The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-04-23
THE TIMES, NEW BLOOMFIELD. PA, APRIL %, 1878

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 to-
gether and prayed adding to the petition
she had learned at her mothers knee
some simple words of her own great
need.
A yet more plteous whine from the
bear showed his terror as the iceblock
gave slckening whirl, and crawling
upon his stomach he crept close up to
the little girl, his whole air saying as
plain as words could have been spoken
Oh, am so scared, little girl, aren't
you? Let us protect each other some
how or at least, you protect me
And Roxie,w with strange light-heart-
ed 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, warm.
ed 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 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:
g oh ROXie ore vou huri pD
No, Jake, II believe not. Why,
why, what is it all 2" Where is this,
and-oh, 1 know. Oh, Jake, Jake, /
was so frightened ~ And turning sud-
denly, she hid her face in her brothers.
coat and burst into passion of tears.
But Jake, with one hurried embrace and
kiss, put her away, saying:
Wait just moment, sis, till we
finish the bear; father will shoot him."
No, no, mol" screamed Roxie, her
tears dried as if by magic. "Don't 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 /
prayed that he wouldn't hurt him."
Well, I'm beat now I" remarked Mr..
Beamish, as with both hands buried in
the coarse hair by which he dragged the
bear to the surface, for it had gone under
when the icecake had been broken
against the jam of logs which had stop
ped it, he looked at his little daughters
pale face
You and the bear made friends, and
said your prayers together, and he can't
be hurt, you say
6 Yes, father. Oh, please don't hurt
himl"
I" We might take him home and keep
him chained up for sort of a pet, if he
will behave decent" suggested Jake,
little doubtfully.
"Well ! / suppose we could" re-
piled the father, very slowly and re-
lunctantly.
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 go and get Bob and the sled, and
carry him home, won't you? ?''
"Why, yes, if father says so, and the
critter will let me tie his legs"
The OK 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, a most intelligent beast,
seemed to understand so well that the
handling, and ride, were all for his own
good, that he bore the humiliation of
having his legs tied with considerable
equanimity, and ina short time develop
ed so gentle and gentlemanlya a character
as to become a valued and honOred
member of the family, remaining with
| it for about year, when, wishing, pro-
baby 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 checker
berry patch.
The RiuhtfuI kim Of FINLAND