The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-25
THEHosTLER's STORY.

What amused US most ut the Lake
House last summer was tho performance
Of bear in the back yard.
lie was fastened to a pole by a chair,
which gave him a range Of dozen or If
teen feet. 1t was not very sale for visitors
to come within that circle, unless they
were prepared for rough handling.
He had a way Of suddenly catching you
TO his bosom and picking your pockets of
peanuts and candy-il you carried any
about youth manner which took your
breath way. HO stood up to his work on
his hind legs in a quite human fashion,
and used to paw and tongue with amazing
skill and vivacity. lie was friendly, aud
didn't mean any harm, bnt he was rude
play fellow.
Ishall never forget the ludicrous adven-
ture Of a dandiaed New Yorker, who
came out into tho yard TO feed bruin on
seed cakes, and did not feed him fast
enough.
He approached trlAe too near, when
all at once the bear whipped IN arm about
him, took him to his embrace, and event
through" his pockets in a hurry. Theter.
riaed face Of the struggling and scream.
ing Top and tho gOod.naturcd business
like expression OF the fumbling and
munching beast, offered the funniest sort
OF contrast.
Thd one.eycd hostler, who was the
bears especial guardian, lounged quite
Ieisurely to thcspot.
''Keep still; and he won't hurt yc," he
said, turning his quid. That's ono Of his
tricks. Throw out what you've got, aud
he'll leave ye."
The dandy made haste to help bruin to
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 Imaginable part of all.
The one'eyed hostler then made mo.
ZION to the beast, who Immediately climbed
the pole and looked ut US from the cross.
piece at the top,
"a bear" said the one.eyed hosller,
turning his quid again, "is the best.heart.
cd, knowin'est critter that goes on all.
tours. I'm Speakin' OF our native black
bear, you understand. The brown bear
ism half 30 respectable, and the grizzly
bear Is one oil the uglieSt brutes Ia Crea.
ton. Come down here, Pomp."
Pomp slipped down the pole and ad.
vanced toward the one.eyed hostler, walk.
ing on his hind legs aud rattling his long
chain.
"Playtul as kittOn!" said the one.eyed
hostler, fondly. an show ye."
lie took wooden bar from a clothes.
horse near by, and made lunge wiLhit at
romp's breast.
No pugilist or fencing,master could have
parted blow more neatly. Then the one.
eyed hostler began 10 thrust and strikewith
the bar as lin downright earnest.
"Rather savage play" remarked. And
friend by my side, who never misses a
chance to make a pun, added:
"ies, q decided act OF bar-bearity,n
"0h, he likes itp|said the oneeyel
hostIer. "Ye can't hit him!"
And indeed It was so. No matter how
or where the blow was aimed, move.
ment Of Pomp's paw, Us quick as a flash oil
lightning, knocked 1t aside, and he stood
good-humoredly waiting for more. "0nce
III u while," said tue one.eyed hostler,
testing from the exercise and leaning on
tho bar, while poInp retired to his pole,
there's bear Of this species that's vi.
cious and blood.thiTsty. Generally, you
let them alone, and they'll let you alone
They won't run from you, maybe, but
they won't 20 out OF their way 10 pick a
quarrel, They don't swagger around with
o chip on their shoulder l0okin for some
tool 10 knock It or"
"Will they cat your" some one inquir-
ed; for there was ring OF spectators
around the performers by this time.
"AB likely as not, II they are sharp set,
and you lay yourself out 70 bs eaten, but
It amt their habit To go for human flesh.
Roots, nuts, berries, bugs and any small
game theycAn pick mp, satisfies their hum
BILE appetite as general thing"
The one.eyed hostler leaned against tho
post, stFukGd Pomp'S fur RlIeCLionately,
and continued somewhat In this style:
bears arc particularly fond Of fat Juicy
pigs; and once give EN- a tasLe OF human
tleSh-why, l shouldn't want my children
TO DO playin' In the woods within good
many miles Of their denI
(which reminds me OF old Two Claws,
as they used to call him, a bear that
plagued the folks over in Ridgetown,
where was brought up-well, Us much rs
10 year ago.
dIIe got his uamc from the peculiar
shape Of his foot, and hO got that from
trtllng with Gun.trap. You know what
that is-a loaded gun sol In such way
that a bear or any game that's curious
about II must como up 70 Il the war It
p'ntS; a bait Is hung before the muElle.
and Q string runs from that 10 the trigger.
y He was a cunning fellow, and put out
an inveStigatin' paw 1t tho piece Of pork
before trying bis Jaws on 1t; 90 instead oil
gettin' . bullet In the head, be merely had
4 bit Of bis paw shot OF. There were bat
two claws left on that foot, Gs his bloody
tracks showed. ~ =
HE got olT; but his experience seemed
to have soured his disposition. lie owet
spite 10 the settlement.
"One night great row was heard II
my, uncle's pig.pen. He and the boy
rushed out with pltchiorks, q gun and
lantern. They knew what the trouble
. was, or soon found ont. A huge bIacl
bear had broken down the side Of III
bens he had RAlIAd fat foFk0F and tVn