The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-04-10
How n Man Gave a Bear a Ride

Once there was a man whose life had
been spent in "going West" His
father and mother moved from New
England to Michigan when he was a
baby, and settled six miles from any
neighbor. But before the farm was all
cleared, other settlers came, and the
family moved on.
"Don't want to be crowded." the old
man said. 81 heard a rife and an ak
that wasn't mine, yesterday"
And he went further and further West
every year, till by the time the boy I'm
telling you of was a grown-up man they
had got clear to the west part of Oregon,
and the Pacific coast. And as the old
man couldn't move West any further
without getting into the ocean, and
neighbors had moved within two miles
of him, he gave it up, went to bed sick,
and died.
"'Tain't no USE" he said, they're
bound to crowd an old man outer the
world. can't a-bear to tech elbows
with folks, no how"
And so he died, with his nearest
neighbor two miles away.
But was going to tell you of his sons
scrape with, bear. They built their
first log house at the foot of hill but
it was so low and damp that James-for
that was his name-started to build a big
ger one higher up, half mile off, near
mountain brook, with grand old trees
around the spot, and fine view of the
country. He took off the two front
wheels of the old immigrant wagon th@t
they had crossed the great plains in, and
made him a good strong two-wheeled
cart, with box on it. And in this he
drew back and fourth his carpenter tools
and his dinner and chips for the fire,
over q rough road that he had cut
through the woods.
He used to take little nap after his
monday meal, and one day while he was
sleeping on splendid bed of evergreen
boughs that he had fixed near the tim
bers he was at work on, he was wakened
by loud rafting 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 smacking his chops
over piece of wild honey and some
corn cakes that James hadn't eaten up.
This is pretty fix" said James to
himself, quick as a flash. "My rife
and ak are both in the cart, and that
ugly beast would claw me to pieces be-
fore could get 'em out"
Hswas afraid the bear would chase
him if he ran, and corner him if be
stayed, and SO he set his wits to work to
find way out Of the scrape. Good
bright wits are too much for bear, OF
hard lesson, or tough job of any sort,
if they are only kept at work with nc
I can't, or, II don't want to, or go,
dear |" to hinder them. 1t didn't take
James wits SO long as I have
been telling it to you to make plan
for him.
He jumped to his feetquick as a flash
grabbed the tongue of the cart before
the bear could say Jack Robinson-if hi
had known how-and started Oh a kee1
run down hill, drawing the cart and thc
bear in it after him.
"Well, I s'pose there never was
bear so astonished since the pair savet
from the food stepped out from Noah
ark and found the world drowned. Fl,
had never had ride before, and didn'
want one now ; but the cart was goin!
so fast that he daren't Jump out, and s,
he just chung on, and looked out fron
one side to the other, and fairly howle
as the cart bumped over the roots an
stones. James had been to the cit
once and seen the street cars, and whe
he found he had the bear caught, til
fun OF the thing made him laugh.
When the bear roared once, he hallooe
back, Cali full insde-take the mex
car !" And when the bear gave tel
rifle howl, he said, "Move up to til
front, please-and don't grumble. Thi
is a through car-git up there p and h
ran just the way the car drivers max
the horses do when they are late, an
pretend they don't see little boy eros,
ing his fingers for EN- to stop on til
crossing. The tin dishes in the botto,
part of the cart ratified like q peddler
wagon on the pavement the ak and gu
bounced on the bears toes, and
looked as if he didn't know which WI
the worst-his mad Or his scare.
Down the steep hill James ra
straight for the corner of his log nous
He had his plans all made, and as
turned the corner, he ran the ca
against log and tipped it right Owe
with Master Bear on the under side. e
other rifle hung over the door, in t
house, and he grabbed it down in
hurry, and as the bear struck his he
from under the cart, he shot him
tween the eyes, saying: "There, IL
settles the question"
What question:" asked his wi
who came running out to see what t
noise meant.
Why, the question whether I
caught bear or he had cauhtg me. y
+" Mercy sakes p she said, as she 81
the dead bear. Then he told her
story, and she kissed him, and laugh
and cried at the same time. And
had an overcoat made of the skin, to
member the time when he gave b,
free ride"