The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-10-09

HAaANN AANA H@-aas~Aa - AAfN fNF-FH
of bear 10 tie btek yard
ne WAs tAsisno3 70 pole by ebsiu
vh.ch gave hlm : rapge % dozen o
h0seu feet II uas not very safe 20
visitors to come within ,ha, circle. aulcs
they wsre prepared for rough handling
he bad way Of suddeply oAicbing yei
TO his bosom. and picking your pocket
OF peabuts aud candy Ill you carried snl
about you--in manner wbich toak AsAl
your breath he stood up TO his worl
on hls bInd legs 70 quite human iAshios
and used paw aud tongue with amazin.
skin and viyAei,y he was friendly, AbC
didn't mean any harm, bat BE- wss = rad'
plsyfelIow.
shall never forget the ludlcroas Ad
venture OF daDdided New Yorker sht
came out 10 the yard to feed bTuin OF
seed cakes, and did not feed him fAsI
enough.
He had approached triae too near
when 81 3, once the bear whipped al
arm shout hlm' to bis embrace, aud went
through bis pockets in harry The
terrified face OF the struggling and
screaming fop and the good.natufed,
business.Ike expression Of the iumbling
aud muucbing beast offered the funniest
sort OF contrast.
The oDe-eyed hosller, who was the
bears especial guardian, louuged leisurely
TO the spot.
Keep still, and he won't hurt ye, be
said, turning bis quid. That's one OF his
tricks. Throw out what ye've got, aud
bell leave ye.
The dandy made haste TO belp bruin to
the last ot The seed cakes, and escaped
without Injury, bat Ia ridiculous plight
his hat smashed, his ueckiie aud linen
IumpIed, aud his watch dangling; but
bis fright was the most iaughable part Of
sit.
The one.e,ed hostler made 10 motion
10 the beast, who Immediately climbed q
poe aud looked ct Us FROM he cross
piece ut the top.
A bear, said the one.eyed hoster,
turning bis quid again, is the beat hearted
knowin'esl eritter that goes on a Il ionrs.
I'm speaking OF our native black bear,
-you understand The brown bear amt
50 respectable, sud the grizzly Is one OF
the ugliest brutes 10 creation. Come
down here, Pomp.
Pomp slipped down the pole and adj
yanced towards the one.eyed hostler,
walking on bis bind legs and rafting his
chain.
Playful as kitten, said the ouoeyed
hoetler, fondly; III show you.
lie took the wooden bar from clothes
horse near by, aud made plunge with IL
at pomp's breast.
No pugilist or fencing master could
hsye parried a blow more neatly. Then
the one-eyed boster began to thrust aud
strike with the bar as If IN downright
earnest.
Rather savage play, remarked. And
a friend by my side, who never missed
chance TO make pun, added: Yes,
decided act OF bar.besrity.
On, he likes itl said the hostler. You
can't hit him.
And indeed II was so. No matter how
or where the blow was aimed, move.
ment Of Pomp's paw, quick as flash of
lightning, knocked 1t aside, and be stood
good humoredly waiting for more.
Once in while, said the hostler, rest
ing from The exercise aud leaning on the
bsr, while Pomp retired TO his pole,
there's bear OF this species that's vicious
and hlood.tbrsty. Generally you let
them alone. They won't run from you
maybe, but they won't go cut OF their
way 10 pick quarrel They don't swsg-
ger round with chip on their shoulder
lookin' for some TOOL to knock it off.
viii they eat you? some Que inquired;
for there was riug OF spectators around
the performers by this time.
As likely as not, II they are sharp set
ana you lay yoarseIi out 10 be eaten; but
Il ain't their habit 10 20 TOR human aesh.
Roots, nuts, berries, bugs, and any small
game they can pick up, satisdes their
humble appetite as a general thing,
But they're amszIn' fond OF honey, and
there's no end OF stingin' they won't
stand for the fun OF robbin' bees nest.
Tbsy re ss omnivorous as a hog
Do you mean to cay a bear doesn't
hibernatei ! asked.
He hiberuales | believe that's
what they call il, replied the hostler. lie
lies curled up kind o torpid sometimes in
winter; bat what be really lives on then
10 fat.
Fat is fuel, so TO speak. lie lays Il up
in the fall, and burns IL out 10 the winter,
lie goes Into bis cold weather quarters
plump, and comes out lean; but i,'s only
In very cold weather that be keeps so
quiet. In opea winter be's out foraein'
around, aud when there comes a warm
spell 10 the toughest wiater, you may
see bin lie likesio walk out aud see
what's going on, anyhow.
The bosller leaned against the pole,
siroked Pomp's iur afeclionately, aud
continued somewhat iH this style:
Bears are particularly fond OF fat, juicy
pigs, aud once give 'em . taste Of bnmsn
hesh-sby. | .b0aIdB't want my children
10 be playin' 10 tho woods within 3 good
msny miles ol their denl
Which reminds me Of Old Two Ciaws,
as they ase1 20 call him, a bear lha,
plagued the folks over ia Ridgetowu,
where was brought up-wAl, ~ much
ss forty years ago.