Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-11-22

in the snow, and try the ice down by the
old mill, where the wheel turned and
splashed so merrilly in the summertime.
Eph took his fiddle and scraped away
to his hearts content in the parlor, while
the girls, after a short rest, set the table
and made all ready to dish up the dinner
when that exciting moment came. 1t
was not at all the sort of table we see
now, but would look very plain and
countriied to US, with its green handled
knives, and two pronged steel forks its
red. and-white china, and pewter platters
secured till they shone, with mugs and
spoons to match, and brown jug for
the cider. The,cloth was coarse, but white
as snow and the little maids had seen the
blue eyed flax grow, ont of which their
mother wove the linen they had watch.
ed an watered while it bleached in the
green meadow. They had no napkins
and little silver but the best tankard
and Mas few wedding spoons were set
forth in state. Nuts and apples at the
corners gave an air, and the place OF
honor was left in the middle for the or.
anges yet to come.
Don't it look beautiful - said Prue,
when they paused to admire the genaral
effect.
Pretty nice | tn ink. wish Ma
could see how well we can do it, began
lilly, when loud bowling startled both
girls, and sent them flying to the VIM
d ow. The short afternoon had passed
so quickly that twilight aad come before
they knew it, and now as they looked
out through the gathering dusk, they saw
four small black figures tearing up the
road, to come bursting ia, all screaming
at once 1.-The bear, the bear ZIP get
the gun, he's coming, he's coming
Epk had dropped his fiddle, and got
down sis gun before the girls could calm
the children enough to tell their story,
which they did in somewhat inchorrent
manner Down in the holler, coastin',
we heard growl," began Sol, with his
eyes as big as saucers. II see him fust
lookin' over the wall, roared Seth eager
to get his share of homer.
awful big and shaggy" quavered
Roxy, clinging to lilly, while Rody hid
in Prue's skirts, and piped out His
paws kept clawing at US, and l was so
scared my legs would hardly 90"
I'VE ran away as fast as we could go,
and he came growing after US. He's
awful hungry, and he'll eat every one Of
us if he gets in" continued Sol, looking
about him for a safe retreat
"Oh. Eph don't let him eat us cried
both little girls. flying up stairs to hide
under their mothers bed, as their surest
shelter.
"No danger of that you little geese.
III shoot him as soon as he comes. Get
out of the way, boys" and Eph raised
the window to get good aim.
There he is Fire away and don't
miss cried Seth, hastily following Sol,
who had climbed to the top of the dress
er as a good perch from which TO view
the approaching fray.
Prue retired to the hearth as if bent on
dying at her post rather than desert the
turkey, now browning beautiful, as she
expressed it. But lilly boldly stood at
the open window, ready to lend a hand if
the enemy proved too much for Eph.
All had seen bears. but none had ever
come so near before, and even brave Eph
felt that the big brown beast slowly trot-
ting up the door-yard was an unusually
formidable specimen. He was growing
horribly, and stopped now and then as
if to rest and shake himself.
Get the AK, lilly, and if | should
miss, stand ready to keep him off while
| load again" said Eph, anxious to kill
his first bear in style and alone girls
help didn't count.
lilly flew for the ak, and was al her
brothers side by the time the bear was
near enough to be dangerous. He stood
on his hind legs, and seemed to sniff with
relish the sayory odors that poured out
OF the window.
Fire, Eph !" cried lilly, firmly.
"Wait till he rears again. I'll get a
better shot them" answered the boy,
while Prue covered her ears to shut out
the bang, and the small boys cheered
from their dusty refuge up among the
pumpkins.
But very singular thing happened
next, and all who saw it stood amazed,
for suddenly lilly threw down the ak,