Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-04-17
WEDNESDAY, APRIL H.

Ia IDilI ~
treasure with his paw, and greedily devour-
ing it, apparently quite delighted that some
one had saved him the trouble of gathering
his favorite berries for himself.
One moment of dumb terror, and then
feeling of anger and reckless courage filled
the heart of the woodman's child, and, dart
ing forward she made snatch at her pail,
at the same time dealing the young robber
sharp blow over the face and eyes with
the branch of shad-bush in her hand, and
exclaiming
"You great, horrid thing Every single
berry is gone now, for won't eat them after
you. So now !"
But, so far from being penitent or fright |
ened, the bear took this interference, and |
especially the blow, in very bad part, and |
after moment of blinking astonishment |
he sat up on his launches, growled little |
showed his teeth, and intimated very plainly |
that unless the pail of berries was restored |
at once, there would be trouble for some
one. But this was not the first bear-cub |
that Roxie had seen, and her temper was up
as well as the bears. So, firmly grasping
the pail, she began to retreat backward, at
first slowly, but as the bear dropped on his
rather tho naiI Of berries sho iost conrage
and turning began Ia run moi caring or
noting in What direciion and etill mecbani.
callv Crashing the nail of berries.
Suddenly. through the close crowdinp
pines which had so nearly shut out the day
light, appeared an open space, and Roxie
hailed it with delight for it was the river,
and once across the river she felt as IL she
would be safe. Even in the brief glance
she threw around as she burst from the edge
of the wood. she saw that there was neither
the bridge nor the ford which she had crossed
in the morning: n point altopether strange
and new to her. and. as she Judged, farther
down the river. since the space from shore
TO shore was considerably wider. But the
bear was close behind, and neither time nor
courage for delberation was at hand. and
Roxie, after her moments nause. sprang
forward upon the snowy ice. closely fol.
lowed bv the clumsy little beast.
AT that very moment, mile further up
the stream. Mr.. Beamish and his son Jake
were cautiously driving Rob across the fro.
zen ford and the old man was saving:
am afraid we'll have to 90 round by the
bridge after this, Jake. | shouldn't wonder
| if the river broke up this very night See
| that crack"
at wouldn't do for Roxie to come over
| here alone again" said Jake, probing the
ice-crack with his stick.
And Roxie-poor little Roxie-whom Jake
was so glad to think of as safe at home was
at that very moment stepping over wide
crack between two great masses of ice, and
staring forlornly about her, for a little way
in advance appeared another great gap and
the bear close behind was whimpering with
terror as he clung to the edge of the floating
mass upon which Roxie had only Just leaped.
and which he had failed to lump upon.
Shaking with cold and fright, the little girl
staggered forward across the ice until at its
further edge she came upon a narrow. swiftly
rolling tide, increasing in width at every
moment-the current of the river suddenly
set free from its winters bondage, and rap
idly dashing away its chains
Roxie turned back. but the crack that she
had stepped over was already far too wide
for her to ATTEMPT to repass. and gentle
shaking movement under her feet told that
the block on which she stood was already in
motion. and that no escape was possible
without more strength and courage than
little girl could be expected to possess. The
bear had climbed M. and now crouched
timidly to the edge of the ice. moaning with
fear. and seeming TO take so little notice of
Roxie that she forgot all her fear of him.
and these two. cronching upon the rocking
and slippery floor of their strange prison.
went floating down the turbulent stream.
The twilight deepened into dark. the stars
came out bright and cold. and so far away
from human need and woe Little Roxie
ceased her useless tears. and kneeling upon
the ice put her hands together and prayed,
adding to the petition she had learned at
her mothers knee some simple words of her
vet more piteous whine from the bear
showed his terror as the ice-block gave a
sickeuinp whirl. and crawling mon his
stomach he crept close up to the little girl,
his whole air saving as plainly as words
could have spoken:
"Oh. | am so scared. little girl aren't Won 2
Let us protect each other somehow. or at
least. Won protect me"
And Roxie. with strange light hearted
sense of security and peace replacing 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 struggle. and a fall into the water, and
, before she could see or know what had han.
pened 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 saving:
"Oh. Roxie are Won hurt 2"
"No, Jake. II believe not. Why, why
what is it all Where is this, and-oh.
know. Oh. Jake. Jake. | was so fright
enedl" And turning suddenly. she hid her
face in her brothers coat and burst into a
passion of tears. But Jake with one hurried
embrace and kiss. mt her away saving;
, "Wait lust minute, sis. til we finish
the bear father will shoot him"
"No. no. moi" screamed Roxie. her tears
dried as if by magic. "Don't kill the bear
father lake don't Won toucb the hear
he's NV friend and we were both so scared
astnight and then nraved that he wouldn' 4
eat me and he didn't and Won mnstn 4
hurt him"
, "Wel. Pm heat now !" remarked Mr.
, Beamisb as with both hands buried in IN,
! coarse hair nv which he had drarged The
! hear to tbe snrface for II had conc unde,
when the icecake had bean broken agains,
the lam of logs which had Stoned II he
= looked nm at his little daughters pale face.