The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-04-25
Hsw Man Gave Eearu Ride


Once there WAS a man whose life had
been spent in "going West" His
father and mother moved from New
England 10 Michigan when he was u
baby, and settled six miles from any
neighhor. But before the farm was all
cleared, other settlers came. and the
family moved on.
Don't want 20 he crowded. the old
man said. 81 heard rifle and an tax
that wasn't mine, yesterday.
And he went further and further West
every wear, till by the time the boy I'm
telling you OF was grown-up man they
had got clear 10 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 II up, went 10 bed sick,
and died.
"'Taint No use. he said, they're
bound 10 crowd an old man outer the
world. | cant a.bear 70 tech elbows
with folks, no how"
Aud 80 he died. with his nearest
neighbor two miles away.
But was going IL tell you Of his son S
scrape with, bear. They built their
first log house at the foot of hill but
il was 80 low and damp that James-tor
that was his name-startedt 90 build big
ger one higher up, half a mile OF, near
mountain brook, with grand old trees
around the spot, and fine view of the
country. He took of the two front
wheels Of the old immigrant wagon that
they had crossed the great plains IN, and
made him 4 good strong two-wheeled
cart, with box on il. And in this he
drew back and fourth his carpenter tools
and his dinner and chips for the fire,
over a 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 a 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 tan 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 a pretty fix, " said james 10
himself. quick as a flash. My rifle
and Ak are both in the cart, and that
ugly beast would claw me 10 pieces be-
fore could get 'em ont. "
He was afraid the bear would chase
him II he ran, and corner him If he
stayed, and 50 he set his wits 10 work 10
find a way ont of the scrape. Good
bright wits are too much for bear, or
a hard lesson, or tough job Of any sort,
If they are only kept at work with no
- can't, +" or, II don't want 10, or 40,
dear !" to hinder them. Ii didn't take
James wits 50 long as | have
been telling il 10 you 10 make 4 plan
for him.
He jumped 20 his feet quick as a flash, .
grabbed the tongue of the cart before
the bear could say Jack Robinson-if he
had known how-and started on q keen
run down hill, drawing the cart and the
bear in il after him.
"Well, l s'pose there never was q
bear so asionished since the pair saved
from the food stepped ont from Noah's
ark and found the world drowned. He
had never had ride before, and didn't
want one now but the cart was going
so fast that he darent Jump out, and So
one side 10 the other, and fairly howled
as the cart bumped over the roots and
stones. James had been 10 the city
once and seen the street cars, and when
he found he had the bear caught, the
fun OF the thing made him laugh.
When the bear roared once, hehallooed
back, An full inside-take the next
car !" And when the bear gave a ter
rife howl, he said, Move up 10 the
front, please-anddon' grumble. This
is a through car-git up there :" and he
ran Just the way the car drivers make
the horses do when they are late, and
pretend they don't see a little boy cross
ing his fingers for 'em 70 stop on the
crossing. The tin dishes in the bottom
part Of the cart ratified like peddler's
wagon on the pavement the AZ and gun
bounced on the bears toes, and he
looked as If he didn't know which was
the worst-his mad or his scare.
Down the steep hill James ran,
AOA huE CDELCT OA Ills AOE slOuH&s.
He had his plans all made, and as he
turned the corner, he nan the cart
against log and tipped it right over,
with Master Bear on the under side His
other rife hung over the door, in the
house, and he grabbed it down in
hurry, and as the bear struck his head
from under the cart, he shot him be-
tween the eyes, saying There, that
settles the question"
What question ?" asked his wife,
who came running out to see what the
noise meant.
Why, the question whether l had
caught bear or he had cauhtg me"
Mercy sakes - she SAID, as she saw
the dead bear. Then he told her the
story, and she kissed him, and laughed
and cried at the same time. And he
had an overcoat made of the skin, to re-
member the time when he "gave bear
a free ride"