The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-05-13
The HOSTLER'S STORY.
!. I. 1ROWBlDGE.

What amused US most in the Lake
House last summer was the performance
OF hear in the backyard.
He WA. fastened 10 pole by ciain,
which gave him a range Of dozen or
fifteen feet. IL WAS not very safe Tor
visitors 10 come within that circle, I'M
lcea they were prepared for rough
handling.
He had way cf suddenly catching
you to his bosom and picking your
pockets Of peanuts and candy-if You
carried any about you--in n manner
which took your breath away lie stood
up 10 his work on his hind legs in a
quite human fashion, and used TO paw
and tongue with amazing skill and
yivacty. He was friendly and didn't
mean any harm, but be was II rude
playfellow.
shall never forget the ludicrous adj
venture Of Il dandilied New Yorker,
who came out into the yard 10 fc d bruin
on seed cakes, and did not feed him fast
enough.
He approached trilc too near, when
all 1T once the bear whipped an arm
about him, took him 10 his embrace and
went through" his pockets in hurry.
The terrified face Of the struggling and
screaming Iop, and the pood-naturcd,
business like expression Of the lumbling
and munching beast, offered the funniest
sort Of Il contrast.
Tho onccyed hostlcr, who was the
bears special guardian, loungcd quite
lciurrly TO the spot.
Keep still, and he won't hurt yc, -
rsaid, turning his quid. "lhats one
OF his tricks. Throw out what you We
got, and hen leave yc."
The dandy made haste to help bruin
10 The last OF The iced cakes, and he
escaped without injury, but in n rdicu
loUl plight hi4 hat smashed, his neck
tie and bis linen rumpcd. and bis
watch dangling but his fright was the
most laughabIc part Of all,
The onc.cycd hOstlCr then made n
motion TO The beast, who Immediately
climbed the pole aud looked NJ IA from
acrops-piccc ON the top.
"a bear" paid the onc-cyed ho7,cr
turning his quid again, 81 is the best
hearted, GnowiG'c,t CritlCf that gues on
all lour9 Pm spcakin' Of our native
black.hcar you understand, The brown
bear AMT half 40 respectable, and lhe
grl!Ily bear is one ol The ugllcSl hrui"
in creation. Come down here, i'ou D. D
Pomp slipped down the pole and al
yanCcd to III" one eyed hONicr, walking
on his hind legs aud rattling his chain.
Playful asa kit'cnW said the one
eyed hoslIer, fondIy. "lll show ye.'
He took wooden bar FROM clothes
horse near by and made a lunge with
1t at Pomp's breast
No pugiist or fencing master could
have parted blow more neatly. Then
the Onc.cyCd hostIcr began to thrust
aud strike with the bar as If in down
right earnest.
" Rather savage play" | remarked.
And friend Mt my side, who never
misses chaoce to makea pun, added
Yea, decided act OF bar bcarily.'
"Oh, h" kcs il!' said the rnc.ey,d
ho.Ilcr Ne can't hit him."
And indeed it was 10. No matter
how or where the blow was aimed, y
movement Of lomp's paw, as quick u,
n flash Of lightning, Knocked 1t aside
and he stood gOod-humorodly waiting
for more. "Oncn in while" said tn,
ore eyed hostlcr, resting from the cy
crcisc and leaning on the bar, Will,
POmp retired to his pole, there's :
bear Of this species that's vicious an,
hIood-thirsIy. Generally, you let then
alone, and they'll let you alone. They
won't run from you, maybe, but the,
won't 20 out of their way to pick
quarrel They don't swaggcr aroun,
with II chip on Their shoulder lookin
for some fool to knock it Oft.
"Will they cat you" some one in
CURED Tor there was ring of spectator
around the performers by this time
CAS- likely aS not, if they are SHARP
{, and you lay yourself out To b
eaten, but it amt their habit to 90 f,
human flesh. Roots, nuts, berries, bug
and any small game they can pick ~
satisfies their humble appctitcs rs
general thing"
Tho onc-cyed hostlcr leaned agains
The post strokcd romp's fur affection
atrly, and continued somewhat in thi
style
Hcars are particularly fond of fat
Juicy igs; and once give 'cm Il taste %
human ilesh-why, shouldn't wan
my children To be playin' in the wood
within good many miles Of their den
Which reminds me of old Two Claws
aS they used to call him, hear tina
plagued the folks over in Bridgetowl
where | was brongh. ur, wall, as mucl
Il, forty years ago.
lie got his name from the peculiar
shape of his foot, and he got that from
trit''ng with n cnn-,rap. You know
what that iI--a loaded gun set in sucl
way that bear or any game that
curious about il must come up to il th,
way it p'nts; bait is hung before tn,
mui1'c aud string runs from that I,
the trigger.
tie was Il cunning fellow, and he pu
OHt an investigator paw at the piece o
PORK bel' re trying his jaws on it; 70 in
stead Of eettin' bullet in the head, h,
mere ~ had bit of his paw shot of
There were but two claws left on thai
loot, rs bis bloody tracks showed.
lie got off; but his experience seemed
TO have soured his disposition. lie owed
spite to the settlement.
One night a great row was heard ia
my uncie's pig-pcn. lie and the boy,
rushed out with pitchforks, gun, and
lantern. They knew what the trouble
was, or soon found out. A huge black
bear had broken down the side of the
pen; he had seized fat porker, and was
actualiy Juggling h m oil in his arms
The pig was kicking and squealing, but
he bear had him fast. He did not seem