The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-12-24
OUR CpRIsTnAs BEAR STORY.

SAT DeIoEE 2 DlHLAlE IRE. 4iLALE nephew on
one knee and a little niece on the other.
while Aunt Katie sat quietly knitting IN her
E own particular corner.
Uncle Bob has two children Of bis own
now, and that made his heart al the warmer
toward every child be met.
Tell US story, uncle. 90 said little Dan,
looking up from Uncle Bobs left knee.
I Il know pretty good bear-story, replied
Uncle Bob, with a sly glance at Aunt Katie.
on tel rs that, please crled little + al
ME, from Uncle BOb's other knee, her pretty
face al HgiOw with eager curiosity.
Thirty years ago" Uncle Bob began,
1T was Wild country cut here The wOods
was fun Of bears and wolves, not 70 speak OF
other yarmint, and the settlers lad TO keep
sharp lookout, ] tell you.
4 was yonng man then, and reckonsd
! the best looking cap in these parts, Uncle
Bob continued, with another glance at Aunt
Katie.
The latter looked back at Uncle Bob. with
her usual quiet smile.
Uncle Bob ''lesstways you thought 90
once.
Aunt Katie blushed, and went on with her
knitting.
Whatever NAV be said Of me" Uncle
Bob resumed, there was gal in the neigh
I borhOod as hadn't her match Tor fifty miles
around"
Vow, Robert, 20 e1postulated Aunt Katie.
what put such nonsense in your head to
night @"
Its only the sacred truth, Uncle Bob
protested; she was my first sweetheart and
her name was Katie 30
The same as suutie-s % interrupted little
Dan.
Jest 50, said Uncle Bob. That's what
they call = coincidence
The big word reduced little Dan to silence,
and Uncle Bob proceeded
''katie's father was the richest man in the
settlement. He had moved ont early. had
helped fight the Indians had been sent TO
the Legislature. was Justice Of the Peace,
and owned more than thousand acres OF
land. We call him the Squire
Katie and me had been as good as en-
gagged for couple Of years but, YOU see
was too sheeplsh to speak to the Squire.
wanted Katie to do il, but she said il wasn't
none Of her place, and so matters stood.
At last q sniptious looking chap-his
name was Sam IIbbetts-COme out and
started a store and grocery at the cross
roads. He wore store clothes and had long
curly hair, which he kept oiled 10 such an
extent as disgusted al the fellers and en-
Chanted al the gals.
None Of Us had any chance when he was
about. Il was nobody but Air Tibbetts
he cut Us all out by turns II YOU took
gal To meetiu' or ts singIu' school, eXpeetin'
10 see her home, Jest as you slept up at the
close OF the exercises 10 offer her your arm,
ten to one but Ar. Tibbetts would scrouge
IN ahead, and your gal would walk of with
him, leayin' you the mitteu-
He came il over the Squire by sgreein'
with him il politics, especially on the wolf
scalp bounty question sO't when he begun
TO pay attention to Katie, the Squire looked
pleased like.
i don't know if Katie wanted to make
NE jealous, sos TO bring me to the p int
anyhow, she seemed to take shine to Bir.
Iibbetts, which drove me half mad. I'd
thTashed that gentle youth outer his paten'
leather boots but he was allus SO polite that
there va MT no decent way o. quarlin' with
him.
But you're long while comm 10 the
bear, Uncle, put in little Dan.
~ most him said I.uRIa
Bob.
Nancy Hopkins gave q quiltin and eve
Tyeody was invited. The gals was 10 quilt
durin' the day, and the boys was to come
and dance with them in the eyenin' and
then see 'em home
Il went over to the 'Squirs's to engage
Katie, but she said, with a sassy laugh, she
was much ableeged-AT. Iibbetts had Just
been there afore me. The end Of il was
that L went away IN the sulks, and didn't so
TO the quiltiu' at all
''Well, that night, IS Mr. Ti5betts was
seem Katie home, they was Walkin' along,
taikin' poetry about the moon. which was
three-q uarlcTs full and slinin' down bright,
what do You think come bulgin' out into the
path right afOre 'em 90
The 'bear?'' exclaimed little Dan. sxcit-
edly
'5The bear .' echoed little Fannie, turning
pale.
''Wen, yes, " said Uncle Bob, 1T was a big
black bear. lie give one fierce growl, and
Nj. Iibbetts, jcrkin' his arm, heels and ran
for dear life. He didn't hOller murder for
fear the beard hear him and take him at bis
word. B."
sThe big coward 90 rnuttered little Dan,
clenchiuE his tiny fists.
so lie was, % said uncle Bob.
But poor Miss Katie 90 inquired little
Fannie, from whose eyes the tears began TO
drop.
The bear" continued Uncle Bob. grow
ing excited as he neRrtd the climax OF bis
story Jest AIRED up on end, cOtched hold
uf AZ Ta Ha-H Hrn
his shaggy breast and give one bound, car
ryin' her OF into the forest 90
Little Fannie s0bbed. Little Dams ewes
flashed, but in spite Of him, were full Of
tears
"Oa Robert, You shouldn't irighten The
children SO" said Aunt Katie, looking up
and dropping stitch.
Don't cry, my dears, said Uncle Bob,
patting each Of the little heads ais well
as ends well.
''Nr. Tibbctls had hardly finished teIlin'
the Squire about his darteT bein' carried of
by the bear, IN spite Of Mr. Iibbetts' gallant
efforts 90 resc00 her Gin proof Of which he
showed the scratches he'd GOT in runnin'
through the bushes), and the squire hedn't
near got done c8llu' him all sorts o hard
names, when who should walk in safe and
+ sound, bus Katie herself, and me escordn' Of
her.
"'Bob Staples, says the squire, graspIn'
( OF my hand, accept fathers blcSsin' %
50 I do, says I, b0win' my head.
But the bar o SAYS the Squire.
"IN make YOU present u his hide to
morrow, says ], lCOkin' big
! How ken l reward YOU - saws he
'' Now's the time nor never 9 saws 1 70
myself, pluckin' up courage. BY giyin' me
your daTter for z wife, L answered
Air you within, Katie % says the old
/ man.
q ! am, says she
" Ne. too. says l. not waitin TO be EKed
/ " Jine your right hands, saws he Squire
! We jiued them
I BY yirchoo Of the authority vested I'm me
as a jestice Of the peace, said the Squire
sOlemnly, i pronounce YOU man and wife
! Whom God hath iinsd together let no man
/ put asunder and no man hain't neither"
I added Uncle Bob, proudly.
Then if was Aunt Katie after an. - cried
/ little Fannie. ooh, auntis, weren't you ever
so much frightened when the bear carried
I You OF ?''
! "She would have been, said Uncle Bob.
/ ''but you see the bear, IS be whisked her
away, whispered something in her ear
/ How could bear whisper, ] should Ike
7 to know % objected doubling Dan.
! ''Wen," " replied Uncle Bob 81 nav as well
come TO the moral OF my story It was nv
I self, dressed in a bears skin, that carried 6h
( your aunt and frightened poor Tibbetts out
I of his wits.
! Tho little ones clapped their hands with
+ glee.
Now hang up your stockings for santa
/ Claus, say your prayers like good children
and 90 TO bed" said Uncle Bob. setting
down his listeners and going across TO plant
/ a kiss on Aunt Katie's ruddy cheek.