The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-04-10
OUR STORY TELLER
THE HosTEER's STORY.
by J. t. TRo&BRIDeE.


What amused sus most at the Lake
House last summer was the performance
Of bear in the back yard. .
He was fastened to a pole by q chain,
which gave him a range Of a dozen or
fifteen feet. 1t was not very safe for
visitors to come within that circle, unless
they were prepared for rough handling.
lie had a way of suddenly catching
you TO his bosom, and picking your
pockets of peanuts and candy, If you
carried any about you,-in a manner
which took your breath away. He stood
up to his work on his hind legs in quite
human fashion, and used paw and
tongue with amazing skill and vivacity.
He was friendly, and didn't mean any
harm, but he, was rude play-fellow.a
Ishall never forget the ludicrous
adventure Of dandified New-Yorker
who came out into the yard to feed bruin
ON seed-cakes, and did not feed him fast
enough.
He had approached triAe too near,
when all al once the bear whipped an
arm about'him, took him to his embrace,
and" went through" his pockets in a
hurry. The terrified face of the strug-
Cling and screaming fop, and the good
natured, business-like expression of the
fumbling and munching beast, offered
the funniest sort of contrast.
The one-eyed hostler, who was the
hears especial guardian, lounged
leisurely to the spot.
keep still, and he won't hurt ye,'"
he said, turning his quid. "That's one
OF his tricks. Throw out what you've
got. and he'll leave ye." ~
The dandy made haste to help bruin
10 the last of the seed-cakes, and escaped
without injury, but in ridiculous
plight,-his hat smashed, his necktie and
linen rumpled, and his watch dangling
but-his fright was the most laughable
part of all. So
The one-eyed hostler made motion
TO the beast, who Immediately climbed
the pole, and looked at US from the cross
piece at the. top.
A bear" said the one-eyed hostIer,
turning his quid again, "is the best
hearted, knowin'e est critter that goes on
all-fours. Pm speakin' of our native
black bear, you understand. The brown
bear amt half so respectable, and the
grizzly is one of the ugliest brutes in
creation. Come down here, Pompp
Pomp slipped down the role and
advanced towards the one-eyed bostler,
walking on his hind legs and rattling his
chain.
Playful as kittenl" said the one.
eyed hostler, fondly. "I'll show ye'
He took wooden bar from clothes.
horse near by, and made lunge with il
at Pomp's breast. t<tts
No pugilist or fencing-master could
have parriec blow more neatly. Then
the one-eyed hostler began to thrust and
strike with the bar as If in downright
arrest.
e rather savage play" / remarked
And a friend by my side, who never
misses chance TO make a pun, added
Yes, a decided act of bar -bear-ity."
"Oh, he likes it'll" said the one-eyed
hostler. "Ye can't hit him. -
And indeed twas so. No matter how
or where the olow was aimed, a move
ment OF Pomp's paw, quick as fash ol
lightning. knocked 1t aside, and he stood
good-humoredly waiting for more.
"Once in while," said the one-eyed
hostler, resting from the exercise and
leaning on the bar, while Pomp retired
to his pole, "there's bear of thi.
species that's vicious and blood thirsty
Generally, you let them alone anc
they'll let you alone. They won't rur
from you maybe, but they won't go ou
of their way to pick a quarrel. They
don't swagger round with a chip on theil
shoulder lookin' for some fool to knocl
10 off,"
Will they eat your some on,
inquired; for there was a ring of specta
tors ground the performers by thi
time.
..As likely as not, If they are sharp
set, and you lay yourself out to be eaten
but it amt their habit to go for human
flesh. Roots, nuts, berries bugs, ant
any small game they can pick up
satisfies their humble appetite as a gen
eral thing.
"But they're amazin' fond of honey
and there's no end of stingin' they won
stand for the fun of robbin' bee-nest
They're omnivourous as hog" ~.
The spectators smiled, while some ON
remarked