The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-01-13

Furry said nothing, but pulled a
horrible face in return.
''They are not fit to eat. What a
bore it is that we should have had all
this hard work and lost such a time
for nothing" continued Mats.
ut is pity, and these cannot be
troubles. Father would never eat
these, I am sure" said Furry.
''Well, come along, let us be going, -
said Mats. "Anybody may have them
for what I carer' And the two set
out again at double speed to make up
for lost time
They now got into a wood, through
which they wandered, seeking here
and there, but finding no adventures;
till at last Furry complained that she
felt very tired, and 50 hungry that
she wished they had brought some
food with them from the cave. Mats
gallantly proposed that she should lie
down and rest, while he looked about ia
see if he could find anything toeat; and
Furry having made herself comfort.
able on some moss and leaves, he
pushed little further into thicket
before them, and had not gone far be.
fore he heard a grunting noise. He
advanced cautiously and saw a number
of young pigs roofing at the foot of a
large tree; softly he crept toward
them till he got near enough and then
with spring he jumped upon one OF
them and killed it.
"Now," exclaimed he, with pride,
''father can never say again that !
can't hunt
'Capitally caught!'' said a voice be.
hind him. "Weii done!:'
Mats wheeled around rather fright.
ened, and saw Il fox creep out of the
brushwood and come towards him.
well done, my friend, well done!''
said the fox; II congratulate you; you
must lie an old hunter indeed"
NO. replied Mats, -blushing as
much us a young bear can blush. Il
assure you 1 never was away from our
cave before to-day, when my sister
and came out to look for some
troubles
$50 young, and yet 50 clever!' ex-
claimed the fox. II should greatly
like to be of some service to you. Is
there anything I can do for you or
show you!'
Mats, who had been gazing at the
fox in great admiration, hesitated for
little while; but on the fox again as
surfing him of his anxiety to serve him,
he said, IF you could show me a
trouble, should be much obliged to
you; and oh! could you please tell me
how you got such a beautiful tail! for
father says if bear could only get a
tail like that he would be made King
of the Bears
Il will show you a trouble, with
pleasure, said the fox; and as for my
tail, don't. be uneasy; yours will be.
come just like it. OF course, it was
stretched when you were young, was
it not? Stay, let me look at it, And
going behind Mats, he exclaimed. Il
do declare it was not. Tchut! tchut!
What carelessness! But 1 don't think
it is too late now, though it certainly
ought to have been done sooner. Just
let me fasten this piece of wood to it,
will you!''
Mats agreed, and the fox, taking
part Of a creeping plant growing near,
tied a piece of stout branch about
three feet long by the middle to his
tail.
':Now," said he, pointing up into
the tree, do you see that fork in that
low bough there! just you climb up
there, and let yourself drop quietly
through it to the ground; it is not far,
and the stick behind will give your
tail little jerk, and stretch it little,
and you can repeat the experiment as
often as you like till your tail is long
enough
Mats, in high spirits at the thought
of becoming King of the Bears, soon
climbed the tree to the Dough, and
when he got to the fork, let himself
drop gently through it; when 10 and
behold! the stick caught in the fork,
and he swung i'll the air, suspended by
his tail as if he were hung to dry.
"O.o-o-o!' roared Mats. 'Help
help! let me DOWN.
''No hurry" laughed the fox. 'sYou
wanted to see trouble, and now you
have 4 good one; and have a fine lit.
tie pig, for which I beg you will &C.
cept my grateful thanks And so
saying he disappeared into the thick
ct, dragging the pig after him.
On the departure of the fox, Mats re-
doubled his cries, which had the effect
of bringing Furry quickly on the spot,
who, seeing her brother swinging in
air by his tail, at once climbed the
tree, and soon released him, when he
fell heavily to the, ground. Furry
came down, and asked him how he cot
into such plight. =:
Il had caught you such a beautiful
pig, said he, ''when an animal with
such splendid tail came up to me.
He said he would show me a trouble
and make my tail like his, and now he
has stolen the pig and gone away
Both the little bears thought they
had gone through enough for one day,
so they got up and started for home.
They had not gone far before Mats
stopped near large, rotten, dead tree,
the top of which had been broken off
in some storm or other. IL smell hon.
ey 7" said he.
"Where !Oh, how delightful y cried
Furry, jumping for joy.
Mats began to climb up the tree. and
when he had got to the place where it
had been broken off, :'.here it isl" he
cried, and turning round he started on
his way down inside the tree, going
backwards, as the custom of the bears
is. Furry Immediately set to work to
climb the tree also; but she had not
gone far before heavy fall took place
inside, and she heard Mats crying IL
have got them, Furry, Furry, I've got
them, and such qusntities!'' And