The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-05-21
The HosTLER's STORY.


What amused us most in the Lake
House last summer was the performance
of bear in the backyard,
He was fastened to pole by chain,
which gave him q range of a dozen or
fifteen feet. 1t was not very safe for
visitors to come within that circle, un-
less they we're prepared for rough
handling.
He had way cf suddenly catching
YOU 10 his bosom and picking your
rockets Of peanuts and candy--if you
carried any about you--in a manner
which took your breath away. He stood
up TO his work op his hind legs in a
quite human fashion, and used to paw
and tongue with amazing skill and
vivscity, He was friendly and didn't
mean any harm, but he was Il rude
playfellow.
shall never forget the ludicrous adj
who cameoutinto the yard to feed bruin
on seed cakes, and did not feed him fast
enough. e. re.s a - ~ Fl
He approached a triae too near, when
al at once the bear whipped an arm
about him, took him tohis embrace and
went through his pockets in a hurry
The terrified face of the struggling and
screaming fop, and the good-natured,
business.like expression of the fumblinp
and munching beast, offered the funniest
sort Of contrast.
The one!eyed hostler, who was the
bears special guardian, -lounged quite
seisurely TO the spot. ~.
Keep still, and he won't hurt ye,'i
be Faid, turning his quid. That's one
OF hls tricks, Throw out what you've
got, and he'll leave ye." .
The dandy made, haste TO help bruin
to the last of the seed cakes, and he
escaped without injury, but in ridicu.
lous plight--his hat smashed, his neck
tie and his linen rumpled, and his
watch dangling but his fright was the
most laughable part Of all. ae
The ooe-eyed hostler then made o
motion 70 the beast, who immediately
climbed the pole aud looked at us from
across piece onqthe top. ~ agais I
"a bear" said the one-eyed hostler
turning his quid again, ts Is the best
hearted, knowin'est critter that goes on
is!Efours' I'm speakin'r Of our native
elack-bear, you understand. The brown
bear ain't half so respectable, and the
grizzly bear is one of the ugliest bruteG
IN creation. Come down here, Pomp.'
pomp slipped down the pole and ad
Vanced to the one.eyed hostier, walking
olihis hind legs and rattling his chain,
Playful as a kit'enr' said the one
eyed hostler, fondly, "Ill show ye.'
Hetook wooden bar from clothes
morse near hy3 land made a luDge witt
II at Pomp's breast. ,
No pugilist or fencing-nnaster coulc
nave parted q blow more neatly. Ther
inc oneeyed hostler began 10 thrus
an1 strike with. the bar as If in down
rather savage play I remarked
anu a. friend at nfy side, who nevet
misses chance to make pun, added
Yes adccided act Of bar-hearity.
On, he kes itl'' said the one-eye,
hostlers Ye can't hit him. ..
ana indeed il wss 80. r Mo- mattel
DOW or where the blow was aimed.
movementOf Pomn's pasy ,sasl mick a
a hash Of lghthine, Knocked Il aside
sndhe stood good.hnmoseaiy waitinl
Iof more. '"Onee in while y said In
Ope-eled hostler. resting from the ex
e1clse and leaping on the bar, Will
hSomp rethedEi 70 bis poles gthere's
psat q thissspeeies that's vicious an,
oiioco-tnirsty. fieperal'y, you let then
alone, and they'll let YOU alone. The,
mpa "a run from you, maybe, but the
won go out of their wav- to nick
qgsrrel. They don't swacgera aroun
Mlth chip on thor shoulder iookir
iof some fool 10 knock it off,.
WI they sat your some one ir
gulred !; tor there was a ring Of spectator
Aouna lhe performers BY this time.
as hkely as not, If they are shart
~. and yoit lay Yourself out 10 II
eaten, bnt iVainfttheir habit 10 20 Fl
human tesh Roots, nuts, berries. bus
sac any small game they can pick III
sausnes their humble appetites as
general thing ~ ~ =
,inesoue-eyed hnssler leaned again
sae post stroked Pomp,s far affection
tyle s' ''g ~" " ''"s - =
lars are Particularly fond Of ia
MY pigs and ORce give sem taste ,
ny children to be pIayipi in the WOO,
"sn'h good many miles of their del