Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-23
Uncle Amos and the Bear.

n HadlOck. All his friends called him Uncle
Amos, and, therefore, | will call him by
$ that name. too. He had been soldier o
: the Revolution, and after his country had
gained her independence, he bought tract
OF land in this almost unbroken wilder.
| ness, cleared Il few acres, built "A rough
house. and settled down for the rest of his
days with his old wife and his son Josiah.
His house was surrounded bv dense
forest, the home of wildcats, bears and
other wild animals. Sometimes at night
while lying on his bel, thinking of the
work Tor the morrow, he could hear the
wolves bowling in the distance or walking
; lightly around his pig pen, uoveting the
squeallng prize that they could not
possibly reach.
Uncle Amos had been famous hunter
in his day. but, at the time of my story, he
was old and stiff. although his love for
hunting was as strong rs ever. One
warm, bright day in September. when
Josiah had gone several miles to mill,
Uncle Amos was working in his cornfied
As he was returning to his work after
dinner. he saw a large black bear come
out of the dark forest and walk slowly to.
ward the field to which he was going. He
went back to the house us quickly as
possible, seized the ancient mus ket which
he had carried in battle years before, and
started at the top of his speed toward the
bear, When he had got within fifty yards
the animal saw him and began running
rapidly towords the woods. Uncle Amos
saw that he could get no nearer and tax
ing hurried aim, fired. The bear stopped.
growled, reared on his hind legs, and
then ran on faster than before.
The old mans heart was fired by this
adventure and he did not feel like giving
the afternoon to so dull task AS cutting
corn. So he went home, got his powder
horn, and half Il dozen bullets, and began
his bear chase again. His wife, knowing
his age and infrmities, coaxed him to
stay at home. but he would not. His
blood was up, and he would not listen to
reason, She stood in the door way shad-
ing her eyes from the rays of the sun, and
looked earnestly after him as he disap
peared among the trees.
The woods were still, and dark, and
fragrant with odor of the fir and spruce,
Uncle Amos began to feel young again
and happier than he had heen for wears.
AS he went along, he peered carefully in
every direction Occasionally, ruffied |
grouse would fly up with loud whir, and
once timid white and brown rabbit went
bounding by; but he paid no attention to
| them. lie was after the bear, and the |
bear he would have, or nothing. By and |
by he came to Il tall tree which had fallen |
across the cow path he was following. |
lie stopped moment, debating which |
way to turn to get around this obstruction
when, suddenly, huge black object rose
from the other side iof the tree and gave
MN such look of rage and hatred that |
ior moment he was completely unnerved |
lie managed to discharge his musket, bu. |
MS agitation was so great that his aim was
bad and the bear came crashing through |
the boughs with such energy that Uncle |
Amos could only throw away his gut. and |
climb with all his might small fir-tree
that luckily stood close by. He mounted |
the tree with surprising velocity for man
OF his years, and seated himself on Il limb |
above the bears reach. The bear rushed |
around the tree several times and began |
scratching on its trunk. Then he sat
down and gazed at Uncle Amos knowing
ly and maliciously.
AT first. the sportsman was so pleased |
with his escape from the animals clutches |
that he could not repress his 10y He |
laughed aloud, but the bear did not even |
smile. He seemed to be too much in |
earnest for that, An hour passed. Uncle |
Amos's laughter had ceased. Two hours
went by. He felt more like crying
Three hours fled. Uncle Amos was sore |
and tired, but the bear sat without moving
muscle, the very mpersonation of |
patience, waiting for the tired hunter to
come down, and seeming to know that he
must come down some time.
The sun sank behind he trees. The
birds began their evening song. The
stars came out and looked down upon an
old man perched in tirtree, tired and
lame, and rheumatic. The air grew chill,
and the prisoner began to shiver. Dark
ness slowly came on and the whip poor
will found voice to welcome it. Then the
full moon rose and steadily climbed the
eastern sky. Everything was so still that
Uncle Amos thought that perhaps the bear
was gone He peered through the thick
boughs; the bfute was there The old
mans courage was slowly leaving him
and so was his strength. He could not
bear much longer the pain of sitting in his
cramped position, although he felt that it
was not safe to try to change it. AT last,
he ventured to turn around slightly so
that he might lean his back against the
trunk of the tree. His foot slipped, his
hands loosened their hold, and he went
crashing through the branches to the
earth.
Although the bear had waited long and
patiently for him, yet, when he fell almost
into his mouth, the brute desire to have
him seemed suddenly to vanish. Indeed,
Uncle Amos fright was equaled only by
the bears. Bruin was evidently taken by
surprise, and he scampered off tnrough
the underbrush as though he had not a
moment to lose.
The old man lay upon the ground
trembling and moaning, in fear that the
bear would speedily return. His fright
had taken away the little strength that the
fall had left him. After perhaps half an
hour, he managed to crawl slowly to his
gun. The powder-horn was still around
mis- breast, and the bullets were still in his
pocket. The light was dim, but, after
much fumbling. he succeeded in loading
the musket. Then he felt better. His
courage and his strength came slowly
back together, and he started to hobble
homewa"d. He had not gone far before
he heard voice that sounded like Josiah's
Leaning upon his sons arm, after a pain
full journey, he reached home. He never
cared to go bear hunting again. By Rob-
eT ArnoId, IN Congregdtionatist.
BUNYAN'S CHURCH AT ELsTow.-As
the many pilgrims who came from all
parts of the world to the shrine of Bun
yan are aware, the fine old Norman and
early English church has long been in
state of dangerous dilapidation. At last,
partly through the liberality of Mr.
Whitebread, NJ, P. who is lord of the
manor, its restoration has been begun. i
The roof has been taken off and portions s
of the great walls removed, discovering
many features of special interests to ,
archsologists. The characteristics of the I
quaint old ediiice are being strictly pre- t
served, and the work has been under the
eye of the society for preservation of c
ancient monuments. A portion of the {
oaken beams and wood work-the latest 7
of which dates from 1530-is unfit for \
renlapenr owino tn tho daoav Of narts anJ 4.