The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-04-29
FOR The YOUNG FOLKS.

A VACirIATING BEAR-My negro
gardener came to me one evening in
great alarm, and stated that his twin
sons, Mango aud Change, had taken out
his gun that morning, and had feen
missing ever since. | Mt once loaded my
rife, l0osed my Cuban bloodhound, and
followed the man to his hut. There |
put the deg upon the boys scent, fol-
lowing on horseback myself
1t turned out that the young scamps
had gone on the trail of large bear,
though they were only thirteen years
old, and their father had often warned
them not to NEEDLE with wild beasts
They began their adventure by hunting
the hear, but ended, as often happens,
IN being hunted by the bear; for Bruin
had turned upon them, and chased
them 50 hard that they were fain to drop
the gun and take to a tree.
II was sycamore of PECULIAR shape,
sending forth from its stem many snail,
but only two large branches. These
two were some thirty feet from the
ground, and stretched almost horizon
tally in opposite directions, They were
as like each other as the twin brothers
themselves. Change took refuge on one
of these, Mango on the other.
The bear Rugged the tree till he had
climbed as far az the fork. There he
hesitated an Instant, and then began to
creep along the branch which supported
Change. The beast advanced Slowly
and glngerly, sinking his c'aws into the
bark at every step, and not depending
too much upon his balancing powers.
Changes position was now far from
pleasant. 1t was usel, s. to play the
trick--well known to hear.hunters Of
cnticing the animal ont TO a point
where the branch would Yield beneath
its great weight, for there was no higher
branch within Changes reach, by
catching which he could save himself
From deadly fall--thirty feet sheer.
Three more steps, and the bear would
be upon him, or he would be upon the
ground. Brave as the by was, his teeth
chartered.
At this moment, Mango, nerved to
heroism by his brothers peril, moved
rapidly from the opposite limb of the
tree. Stepping behind the bear, he
grasped with one hand q small higher
bough, which extended to where he
stood, but not to where his brother lay;
with the other hand, he seized the ami
nal firmly by its stumpy tail, The
bear turned TO punish his rash a4>ailant;
but, angry as he was, he turned eau.
tiously. ii was 10 easy task to right.
abOut,lace on a branch which already
had begun to tremble and sway beneath
his weight.
Change, was saved, for the bear evil
IDENTIFY had transferred his animosty to
Mango, whom he pursued, step by step,
toward the extremity Of the 0 h>r limb.
But Change was not the boy 10 leave
his brother and rcscuer in the lurch.
Waiting until the enraged brute was
well embarked upon Nlango's branch,
he pulled its tail, as he had seen his
brother do before. Again Bruin turned
awkwardly, and resumed the interrupted
chase of Change.
The twins continued their tactics with
success Whenever the bear was well
advanced On one limb, and dangerously
close to one twin, the other twin would
sally from the other limb and pull his
tail. The silly animal always would
yield to his latest impulse of wrath,
aud suffer himself to be diverted from
the enemy who was almost in his
clutches.
After two hours O. disappointment, he
learned his mistake. lie was now, Tor
the tenth time on Changes branch, and
very near Cnango. lE vain Mango
dragged at his hinder extremity; he
kept grimly on till Mango, forced %
choose between letting 60 the brute 5
tail or the high branch which
enabled him to keep his feet, let go the
former.
Change could now retreat no farther,
and he was hardly a yard beyond the
bears reach. The branch was swaying
more than ever, and the beast seemed
quite aware that he might tax its
strength too far. After pause, he ad-
vanced one of his fore feet quarter of
yafu. 10 lnC1CilSG lut DedT $ ullll-
Guilty in Selling him, the terrified boy
let him down and swung with his hands
from the bough.
He was hanging in suspense between
two frightlul deaths. Ills heart was
sinking, his fingers were relaxing.
Then the deep baying of a hound
struck his ear, and his hands again
closed firmly on the branch. In mo
ment, a bloodhound and Il horse-ma'
sprang through the underwood.
Change held on like grim death held
on till he heard the sharp report OF {
rifle ringing through the air; held OF
till the falling carcass o the bear passed
before his eyes; held on till | hac
climbed the tree, crawled along the
branch, and graspiug his wcaried wrist
had assisted him to get back to the lorl
of the tree and rest bit.
Ii that bear only had understood il
time that boy in the hand is wortl
two in the bush, he might have length
enedh days and gone down with honor
to the grave -. Nicholas