity, and in short time de-
veloped so gentle and gentlemanly o
character as to become valued and
honered member of the family, remain
ing with it for about year, when, wish
ing, probably, to set up housekeeping
on his own account, he quietly snapped
his chain one day and walked off into the
woods, where he was occasionally seen
for several years. generally near the
checkerberry patch.-&. Nicholas.