The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-05-01
Fame bear. in Sweden.
BY JOHN WAGNER

10 IS well k1oWE that TIE Dear OY
q course of severe discipline, ear be
taught to carry q long pole 10 his
paws or q pert monkey upon his
back, to dance to the music Of q
fife and drum, and TO perform tricks
which the solemn gravity Of his de-
meanor, his clumsy motions, and
shaggy hide, render the more anus
ingly groiesQge. He may also be
seen in the den Of "a menageric, to
leap through q comparatively snail
ring eneircled with flame, associated,
during the performance only, with
leopards aud a hyenG; though the
un%couthness aud reluctance with
which be accomplishes the feat, con
trasted with the graceful and ready
spring of the ieopards, is enough 10
make the hyena laugh; while, Of all
the performers, be has the most III
traciable temper, and is least trusted
by the spangled damsel who pTesides
with the whip.
Yet, when young. The bear Is rot
altogether devoid Of amiable quail
ties, as the following narrative viii
prove. The account was communi-
Gated to the present writer in 1861,
by 9 Swedish acquaintance residing
at Mora, in Dalecarlia, the bear be
ing then living, and the property Of
a gentleman at Siknas, in y eDjan, an
adjoining parish, having been taken
when about three weeks old, from
the adjacent forest in February,
1865. Being fed with warm milk,
young bruin throve satisfactorily,
and, when large enough to eu-
Joy liberty, be usually sojourBed in
the yard with the bear-dog "Jeppe,H
playing and springing about his com
panion like q cat. He was also much
attached TO his master, delighting to
accompany him, not only to the for
est, where be often clambered up
trees. bat also in the house, where
removing chairs and tables from one
room TO another appeared - be his
fayorite occupation. Strangers who
visited Siknas always received bis
attentions; but as these were some
what brusque, and expressed 10 .
surly tone, they tended rather to re-
pei than attract.
To Swedish punch Ia luscious
compound Of arreck and sugar. be
was extremely partial, and partook
Of it, whenever invited, eut Of a
glass, like a well-bred gentleman, but
aiterward showing his loulish and
lumpish nature in a drunken fit, con-
GLIDING with heavy sleep aud loud
sncTes.
One day, while Bcuin was yet Of
tender years, a kitten came into the
yard and immedieay drew bIs SIR.
prised attention nPoG himself. but
young Puss, not admiriDg bis looks,
FIRST cast upon bin sB angry
glance. and then sprang up and fixed
her claws 10 bis head, exciting such
alarm tbGt be lrotted off 10 q nerv-
Gus p~erspirauoD. and e~nsconced him
self 10 an ou.-h0Gse. subsequently,
he always aed at the sight Of this
cat, though she was The only one of
which he showed fear.
Bruin took a daily bath ia the riy.
er, which flows within a stones
throw Of the house; swimming across
and back again. lie then trotted TO
an ice cellar, the roof Of which was
easily accessible end covered with
deal boards, one OF which projected
beyond the rest; toward the end Of
this be csed to creep warily, 10 en-.
JOY the swinging motion that result
ed. Ii was a mode Of recreation Of
which be frequently svailed him.
self.
Whenever be could intrude into
the kitchen be demeaned himself ike
On oficious and meddlesome bus.
band. disordering affairs, greatly 10
the yeNatioR OF the domestics, to
whose castigauons yith a stout knob.
stick be paid little regard. One
day be laid hold Of a coffee pan
that stood on the hearth, and was
conveying it IN his paws when the
hot contents. oyerGowing on his bos-
on, provoked him to cast il on the
ground and hatten it with o stroke Of
his paw. He would also, when op-
p%ortunity occurred. smuggle himself
into the larder Ia detached baiIding(,
looking around first TO see that be
was not observed, then bring cut
some article, especially a cheese,
which be found convenient to carry:
but on one occasion ne made free
with a tub Of clouted milk Sad cream.
handling 1t, however, so awkwardly
that the ropy, tenacious contents
streamed down the front Of his erect
cd aorpuc orI ~. :. "